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How to Host a Game Night

What to Serve, Who to Invite, How to Play—Strategies for the Perfect Game Night

About The Book

From party games to legacy games, setting up to hosting a crowd, tabletop game expert Erik Arneson gives you the strategies you need to host an epic game night.

Break out the chips and grab a drink! With enthusiasm for tabletop games at an all-time high and exciting new board games and card games hitting Kickstarter every week, game night is more popular than ever. But there’s more to the perfect game night than choosing between classics like Scrabble and Catan or introducing friends and family to games like Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, and Codenames. Tabletop gaming expert and experienced game night host Erik Arneson is here to help.

Organizing his advice by group size, Arneson walks you through everything from selecting the right venue and snacks to managing a game library and bad attitudes, answering questions like:
-How can I make the most of a small space?
-Am I explaining the rules right?
-What should I do if guests show up late?
-How do I keep my dog from eating the pieces?
-Do I have to invite Sean?

Marrying the practicality of Emily Post with curated lists of games perfect for every occasion, Arneson’s humorous, down-to-earth approach will help readers everywhere navigate these fun and rewarding gatherings. Ideal for novice hosts and seasoned players alike, How to Host a Game Night is the perfect book for anyone wanting to up the ante on their hosting game.

About The Author

Photograph by Duke Morse Photography

Erik Arneson is a lifelong tabletop game enthusiast and former newspaper reporter who has written hundreds of articles about games for such publications as The Spruce, Knucklebones, Counter, and The Opinionated Gamers. The author of 17 Games You Can Play Right Now!, he has been a featured speaker on the topic of board game publicity at the American International Toy Fair and is regularly cited as a board game expert. He and his wife Elizabeth, who are both part-owners of the greatest franchise in all of professional sports: The Green Bay Packers, live near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

  • Publisher: S&S/Simon Element (October 27, 2020)
  • Length: 192 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781982150488

Raves and Reviews

"Erik Arneson is one of America's best-kept secrets. An incredibly fun read that’s chock-full of stories, memories, and experiences from gamers, his book How to Host a Game Night is the ultimate guide to gaming. Arneson perfectly describes what makes the world of gaming the special place it is for so many people."

– Alan R. Moon, award-winning designer of the board games Elfenland and Ticket to Ride

"Whether you've hosted a ton of game nights or you're getting ready for your first, Erik's book is chock full of practical advice presented in a clear, fun way. Recommendations for games, food, drinks, and music, down to the tiniest details, like seating arrangements, trash talking, and card sleeves. Overwhelmed? Not to worry, there is one sure-fire strategy to hosting the perfect get-together: Buy this book!"

—Justin Jacobson, President of Restoration Games

"It’s an excellent book, well-written and a great resource for anyone looking to create or improve a gaming group. And, even better, a fun book to read."

– Opinionated Gamers

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