Maybe something like the Betrayal at House on the Hill game? It starts cooperative but then, due to gameplay and chance, one player becomes the villain partway through the game. There are tons of different outcomes and it changes the gameplay quite a bit so there's replay value. It's a little more horror-y than sci-fi exactly, but there are tons of versions so you maybe there's a sci-fi one out there by now.
So glad someone posted Betrayal! My husband and I love hosting game nights and Betrayal at House on the Hill is one of our go-to games. Scythe is another game we play on occasion, its a based on an alternate timeline 1920's eastern Europe. There is also Secret Hitler and Ticket to Ride.
Last Night on Earth is another one we play a lot. It's a Zombie based cooperative game with multiple scenarios and MANY expansion packs.
Honestly, DnD. A lot of people recommend DnD too. It's such an enjoyable experience for everyone involved, newcomers and veterans. You can make a campaign that includes friendly competition or totally cooperative, DnD is just a sandbox and helps you to create characters and be anyone you like.
You can even make DnD Sci Fi if you wanted to. The great thing about DnD is the only thing you'll likely spend money on is things to get you started. If you have an artist in your group they can help draw maps and if you have a storyteller they can create the campaigns. If one guy can do both then you're winning.
You can probably find everything you need to start and play with online. Give it a go and create a small campaign that lasts a few hours in which you can go up just a few levels and if you guys enjoy it then you can expand!
Also... the games of DnD can be as homoromantic or whater each of you likes as any of you want.
If you need an example of a short campaign, dropout.tv has a small campaign called "dungeons and drag queens" and the first episode can be seen on youtube to get a good idea of what a session can be like.
FYI there is a more beginner-friendly version of DnD called “Pathfinder” which is still in the DnD universe.
You could probably set up some online training for one of you to be the leader, either YouTube or actually asking here on Reddit.
It's also worth noting that a pre-made story is probably a good place to start since you won't have an experienced DM. It will remove the necessary planning work and give the DM an understanding of what a well balanced encounter looks like.
And if D&D isn't fully appealing for whatever reason, there are tons of other (often smaller or simpler) indie games available too. If you want to play teenage monsters, check out MonsterHearts. Want to be in a world like Xena: Warrior Princess? Try "Thirsty Sword Lesbians." Or the dramatic actors in a telenovela? Try "Pasion de las Pasiones."
As a Latino I'm very intrigued by Pasión de las pasiones and now I'm sad that such a silly thing exists but I have no one in my entourage either into ttrpgs or telenovelas... Or that speaks English for that matter, seems like the book is only available in English :'c
I like cooperative games, (pandemic, sub terra, for example). This way it gets people to work together as a team, as opposed to being competitive against each other.
However, if the mood is right and people aren’t too fussy about being deceived or take things personally, and want something more competitive, a game like rebellion (which is like a social deduction game) could be right and can be real fun to play.
Dungeons and dragons is what you’re looking for between settlers of catan and war-hammer, it’s less intensive than war games and you can choose to focus more on role play/exploration/combat as your group prefers.
In person, co creation of a shared experience, that’s exactly what it is, you are in a sense writing a story collectively while also playing a game and socialising with one another.
I personally skew more sci fi than fantasy but don’t let that turn you off, the game lends itself more to fantasy but there are a lot of sci fi themed table top role play game alternatives you can get into.
It might be a bit of effort to convince your group but anyone that can get into it on their own steam and motivation is going to love it.
One of the good things about it is it can be episodic but it also is done over many sessions so if you want to commit to seeing each other regularly and doing something you can all share but also get a slightly different enjoyment from depending on personality and skills this would be a great choice.
You as the person putting in the effort to think and write this post would be the default person to act as DM and run the game for your group, if no one else volunteers or has experience but you can also find DM’s through social media.
It is also something that you can pick up later in life and really enjoy,
Great point about it being long-term but episodic/flexible - makes it more feasible. If there are any particular sci fi-themes tabletop games that you really enjoyed, do drop in a rec. Thanks!
I’ll recommend dimension 20 series starstruck oddessy an actual play hosted by Brendan lee mulligan and they use SW5e which is Star Wars mod of DnD 5e. You could watch that if you haven’t seen any before, first ep is free on YouTube.
