Every successful party requires a few key elements — delicious food, friendly guests, refreshing beverages and lively conversation. That last criterion is not always easy to achieve. Games are an excellent way to break the ice at a dinner party and serve as a bonding element between the oldest friends or the newest acquaintances. Be it a classic party game, a deck of cards or a fully stocked game room, games truly bring people together.
Here are some classy adult party games to ensure your gathering is fun while still maintaining an air of sophistication.
Pool
Instantly recognizable and often a gorgeous piece of furniture, pool tables can bring hours of enjoyment to your friends, family and neighbors. Pool is a timeless pastime, and the game always creates lasting memories. A fully stocked pool table with all the accessories transforms any space into a welcoming atmosphere. The game of pool encourages players to banter, laugh and enjoy themselves, so your guests will soon forget about any shyness they may have.
Ensure your pool table fits your elegant surroundings by investing in a stylish, high-quality option.
Charades
Charades is a classic party game with sophisticated origins. It originated in England among the social elite and even appeared in popular novels of the 1800s. Charades is a versatile game that can be played anywhere, at parties both large and small. All you need is a group of willing participants, pen, paper and a vessel — preferably a bowl or hat.
Have your guests jot down a word or phrase, including books, movies, celebrity names, TV shows, quotes, silly sayings or song titles. Split up into teams and let the hilarity ensue. You will have a blast seeing who's best at acting and pantomiming. Keep score to see which team comes out on top.
Darts
Darts is a beloved pub game throughout England and North America. It has a gentle learning curve and can make for a great night of gameplay with friends and family. The origin of darts dates back to the medieval era, as a military pastime in England. It still holds a special place among London citizens, as the game shares hundreds of years of history with this ancient city.
Darts can be played by just about anyone, regardless of age or athletic ability. All your guests need do is throw a pointed object at a round board and hope it lands where they want.
Today, dart boards can be mounted in a stylish dart cabinet that includes all the accessories you need for a rousing game. These cabinets protect your walls from errant darts and add a gorgeous touch to your living or game room décor.
Poker
Card games are a great way to facilitate easy, relaxed conversation. If your guests want to engage in a discussion, they can. Otherwise, they can just focus on their cards. Although poker originated in Europe in the 17th century, the game was brought by colonists to New Orleans in the 1700s. From there, it spread up Missippi River, where it became a staple in American card play.
Every family and region has their own poker rules that they prefer. However, we suggest sticking to the classic five-card draw. Bring a bit of class to the game with elegant poker chips and delicious cocktails for your guests. While you can play for cash, you may want to keep things light and play for bragging rights.
Table Tennis
Table tennis began in the 1880s when the upper crust adapted the game of lawn tennis to be played indoors during the winter. This ball game is played on a flat table divided into two equal courts on each side of a net. While table tennis is traditionally a two or four-player game, your guests will enjoy watching the ball go back and forth across the net and taking turns for their own chance to take on the champion.
Today, you can find an array of stylish table tennis tables that are sure to make an engaging addition to your home or game room. HB Home offers table tennis conversion tops that will transform your pool table into a completely different field of play.
Furnish Fun at Your Next Party With HB Home
From hardwood pool tables to elegant dart cabinets, HB Home has everything you need to furnish your home with thousands of hours of entertainment. With lots of different styles to choose from, browse our collection of game room furnishings to find an ideal addition to your home.