If you have ever wondered what actually happens at an Affinity board games night, the short answer is: lots of laughing, a little bit of friendly rivalry and a table full of people who were strangers an hour earlier. Over the past few months we have played our way through a brilliant mix of games at venues across Nottingham, from the upstairs music hall at the Malt Cross to the Magic Garden and The Cross Keys.

Here is a look at the games that have made it to our table so far, what they are like to play and why they work so well for a night of meeting new people.

Quick Party Games That Get Everyone Laughing

Party games are perfect for the start of the night. They take minutes to learn, everyone plays at once and nobody needs to be a seasoned gamer to join in.

Just One

Just One is a co-operative word game where everyone works together to help one player guess a mystery word. Each person secretly writes a one-word clue, but any matching clues are cancelled out before the guesser sees them. It sounds simple, yet it gets you thinking creatively very quickly. At our April games night at the Malt Cross it was fast, friendly and had the whole table laughing from the first round.

Scrawl

Scrawl may now officially be our favourite game so far. It is a drawing and guessing game where pads pass around the table, so each player either sketches what they have been given or guesses what the last person drew. By the time the pad comes back, the original idea has usually been lost completely. At our May games night at The Cross Keys some of the drawings were ambitious at best, others drifted into “definitely not safe for work” territory, and every round got more ridiculous than the last.

The Chameleon: Picture Edition

The Chameleon is a game of bluffing and suspicion. Everyone knows the secret picture except one player, the Chameleon, who has to blend in while the rest of the group tries to work out who is faking it. We started our May evening at the Magic Garden with this one, and the accusations and dramatic defences had everyone in stitches.

Codenames Pictures

Codenames Pictures splits the table into two teams. Each team has a spymaster who gives one-word clues to help their teammates find the right pictures on the grid, without accidentally pointing them towards the other side. It brings out real team spirit and plenty of “what were you thinking?” moments, which made it a big hit at our April games night.

Creative Games That Spark Conversation

Dixit

Dixit is a beautifully illustrated storytelling game. One player picks a card and gives a clue, which could be a word, a sound or a line from a song. Everyone else chooses a card from their own hand that fits the clue, then the group votes on which card was the original. The trick is to be clear enough for some people to guess, but not so obvious that everyone does. At our February games night at the Malt Cross it brought out everyone’s creative side and sparked a lot of “how did you come up with that?” conversations.

Easy-to-Learn Strategy Games

Later in the evening, once everyone has settled in, we often bring out something a little more tactical. These are all games you can learn in a few minutes, but they still give you plenty to think about.

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride has appeared at more of our games nights than any other game, and it is easy to see why. You collect coloured train cards and use them to claim railway routes between cities, trying to complete secret journeys before anyone blocks your path. It is simple to pick up, with just enough strategy to keep things interesting, and it always creates a nice mix of friendly rivalry and table chat.

King of Tokyo

In King of Tokyo, each player controls a giant monster battling for control of the city. You roll dice to attack, heal or collect points, then decide whether to push your luck or play it safe. It is loud, silly and a great way to get everyone involved quickly, which is exactly why we opened our March games night at the Malt Cross with it.

Rummikub

Rummikub is a classic tile game where you build runs and groups of numbers, then rearrange the tiles already on the table to get rid of your own. Jokers cause plenty of tension and last-minute wins keep everyone on their toes. We finished our February evening with a few rounds and it was the perfect way to wind down the night.

Kluster

Kluster is a deceptively simple magnetic game. Players take turns placing magnetic stones inside a loop of cord, trying not to let any of them snap together. If they do, you have to collect the whole cluster. The concentration levels get very high very quickly, followed by plenty of groans when the magnets finally give way.

Where We Play in Nottingham

Most of our board games nights take place upstairs at the Malt Cross, a beautiful Victorian music hall in the city centre that feels made for relaxed evenings of conversation and games. We have also played at the Magic Garden and The Cross Keys, and we are always on the lookout for new venues with a good atmosphere, comfortable tables and great food and drink.

Never Played Before? You Will Fit Right In

You do not need to know any of these games to come along. Every game is explained at the table, our hosts make introductions and plenty of our members come to their first games night on their own. Whether you stay for one game or the whole evening, it is one of the easiest ways to meet new people in Nottingham, because the game does the ice-breaking for you.

Fancy joining us at the table? See our upcoming gaming events and book your place. Your first Affinity event is free.