ByGetting together to play games used to be one of the only options if you wanted a social experience while playing – long before the age of high-speed internet connections, people would need to physically be in the same room.
Gamers still often enjoy being in the same place! Online sessions are great for playing with people all over the world and finding new opponents but it is often a group of buddies who want to play games at a party or similar.
Invitations to a game night conjure certain images of genres of games, and not many people are getting together to play puzzle games. Action and quicker gameplay can be appealing for players who are together, plus they probably want to chat and not spend all of their attention on a complex game.
Sports Classics
What percentage of people have wondered what it is like to be a sports star? Wanting to emulate sporting stars can be a big draw for a lot of groups of friends who may also want to replay matches from their favorite sports.
The best-selling sports console video games can get to millions of sales annually proving what a huge market there is for these games. Sports games are among the best sellers partially because people tend to buy them each year, too.
FIFA (now EA24) reflects soccer’s huge popularity all over the world in terms of sales, and people who like soccer may well get together to play multiplayer modes on this game. On EA24, players can play as their favorite soccer teams, pull off stunning goals, and get competitive with friends – the game has a lot of different modes that can be used to play in different ways and this keeps it fresh.
Madden NFL is sort of like the alternative for the NFL and is one of the oldest franchises there is – it brings the intensity of American football to your console, letting you strategize plays and execute touchdowns. Sporting console games are great because they offer both single-match play and tournament modes, so players can keep the action going all night or just dip in for a quick game.
Most major sports have some sort of game that emulates the performance of players and let people play as the top teams, so it isn’t just football people can get involved with on those game nights at home.
Fighting Games
This is one of the only cases people recommend fighting at a party, so long as it stays virtual!
Funny and action-packed games exist in this niche that can be popular. For players who are looking for something a bit more intense, Mortal Kombat could be the way to go. Known for its brutal combat and intricate combos, this game is perfect for friends who enjoy a bit of competition. Just be ready for some seriously fierce matches and, of course, those infamous fatalities! MK is another franchise that has been around a long time, since 1992 when the first game of the franchise was released to the public.
Fighting games can be more silly and jokey than this, and there are lots of small and quick games that don’t go into too much depth but are fun for taking on buddies.
Racing Games
Racing is one of the simplest concepts in the whole of gaming. Cross the finish line first! For groups playing games, these can work really well due to the fact lots of people can play at once, as long as there are enough controllers.
For a pretty realistic racing experience, check out Forza Horizon 5. This game offers stunning graphics and a wide range of top cars to choose from. The dynamic weather and day-night cycles add an extra layer of detail we’ve come to expect from modern games.
Many retro racing games still hold up pretty well, and there are new games in this genre released virtually every month covering niches like motorbikes and even the crazy sorts of racing we see in games like Mario Kart, a classic for get-togethers.
Party Games
The Party games are designed for these kidneys of scenarios. Jackbox Party Pack series is a treasure trove of party games. From trivia challenges to drawing contests, there’s something for everyone. Cleverly, players can use their smartphones as controllers, so you don’t need a ton of gamepads. Games like Quiplash and Drawful are creative but pretty much guaranteed to get everyone laughing.
Wii helped to create a popular niche around party games, and even all these years on, the console still stacks up and is good to get out when people are visiting.
Conclusion
Always think ahead about what kind of games you want to play. Are your friends the kinds of people to play chess or would they rather play some quick and funny games? Groups of friends will have their own interests. If they’re into soccer then it could be a good chance to play EA24, for instance. Some groups won’t be so into this kind of thing and may prefer party games and accessible options pretty much everyone can quickly understand, but the days of playing together in person are still alive.