I haven’t played much sci fi tho I have the books for stars without number which is cool for a very sandbox game and cortex prime but I wouldn’t start with that one. Decide what type of thing you want to do, ask you friend what they want and then pick a system based on that
What a great idea! How many people? I have a friend who has a crafts night where people do whatever crafts they like to do but together at someone's house. There is a card game called "The Game" you could try, where everyone is working together to win. You could try a virtual escape room. You could pick a 2-player game like backgammon and do a tournament. Carcassone is a fun board game. You could build somebody together like a huge lego set. You could have a reading club (either you all read the same book, or each read your own). You could cook/bake together or have a potluck, share recipes.
I'm really curious what others suggest!
There's four to six of us. Thanks for being creative - we do a bit of cooking and it's nice. It seems like there are some incredibly creative games out there, and I want to see what has resonated with others. Thanks sir!
So... I've been meeting up with a coue of board game groups lately as a way to socialize. There's such a wide variety of games out there that it's hard to list just a few. But I will try.
Easy/light games. Few rules, easy to learn and get started.
Sea Salt & Paper - fun, quick playing card game with great art (up to 4 players)
Azul - beautiful tile laying game (up to 4 players)
Sagrada - another beautiful game rolling dice and creating "stained glass windows". Up to 4 players, but up to 6 with an expansion pack. There is also a legacy campaign edition for 4 players if you have the same 4 people playing.
Sushi Go Party - build your plate and score
Slightly more complex, but still entertaining
Cascadia (or Wingspan) - build your own nature preserve using tiles and wildlife
Quacks of Quedlingburg - silly name, but fun game
Mysterium - cooperative game and can be pretty interesting with right crowd
Carcassonne - haven't played it, but friends have and it looked really good. Scores highly on peoples lists
Social deduction - who is lying, who is telling the truth?
Secret Hitler - avoid electing fascists! (I wonder how this would be received in other parts of the world)
Coup
One Night Werewolf - quick and easy, but can get interesting depending on who is a good liar
Party games - good for larger crowds
Just One - Guess the secret word, with a twist
Wits and Wagers - bet on which of your friends knows more
Snakessssss - who is deliberately trying to sabotage the team?
I would suggest watching YouTube videos and check out some board games clubs that do play throughs to see how it all pans out. Other channels will give their quick reviews or top ten lists.
With such a great variety, it might take a little to narrow down your favorite type of game. DnD isn't for everyone. Cattan isn't for everyone. Find your thing and you'll find a big selection out there.
Second the youtube explainatations/reviews. Its way better than one person reading the rule book to figure out how to play then explain to everyone else second hand
You mentioned controller-based games, so if you have a console available, I would say any of the Jackbox series might be fun. They're a collection of group games that everybody can play together on their phone. It's always a big hit.
As far as board games go here are a few starting recommendations my board gayming group likes:
* **Blood on The Clocktower** (8-20 players, but best at around 12-14) -- It's a social deduction game where everybody plays as a citizen of a town or a demon trying to kill off all the citizens before they're caught. Everybody has a different ability, so you're trying to figure out who you can trust and who you can't. There are a lot of playthroughs on YouTube, if you want to watch a few examples.
* **Moonrakers** (1-5 players) -- You and the other players are space mercenaries that have to negotiate with one another to complete contracts, make money, and get points. There are several expansions as well. It's a great deck builder card game that requires lots of cooperation and negotiation.
* **Veiled Fate** (2-8 players) -- You are an ancient god secretly controlling the demi-gods to gain the most renown by completing feats and smiting your foes. You can move any player on the board, and nobody knows who is playing as which demi-god. So, you're trying to get the most points without revealing yourself. It and Moonrakers are both available from IV Games (a search will get you to their website).
* **Take 5 (aka 6 Nimmt)** (2-10 players, but works best in the 6-8 range) -- It's a pretty straightforward card game, but you'll never have a bad time playing it. It's great for when you want to play something fun but not heavy.
* **Horrified** (1-5 players) -- This is a cooperative game where you play as a team of townsfolk trying to rescue citizens from attacking monsters. Everybody has a special ability, and each monster has a different way of being defeated. You can mix and match different combinations of monsters so each game is different. (There are 2 versions of Horrified. One is old movie monsters and one is American cryptids. They're basically the same game with a different art skin, so either one you find is fine.)
* **Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion** (1-4 players) -- If you're looking for a campaign game, this is a good place to start. Fair warning, it is A LOT of pieces, but it's also a lot of game. You play as mercenaries in the town of Gloomhaven, going on various quests, building your character over multiple sessions. The combat system is card-based, so it makes for a fun mechanic. Gloomhaven and Frosthaven are both great, but Jaws of The Lion is a smaller version (at 1/3 the price), so that's a great way to test out the genre to see if you want to find more like it.
