Board Game Olympics was dreamed up by my (then) 13-year-old and it’s perfect for families with a well-stocked games cupboard. We had so much fun with it, and we learned some things to make it even better. I’m going to share with you how easy it is to have one for your family. Game night will never be the same again!
How to host a Board Game Olympics in simple steps
1. Selection
It doesn’t matter how old your games are, how naff they are, or if anyone remembers the actual rules – just get all of the games in your house, put them in a pile, and write their names on a master list. You don’t even need to stick to board games, you could even add in a few co-op video games if your family enjoys them.
Tip: On the list, repeat the games your family enjoys the most. So, if you know your kids love Cluedo but you hate Monopoly, put Cluedo down 3 times and Monopoly down only once.
2. The Draw
Next, cut those names out into small pieces of paper. Throw them in a bowl and mix them up. Have a little ceremony where the kids
take turns drawing a name out and announcing it grandly. Write these names down, in order, in a notebook. This will give you a schedule to work with. If you see that some of the games are repeated too often in a row, you can edit it so it sounds the most fun.
3. Sporting Chance
Now it’s time to play. You can choose to have a mad weekend-long gaming tournament, or you may choose to play two games every Monday night for the next 8 weeks. Basically, whatever your family wants to do will be perfect for your Board Game Olympics.
4. Tally the scores
When each game is over, make sure that the winner is recorded in your notebook, along with a runner up (or 2 runner ups if you wish). The winner gets 3 points, the runner up 2 points and so on. We made a leader board on a spare whiteboard just for fun, sub-totalling the points after every 2-3 games. If it looks like one person is going to easily beat everyone else, you may want to throw in a twist! (keep reading)
5. The Twist
To level the playing field, you could also implement your own rules and handicaps for points. The youngest family member perhaps gets a 5-point head start. Or you form two teams of mixed abilities and see which team earns the most points overall – kids vs adults or pair up an adult with each kid. Special points can be awarded for the player who tried the hardest, the most gracious loser, the person with the most consecutive losses, or the person with the most surprising win.
The point is, make it fun and seem fair for everyone, and make it anyone’s guess who will win the Olympics at the end.
6. Winner’s Ceremony
Once all the games on your list have been played, tally up the points and hold a Game Olympics winner’s party.
Just for fun, make a few certificates or special awards (on copier paper with markers, doesn’t have to be fancy). They can be as funny or serious as you like. Perhaps give out a small prize to everyone who played or buy a new game for the family to share. Be sure to have some of your favourite snacks and drinks at the party to celebrate the end of your tournament.
7. Finally, snap a family picture to remember the event and your fabulous Board Game Olympics!
If you enjoyed this Board Game Olympics idea, you might also be inspired by The 10 Best Family Board Games. We review all of our favourite board games and even recommend the best times to play them.
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