It is estimated that there are over 1,000 game shows worldwide, each offering its own unique thrills and format. Many of these are the same show adapted to local audiences to make them more enjoyable and relatable.
From games like Minute to Win It and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire to more classic options like Jeopardy! and Family Feud, these games bring entertainment to millions of viewers at home. However, there are many alternatives that can also bring that same enjoyment off the screen and into your living room.
Below, we’ve listed some of the best ways to bring the fun and excitement that game shows offer directly into your home. From simple games to those that make use of technology, here are some of the best options available to make your next family night unforgettable.
Offline Games
Some of the most thrilling games can be recreated in your home without the need for any additional technology. These low-tech games can be played using common household items.
DIY Minute to Win It
Minute to Win It is one of the most thrilling game shows that require decisive action and quick reflexes. Pitting players against a 60-second timer, this game requires you to complete actions that appear simple at first but become surprisingly complex with the threat of a looming clock.
One of the best things about playing this game at home is that you can be as creative as you like. From stacking apples to form a tower to keeping balloons from hitting the floor, you can turn almost anything into a challenge and then compete to see who does it best.
To play, all you really need is a timer (you can simply use your smartphone), a pen and paper to keep score, and whatever props you need to play with. For round ideas, you can invent your own challenges or perform a quick Google search.
Some of the most popular challenges include:
- Cookie Face: Players move a cookie from their forehead to their mouth using only facial expressions.
- Junk in the Trunk: Fill a tissue box with ping pong balls and tape it to a player’s arm. They must shake their arm and release all the balls within the timer.
- Stack Attack: Players must use any item to try to make a stack of a certain height. Items can be loose change, apples, or even pillows.
Family Feud
Another popular game that can bring tears of laughter to your game night is Family Feud. This game pits your knowledge about your family and of general items against each other to see who knows the most.
To start, select a handful of unique questions. To speed things up, you can find many templates online. Then, get each member of the family to answer them privately. Your elected host should then tally the results and determine the most common answers.
After breaking the remaining family members into teams, the host then presents the questions to see who knows what the group consensus is. Those that get it correct are awarded, while those who get it wrong often suffer prolonged laughter at the hands of the others.
Notable Mentions
Other popular offline games you can attempt include The Price Is Almost Right (based loosely on The Price is Right but using everyday items), Jeopardy! (using a simple DIY board), or even Chopped (cook a meal and let judges decide who did it best).
Online Games
These games require the use of technology but might lead to even more laughs and memories. Using different platforms, ranging from consoles and PCs to HTML5 games that use a web browser, these games are sometimes costlier than their offline counterparts but are easier to set up because everything is done digitally.
Jackbox Party Packs
The first Jackbox Party Pack was released in 2014 and has since released over ten new packs. Filled with multiple mini-games, like Drawful, Quiplash, Fibbage, and Time Jinx, these packs are available for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and even devices like Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.
To play, each person connects to the game using their smartphone. From there, they simply follow the prompts of the game.
Ranging from Pictionary-like games to those that require a great knowledge of general trivia, Jackbox Party Packs offer endless thrills due to updates and options to customize your game to make it more personal.
The most popular games released by Jackbox are:
- Push the Button: Similar to Among Us, players need to identify the alien among them while those who are aliens need to wreak havoc.
- Drawful: Each player is required to draw a unique picture from a prompt. All players then give the drawing a title and try to guess what the real prompt is from among all the titles.
- Quiplash: Players need to fill in the blanks on provided prompts to make them witty and hilarious. The submitted prompts are then put to a popular vote to find a winner.
Mega Wheel Live
If you love games like Wheel of Fortune, then Mega Wheel live is the perfect alternative for at-home play. Found on all the best online casinos, this game can be accessed on your PC, tablet, or smartphone and offers the thrill of guessing the right number for a chance to win.
With a live host who narrates the show and spins the wheel, the game also has a randomly applied multiplier to really liven things up. If the wheel lands on your number, you will have reason to celebrate. It should be noted that this game involves real money wagers and is best enjoyed by adults.
Notable Mentions
Aside from those above, other popular online games that offer hours of entertainment include titles like Jeopardy! PlayShow (an official digital version of the classic game), Heads Up! (similar to 30 Seconds), and Kahoot! (a fast-paced personalized trivia game).