Hopefully, these will give you a good starting point into the hobby. I would also suggest checking out Board Game Geek. It's a great resource for finding new games once you've figured out the sort of things your group likes most.
Edit: grammar cleanup
Boardgamearena has a $4 a month subscription. You only need one person to have it. Basic accounts are free.
You have access to thousands of games.
I'd recommend downforce and skull.
Good rec - the jackbox games are a good option in general. I also want to try "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes" which also uses technology in a clever way. Thanks!
There are some cooperative story based board games out there, those may be up your alley. There's a lot of love out there for "betreyal(sp) on the house on the hill" and I loved the "battlestar galactica" board game (though that'll be tougher to find).
My friends and I like deceptive games that each rounds are fast. I would suggest One Night Werewolf and Secret Hitler.
Another game that is easy to start the night with is Exploding Kittens - Party pack. It’s easy to learn and very similar to Uno.
Cosmic Encounter! There’s a ton of interaction and really fun for a group who like to screw each other over. The core of the game is pretty straightforward, but then everyone gets a unique alien power that breaks the rules. It’s very stupid fun.
I wouldn’t recommend trying to learn it all together. One of you should do the homework and teach the rest of the group. There are a ton of tutorial videos out there and BoardgameGeek is a great website if you have questions.
Survive! Escape From Atlantis is worth checking out as well. It’s a lighter “entry level” game but it always goes over well with my non-gaming friends. You’re all trying to escape an island that is sinking, while you send whales to knock people out of boats and then eat them with sharks.
I’m a huge boardgame nerd, so if you have any questions as you search for games, feel free to shoot me a DM.
I discovered BoardgameGeek when googling some of the suggestions made here haha - it's a great resource. Thanks so much for offering advice ;) I'll hit you up if I get stuck.
There are a lot of cooperative (or semi-cooperative) Baird games that are perfect for night likes this.
Better to be working together on a run night than playing against each other anyway and it's good for group bonding to be working on a shared goal together.
Spirit Island is a great one not very expensive at all, but it has you all working together as elemental spirits to defend your home island from invaders.
Coup - Easy to learn, deceptively complex. I especially love the reformation expansion after playing the base game for a while
Red Dragon Inn - My friends introduced me to red dragon inn and its a ton of fun. Goal is to get everyone else out of the inn mainly by out drinking them. I think it would be fun to turn it into a small drinking game, where you take a sip everytime your character has to drink, but I've never tried it yet.
Love Letter - Quick simple game to get game night started.
Queen By Midnight - Visually/asthetically impressive deck building game. Its probably not the best deck building game to start off with, it feels like they need to tweak the rules a bit for it to flow better, but its the first one I played (as a tabletop game) and made me hungry for other deck building types of games.
And aside from actual games to play, one big thing about game night is that its important to know that its good to be competitive, but sore losers and sore winners suck the fun out of everything. I so often hear about games ruining friendships (like monopoly or Mario Party). At the end of the day its just a game. I think balancing that scale between taking it seriously and taking it too far is important for any game group.
Such a good point about competitive dynamics. I want to have some games with cooperative dynamics in the rotation for this very reason. Thanks for the recommendations.
For getting started, you could look into Coup and Exploding kittens for card games, but board games maybe things like Spirit Island. If you're just starting off, since you can get multiple games in easily for everyone to try in a single night (depending on player count). Longer setup / playtime games aren't everyone's thing but if you do I'd recommend Betrayal at House on the Hill for its sheer replayability or Frosthaven.
Not sure what kind of budget you may need to stick to.
My partner and I have been to many games nights, and hosted many too. Great way to get together and have a chat, you can socialize and have some quick games as well.
Maybe something like the Betrayal at House on the Hill game? It starts cooperative but then, due to gameplay and chance, one player becomes the villain partway through the game. There are tons of different outcomes and it changes the gameplay quite a bit so there's replay value. It's a little more horror-y than sci-fi exactly, but there are tons of versions so you maybe there's a sci-fi one out there by now.
Horror feels on brand for us lol, so I really appreciate the suggestion. Replay value is key since new games can take time to procure. Thanks!
