There’s something quietly magical about a night spent in. The hum of soft music and chatter, the scent of something delicious on the table. Around it: friends leaning in, conversations unfolding, warmth rising throughout the room.
A games night isn’t just about winning. It’s about shared moments, inside jokes created and the pleasure of slowing down. A night built on togetherness and play – away from screens – where paper, pens and imagination turn an ordinary gathering into something to reminisce about. Because the best evenings aren’t about what you have, but the moments you make – treasures you’ll hold on to, long after the glasses are cleared away.
With a little planning (and a Papier twist), it’s easy to create a games night that feels laid back yet curated and full of connection.
Setting the scene
Hosting starts long before the first card is dealt. Begin with a table that feels as good as it looks – layered with snacks, soft lighting, and a stack of notebooks or personalized cards ready for scribbles and scorekeeping.
Think of it as setting the stage. A mellow playlist in the background – featuring everyone’s favourites – as candles flicker gently and the doorbell starts singing with friends' arrivals. Hand-written place cards or menus make it feel intentional, as a few tactile touches turn a casual gathering into something a little more special – and a lot more memorable.
The Papier Edit: Games that bring everyone together
Games have a way of bringing people closer – part conversation starter, part shared adventure. Whether you’re after bursts of joy or quiet concentration, here are a few ideas to make your night feel perfectly pitched.
Puzzles that spark focus
When the energy is low or the evening’s just beginning, a puzzle is the perfect warm-up. Choose one that looks as good as it feels – bold colors, satisfying shapes, maybe even something you’ll want to frame when it’s finished. Keep a Papier notebook nearby to jot down the evening’s highlights or puzzle-time confessions.
Card games made personal
There’s something timeless about a deck of cards, and ours are just that. Part functional, part fun – plus, our personalized stationery can double up beautifully as DIY score sheets. Classic games feel more special when they carry a custom touch. P.S. They also make the perfect gift.
Try: Stripes & Suits Playing Cards
Who’s Most Likely To… Questions that get everyone talking
Swap small talk for real talk. The best games nights are the ones where chats stretch long after the last question’s been asked – full of great tales and a few surprise confessions. That’s where a “Who’s Most Likely To” game works its magic. Easy to play, impossible not to enjoy.
Our Supper Stories card game is designed to start true connections. With thoughtful, playful prompts, it turns dinner parties, birthday gatherings and catch-ups that run late into the evening into something you’ll actually remember.
Our full deck is packed with conversation-sparking questions, but here are a few extras to get things started…
“Who’s most likely to cry at a rom-com?”
“Who’s most likely to have a secret talent?”
“Who’s most likely to send a handwritten letter?”
No screens, no pressure – just good talk and plenty of laughs. Or why not design your own? Print them, fold them into a Papier box, and let the storytelling unfold. It’s the ultimate low-effort, high-laughter game.
Scenario games that spark stories
If your group loves to imagine, dream or debate, scenario games are where the gathering gets wonderfully unpredictable. Pose a “what if” and see where it leads.
“If you could plan the perfect Sunday, what would it look like?”
“You win a dream holiday – who are you taking and why?”
Encourage everyone to jot down their answers in a shared guest book – a memento of the evening’s funniest, sweetest and most unexpected memories. A keepsake to tuck away, long after the moment fades.
The Papier touch
What makes a games night truly special isn’t just the easy chatter – it’s what you take away from it. Papier’s notebooks, notecards and personalized stationery turn fleeting moments into lasting treasures.
Scorecards become souvenirs. Questions become memories. A page left open on the table becomes a time capsule of the evening – filled with quick sketches, ridiculous answers and quiet notes you’ll look back on later. They’re paper pieces of a night you’ll want to hold on to.
The beauty of writing it down
Every good games night ends with tales you’ll tell again – over breakfasts, texts and with future friends. Writing those memories down is a way of keeping them close. Because the art of staying in isn’t really about the games. It’s about the people gathered around the table, the shared jokes, the warmth of being together – and the quiet magic of turning it all into something to cherish.
Gather. Celebrate. play
