One of the questions we’re asked most often is: “What games do you play at the parties?”
The short answer is: the games that work best at parties aren’t always the same games people play at home.
After running thousands of parties over the years, we’ve learned that the most successful party games share a few key traits. This page explains what works best — and why.
At our parties, everyone is playing and involved throughout the session — we don’t run formats where one person plays while others wait their turn.
A great party game needs to work for a group, not just an individual player. The games that consistently create the best atmosphere are:
Games that require long tutorials, complex controls, or solo progression tend not to work well in a party setting.
Games that allow multiple players to play together — either cooperatively or competitively — are always the best choice for parties.
Our vans are set up with multiple screens and consoles, which allows everyone to be playing at the same time, rather than queueing or waiting around.
This keeps the energy high and makes sure everyone feels involved from start to finish.
At a Gamewagon party, no one is left sitting on the sidelines.
We design the party so that everyone is playing together in groups for the full duration of the session. Our Games Manager actively manages the groups and games to make sure everyone stays included.
If a group dynamic needs adjusting — for example to balance confidence levels or ages — we’ll adapt the games or groupings so the experience works for everyone.
We favour games that work well in short, shared sessions rather than long, single-player runs.
This allows us to keep the pace lively, adjust groups easily, and make sure everyone remains engaged throughout the party.
The result is a party that feels energetic and inclusive from beginning to end.
Some games are excellent — just not in a party environment.
Games that rely heavily on long tutorials, grinding, solo progression, or complex control schemes tend to slow the party down and leave some guests disengaged.
That doesn’t mean those games are “bad” — they’re simply better suited to playing at home rather than at a social event.
We always take the age range, confidence levels and group dynamics into account.
Some groups enjoy competition, others prefer cooperative play, and some players are more confident than others.
Our Games Manager adjusts game choices and groupings throughout the party so everyone feels comfortable, included and involved.
Our focus is simple: party first, gaming second.
The goal isn’t to show off the most games or the most complex setups. It’s to create a great atmosphere where everyone is playing, included, and having fun for the entire party.
If you have any preferences — favourite games, games to avoid, or concerns about age-appropriateness — just let us know when booking and we’ll tailor the party to suit your group.
Parents often ask for examples of the kinds of games we run at parties. Rather than listing everything available, here are some of the games and styles that consistently work best in a party setting.
These are examples (and tried and trusted favourites that work really well in a party setting) — game choices are always adjusted on the day to suit the ages, group size and confidence levels.
We deliberately prioritise games that encourage shared play, quick turns, and group involvement rather than long solo sessions.
You may also find these pages useful: Gaming Van Parties, VR Parties, Age-Appropriate Gaming, Is All Screen Time Equal?, FAQs.