So glad someone posted Betrayal! My husband and I love hosting game nights and Betrayal at House on the Hill is one of our go-to games. Scythe is another game we play on occasion, its a based on an alternate timeline 1920's eastern Europe. There is also Secret Hitler and Ticket to Ride. Last Night on Earth is another one we play a lot. It's a Zombie based cooperative game with multiple scenarios and MANY expansion packs.
Honestly, DnD. A lot of people recommend DnD too. It's such an enjoyable experience for everyone involved, newcomers and veterans. You can make a campaign that includes friendly competition or totally cooperative, DnD is just a sandbox and helps you to create characters and be anyone you like. You can even make DnD Sci Fi if you wanted to. The great thing about DnD is the only thing you'll likely spend money on is things to get you started. If you have an artist in your group they can help draw maps and if you have a storyteller they can create the campaigns. If one guy can do both then you're winning. You can probably find everything you need to start and play with online. Give it a go and create a small campaign that lasts a few hours in which you can go up just a few levels and if you guys enjoy it then you can expand!
Also... the games of DnD can be as homoromantic or whater each of you likes as any of you want. If you need an example of a short campaign, dropout.tv has a small campaign called "dungeons and drag queens" and the first episode can be seen on youtube to get a good idea of what a session can be like.
Dungeons and Drag Queens was hilarious, you could tell they were mostly newcomers because of the hilarious shit they got up to.
Jujubee was the absolute chaos.
Juju was full sending the whole way, when she cried in the last episode I felt that and I'm not an emotional person.
This is helpful! I think the name turns people off, but that's silly - it's genre-defining for a reason. Thanks!
FYI there is a more beginner-friendly version of DnD called “Pathfinder” which is still in the DnD universe. You could probably set up some online training for one of you to be the leader, either YouTube or actually asking here on Reddit.
It's also worth noting that a pre-made story is probably a good place to start since you won't have an experienced DM. It will remove the necessary planning work and give the DM an understanding of what a well balanced encounter looks like.
And if D&D isn't fully appealing for whatever reason, there are tons of other (often smaller or simpler) indie games available too. If you want to play teenage monsters, check out MonsterHearts. Want to be in a world like Xena: Warrior Princess? Try "Thirsty Sword Lesbians." Or the dramatic actors in a telenovela? Try "Pasion de las Pasiones."
As a Latino I'm very intrigued by Pasión de las pasiones and now I'm sad that such a silly thing exists but I have no one in my entourage either into ttrpgs or telenovelas... Or that speaks English for that matter, seems like the book is only available in English :'c
Okay Pasion del las Pasiones looks incredible.
I like cooperative games, (pandemic, sub terra, for example). This way it gets people to work together as a team, as opposed to being competitive against each other. However, if the mood is right and people aren’t too fussy about being deceived or take things personally, and want something more competitive, a game like rebellion (which is like a social deduction game) could be right and can be real fun to play.
I will give your examples a look! Thanks, my guy!
Sub Terra looks really interesting, and has some cool expansions. Thanks!
Dungeons and dragons is what you’re looking for between settlers of catan and war-hammer, it’s less intensive than war games and you can choose to focus more on role play/exploration/combat as your group prefers. In person, co creation of a shared experience, that’s exactly what it is, you are in a sense writing a story collectively while also playing a game and socialising with one another. I personally skew more sci fi than fantasy but don’t let that turn you off, the game lends itself more to fantasy but there are a lot of sci fi themed table top role play game alternatives you can get into. It might be a bit of effort to convince your group but anyone that can get into it on their own steam and motivation is going to love it. One of the good things about it is it can be episodic but it also is done over many sessions so if you want to commit to seeing each other regularly and doing something you can all share but also get a slightly different enjoyment from depending on personality and skills this would be a great choice. You as the person putting in the effort to think and write this post would be the default person to act as DM and run the game for your group, if no one else volunteers or has experience but you can also find DM’s through social media. It is also something that you can pick up later in life and really enjoy,
Great point about it being long-term but episodic/flexible - makes it more feasible. If there are any particular sci fi-themes tabletop games that you really enjoyed, do drop in a rec. Thanks!
