Ever wanted to learn how to make your own game to play with your friends and family on the spot?
This article is going to give 7 quick and easy steps on how to make your own DIY family and/or party game.
Monopoly may have run its course in the household and the same old card game you have been playing since you were 5 needs a little breather.
Whether it’s at home for the holidays with the kids, a game night with your friends, or simply just bored on a summer day, this article will help you shake up your next get together, and be the life of the party!
*Walk Through Example:
For each of the steps I will also include a "walk through example" showing an example process of creating a game. You can use the walk through example to assist in your own creative process or simply learn to play the actual game here!
STEP 1. Determine the Mood
The first step to any successful game is understanding the vibe of the players who are going to play it.
Just like standup comedy, if you cannot read the room, it won’t be fun for anyone. For instance you would not bring 16 steaks and a pack of burgers to a vegetarians meet and greet. It just wouldn’t work. So don’t make the same mistakes with your game.
My favorite way to determine the mood is by listening first. If there is music playing, people are chatting it up, and people are done eating food, there will likely be a need for a high pace game. (Examples include Slap Cup, Power Ball, Spoons, etc.)
On the other hand, if the setting is reserved, there is little to no music, maybe a television on, there might be more of a need for a slow pace game. (Examples include Dictionary Game, Hearts, Kings, etc.)
*Walk Through Example:
The mood is reserved. There is some light background music, and some old friends just trying to catch up with one another.
Step 2. Understand the Group
While determining the mood may sound similar to understanding the group, in reality it is very different.
Understanding the group is knowing the familiarity among the people at the event. For instance if you are with your family, whom you play games with every year, you will need to create a game they have never played before.
While if you are with a new group of individuals who are all meeting for the first time, it you gives you some flexibility with the game you make. In addition, it allows you to work off a similar game you may have played in the past.
Other reasons your game might differ could be the environment itself. For instance a work event versus a “pregame” with your longtime friends.
If you are with your friends or family, games pushing the edge or those that create some conflict can be great games. While on the other hand, with new people or work events, games that are simple and foster team environments are the best.
*Walk Through Example:
Everybody knows one another from college. You are looking to get some fun competition going, but still want to be able to talk with one another during gameplay.
Step 3. Create a Goal for the Game
With any game, there has to be a purpose. Without a purpose, your game will lack the direction needed to explain the game to new players.
Some great ideas for goals can include; to make a certain amount of rules, to make the most amount of cups, to win the most amount of rounds, etc. The creativity lies in your hands.
With that being said, your goal must also keep in mind your resources. What do you have around you that you can use. Examples include cups, bottles, dice, cards, etc.
Also when determining your goal, I like to create a theme around it. Everyone loves themes, so if your game relates to a certain theme, people are more apt to connect with it. For example, if you and your family are all home during Christmas, you could make a game relating to Santa Claus or Winter.
*Walk Through Example:
You are hanging out with your old college friends. So you decide to make a game relating to graduating. You have some dice and cards laying around.
Step 4. Determine your Players
This is important. Because it takes the first 3 steps and forces you to make a decision.
Is your game going to be a high pace with a lot of teams switching in and out? Is it going to be a high pace with everyone involved? Is it going to be a slow pace, with only a few players? It is going to be slow pace to get everyone to know each other better?
No matter your choice, the amount of players should directly correlate to the environment you are in. For instance if you have a lot of people looking to play games, please, please, to do not play a slow pace game/low player amount.
I have always found, whether slow paced or high paced, games which include everyone, are typically the most fun. Nobody likes to be left out. And if your game has to be with a reduced amount of players due to resources or the game’s goal, make it a tournament style to keep people engaged.
*Walk Through Example:
You want to have everyone play. There are 5 of you total, which is enough to sit around a table.
Step 5. Establish the Game Play
Coming up with the game play can appear one of the more difficult aspects to making a game, but it is scarier than it looks.
When you have determined your type of game, the goal of the game, and the players that you want to play the game, your are 75% of the way there.
The best way to create the game mechanics and game play is to think back to some of your favorite family games. What made them fun? Was it the strategy involved? Was it the act of throwing something? Was it knowing certain things that others didn’t?
I use those mechanics I am familiar with/enjoyed and apply to it to the game I am making. For instance maybe you liked the risk involved with the family game, Monopoly. Well, you can take the risk and apply it to your own resources, such as rolling a dice, or pulling a card. Or maybe you liked Sorry because it got other people out. So you determine a survival type game where people have a certain amount of lives.
*Walk Through Example:
You like the game Black Jack, but want to make it your own. So you decide to use the same idea by having players try to get close to the amount on a card. Each player will get to roll a dice to try and get the closest to the value on their card.
Step 6. Make your Rules
After you determine how the game will be played, you have to look into if the game needs rules or not.
If the game is played for a winner, how will they win? Is there anything that a player cannot do to win? For instance if you are throwing a ball into a cup, can a teammate use their hand to direct it in?
Whenever I am looking to make rules, I always try and minimize them. Games with a lot of rules take some of the individual play/strategy out of the games, and can be difficult to explain.
Making rules should complement the goal of the game, not define it. What I mean by that is, if you overcrowd your rulebook, people will not only get confused by the game’s direction, but quickly lose interest in the game all together.
*Walk Through Example:
In order to win, a player must “Graduate” by winning 4 times to represent the grades. Each round the players will go around in a circle attempting to get the closest to the value on their card. If a player is closest, they “Graduate” and remove a card.
Step 7. Play and Evolve
The final, and best step to making a game, is actually playing it!
Sure you might think that “playing” is not a step, but it is arguably the most important. I can promise you despite how much planning you did for the game, it won’t be exactly how you envisioned.
But that’s the best part!
You did the hard work of creating a new idea and bringing it to a group of people. Now you get to watch and take suggestions from the rest of the players on how it should “play out”, so to speak.
What rules are working? Which part of the game is unnecessary? Is each player getting to play? Maybe you should add this instead?
Working on this stage of the game making gives everyone a piece of the game idea. Now players will be even more excited to play, because they helped make the game!
When players are excited to play it makes your job of bringing people together, and explaining/editing a new game so simple.
*Walk Through Example:
After playing a round with your friends, one player suggests that you should “bust” similar to Black Jack. In that you can roll as many times as you like, but if you “bust” by going over your card value, you are out for the round. You add it and everyone enjoys the new rule because it adds more risk!
Some Final Thoughts
Making your own game requires a little courage, creativity, and awareness.
You might be scared to pitch a new game to friends, family, or coworkers, but more often than not, they are looking to experience something new just as much as you are!
Following all the steps will help you make the best possible family/party game, but the most important things to remember when making your own family/party game are to understand your group, determine your goal, and be willing to evolve.
So many games exist in this world, and there is no reason to stop making them.
At your next family hangout, tailgate, pregame, or game night, take a little leap of faith and try and make your own game for everyone to enjoy!
Have you ever made a game? If so share it below or on our site!
About LowerShelf Games
LowerShelf Games is a free game sharing website that provides a one stop shop for family/party game lovers. The site is a showcase for the numerous games that exist in this world. It provides a single platform for people to not only share games with common items they would find around their house, but also standardized instructions on how to play them.
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