Paper Plate Drawing Game Thanksgiving

Why Games Bring People Together

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Some games are timeless for a reason. Many of the best games bring people together like nothing else, transcending boundaries of age, sex and anything else that typically divides. Fun group games for kids and adults are a great way to bring friends and family together for any occasion. Here are 10 reasons games are so good at bringing people together.

Teach Each Other New Things

Just because your friends and family don't know how to play your favorite game doesn't mean you can't play it together. Teaching someone else how to play a game can be a valuable bonding experience, whether they're older or younger than you are.

Try Out New Relationship Dynamics

Young kids often love teaching adults how to play new games, but there are other ways games change relationship dynamics. A one-player video game, for example, can be turned into a two-player exercise in trust if the player with the controller relies on the other to guide him or her through the virtual world.

Reflect on Fond Memories

Trivia games for older relatives can be a touchstone for reflecting on memories. The same is true for traditional party games. Scavenger hunt games also encourage a sense of nostalgia, evoking memories of childhood and an accompanying sense of childlike wonder and fun.

Create New Memories

Remembering the past is always fun, but the best games allow you to create brand new memories as a group. Fun games for workplace colleagues are an excellent way to foster a sense of community with fun memories, for example.

Encourage Humor

Not all groups are naturally inclined to have a laugh together. Serious Bible study groups, for example, may not seem a place for fun and games, but Christian games for adults — especially those with an emphasis on comedy — can greatly enhance the cohesion of such groups. And a strong sense of community and trust feeds directly back into the efficiency of the meetings.

Work as a Team

Fun games for youth groups, party games for ladies' groups and dress-up games for girls are just a few ways to dissolve tension among internally competitive groups of people. Working as a team, either as a whole group or as subdivisions of that group, naturally brings people closer together.

Collective Concentration on a Shared Goal

Cooperative (non-competitive) puzzle games promote the concept of a shared goal as a way to bring people together. Examples include jigsaw puzzles, crosswords or even word searches. You could also stage a creative singalong.

Structure Interaction

People love to come together, but sometimes they lack a reason to do so. Games are one of the best ways to structure social interaction, from indoor party games for adults to epic games like Risk or Dungeons & Dragons.

Relieve Stress and Break the Ice

When times get tough and tensions threaten to split people apart, it may be time to play some fun indoor games for adults. In many cases, players loosen up and give in to the fun.

Put Everyone on a Level Playing Field

Forget boys' games and girls' games, kids' games and adult games, video games and complicated card games. When you go for a game that's new for everyone involved, everyone starts on a level playing field. This is great for bonding and trust, as ideally no single player has an advantage over any other.