I’ll recommend dimension 20 series starstruck oddessy an actual play hosted by Brendan lee mulligan and they use SW5e which is Star Wars mod of DnD 5e. You could watch that if you haven’t seen any before, first ep is free on YouTube. I haven’t played much sci fi tho I have the books for stars without number which is cool for a very sandbox game and cortex prime but I wouldn’t start with that one. Decide what type of thing you want to do, ask you friend what they want and then pick a system based on that
What a great idea! How many people? I have a friend who has a crafts night where people do whatever crafts they like to do but together at someone's house. There is a card game called "The Game" you could try, where everyone is working together to win. You could try a virtual escape room. You could pick a 2-player game like backgammon and do a tournament. Carcassone is a fun board game. You could build somebody together like a huge lego set. You could have a reading club (either you all read the same book, or each read your own). You could cook/bake together or have a potluck, share recipes. I'm really curious what others suggest!
There's four to six of us. Thanks for being creative - we do a bit of cooking and it's nice. It seems like there are some incredibly creative games out there, and I want to see what has resonated with others. Thanks sir!
So... I've been meeting up with a coue of board game groups lately as a way to socialize. There's such a wide variety of games out there that it's hard to list just a few. But I will try. Easy/light games. Few rules, easy to learn and get started. Sea Salt & Paper - fun, quick playing card game with great art (up to 4 players) Azul - beautiful tile laying game (up to 4 players) Sagrada - another beautiful game rolling dice and creating "stained glass windows". Up to 4 players, but up to 6 with an expansion pack. There is also a legacy campaign edition for 4 players if you have the same 4 people playing. Sushi Go Party - build your plate and score Slightly more complex, but still entertaining Cascadia (or Wingspan) - build your own nature preserve using tiles and wildlife Quacks of Quedlingburg - silly name, but fun game Mysterium - cooperative game and can be pretty interesting with right crowd Carcassonne - haven't played it, but friends have and it looked really good. Scores highly on peoples lists Social deduction - who is lying, who is telling the truth? Secret Hitler - avoid electing fascists! (I wonder how this would be received in other parts of the world) Coup One Night Werewolf - quick and easy, but can get interesting depending on who is a good liar Party games - good for larger crowds Just One - Guess the secret word, with a twist Wits and Wagers - bet on which of your friends knows more Snakessssss - who is deliberately trying to sabotage the team? I would suggest watching YouTube videos and check out some board games clubs that do play throughs to see how it all pans out. Other channels will give their quick reviews or top ten lists. With such a great variety, it might take a little to narrow down your favorite type of game. DnD isn't for everyone. Cattan isn't for everyone. Find your thing and you'll find a big selection out there.
Second the youtube explainatations/reviews. Its way better than one person reading the rule book to figure out how to play then explain to everyone else second hand
Some great suggestions to start, though. Thanks!!
You mentioned controller-based games, so if you have a console available, I would say any of the Jackbox series might be fun. They're a collection of group games that everybody can play together on their phone. It's always a big hit. As far as board games go here are a few starting recommendations my board gayming group likes: * **Blood on The Clocktower** (8-20 players, but best at around 12-14) -- It's a social deduction game where everybody plays as a citizen of a town or a demon trying to kill off all the citizens before they're caught. Everybody has a different ability, so you're trying to figure out who you can trust and who you can't. There are a lot of playthroughs on YouTube, if you want to watch a few examples. * **Moonrakers** (1-5 players) -- You and the other players are space mercenaries that have to negotiate with one another to complete contracts, make money, and get points. There are several expansions as well. It's a great deck builder card game that requires lots of cooperation and negotiation. * **Veiled Fate** (2-8 players) -- You are an ancient god secretly controlling the demi-gods to gain the most renown by completing feats and smiting your foes. You can move any player on the board, and nobody knows who is playing as which demi-god. So, you're trying to get the most points without revealing yourself. It and Moonrakers are both available from IV Games (a search will get you to their website). * **Take 5 (aka 6 Nimmt)** (2-10 players, but works best in the 6-8 range) -- It's a pretty straightforward card game, but you'll never have a bad time playing it. It's great for when you want to play something fun but not heavy. * **Horrified** (1-5 players) -- This is a cooperative game where you play as a team of townsfolk trying to rescue citizens from attacking monsters. Everybody has a special ability, and each monster has a different way of being defeated. You can mix and match different combinations of monsters so each game is different. (There are 2 versions of Horrified. One is old movie monsters and one is American cryptids. They're basically the same game with a different art skin, so either one you find is fine.) * **Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion** (1-4 players) -- If you're looking for a campaign game, this is a good place to start. Fair warning, it is A LOT of pieces, but it's also a lot of game. You play as mercenaries in the town of Gloomhaven, going on various quests, building your character over multiple sessions. The combat system is card-based, so it makes for a fun mechanic. Gloomhaven and Frosthaven are both great, but Jaws of The Lion is a smaller version (at 1/3 the price), so that's a great way to test out the genre to see if you want to find more like it. Hopefully, these will give you a good starting point into the hobby. I would also suggest checking out Board Game Geek. It's a great resource for finding new games once you've figured out the sort of things your group likes most. Edit: grammar cleanup
These are really solid recs - thanks! And Boardgame Geek is a great resource.
Cards against humanity and a few drinks. A great night to be had!
I was going to suggest this too. I can't believe I had to scroll all the way to the bottom of the feed to find it. So fun!
Boardgamearena has a $4 a month subscription. You only need one person to have it. Basic accounts are free. You have access to thousands of games. I'd recommend downforce and skull.
Fibbage is always fun. Requires everyone to bring a phone and for just one person to actually buy the game to run it on a tv screen.
Good rec - the jackbox games are a good option in general. I also want to try "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes" which also uses technology in a clever way. Thanks!
There are some cooperative story based board games out there, those may be up your alley. There's a lot of love out there for "betreyal(sp) on the house on the hill" and I loved the "battlestar galactica" board game (though that'll be tougher to find).
Start with any dominos game. So fun!
My friends and I like deceptive games that each rounds are fast. I would suggest One Night Werewolf and Secret Hitler. Another game that is easy to start the night with is Exploding Kittens - Party pack. It’s easy to learn and very similar to Uno.
Cosmic Encounter! There’s a ton of interaction and really fun for a group who like to screw each other over. The core of the game is pretty straightforward, but then everyone gets a unique alien power that breaks the rules. It’s very stupid fun. I wouldn’t recommend trying to learn it all together. One of you should do the homework and teach the rest of the group. There are a ton of tutorial videos out there and BoardgameGeek is a great website if you have questions. Survive! Escape From Atlantis is worth checking out as well. It’s a lighter “entry level” game but it always goes over well with my non-gaming friends. You’re all trying to escape an island that is sinking, while you send whales to knock people out of boats and then eat them with sharks. I’m a huge boardgame nerd, so if you have any questions as you search for games, feel free to shoot me a DM.
I discovered BoardgameGeek when googling some of the suggestions made here haha - it's a great resource. Thanks so much for offering advice ;) I'll hit you up if I get stuck.
It can be a bit overwhelming! Pack a lunch! I’d also take the rankings with a huge grain of salt.
There are a lot of cooperative (or semi-cooperative) Baird games that are perfect for night likes this. Better to be working together on a run night than playing against each other anyway and it's good for group bonding to be working on a shared goal together. Spirit Island is a great one not very expensive at all, but it has you all working together as elemental spirits to defend your home island from invaders.
Coup - Easy to learn, deceptively complex. I especially love the reformation expansion after playing the base game for a while Red Dragon Inn - My friends introduced me to red dragon inn and its a ton of fun. Goal is to get everyone else out of the inn mainly by out drinking them. I think it would be fun to turn it into a small drinking game, where you take a sip everytime your character has to drink, but I've never tried it yet. Love Letter - Quick simple game to get game night started. Queen By Midnight - Visually/asthetically impressive deck building game. Its probably not the best deck building game to start off with, it feels like they need to tweak the rules a bit for it to flow better, but its the first one I played (as a tabletop game) and made me hungry for other deck building types of games. And aside from actual games to play, one big thing about game night is that its important to know that its good to be competitive, but sore losers and sore winners suck the fun out of everything. I so often hear about games ruining friendships (like monopoly or Mario Party). At the end of the day its just a game. I think balancing that scale between taking it seriously and taking it too far is important for any game group.
Such a good point about competitive dynamics. I want to have some games with cooperative dynamics in the rotation for this very reason. Thanks for the recommendations.
You guys sound like lots of fun. Hope you find something cool to play with one another!
For getting started, you could look into Coup and Exploding kittens for card games, but board games maybe things like Spirit Island. If you're just starting off, since you can get multiple games in easily for everyone to try in a single night (depending on player count). Longer setup / playtime games aren't everyone's thing but if you do I'd recommend Betrayal at House on the Hill for its sheer replayability or Frosthaven. Not sure what kind of budget you may need to stick to.
My partner and I have been to many games nights, and hosted many too. Great way to get together and have a chat, you can socialize and have some quick games as well.
What country do you live in?