Introduction
In this blog, we will be your guide to the ultimate list of the best indoor games to play with friends. Whether you are planning a game night, a casual get-together, or just looking to make a weekend hangout more exciting, these indoor games offer a lot of opportunities for fun and entertainment with friends and entertainment.
What Is Indoor Games
As the name suggests, indoor games are activities that can be played within the confines of a house or other indoor space. They range from classic board games to card games, offering something for everyone’s preferences and skill levels.
Objective
Indoor games provide opportunities for socializing, strategic thinking, and friendly competition, making them perfect for gatherings with friends or family.
Poker
Objective
The objective in Poker varies depending on the variant being played but generally involves winning chips or money by having the best hand or convincing opponents to fold. Players aim to create the strongest hand possible using a combination of community cards and their private cards, or by skillfully bluffing to mislead opponents
How to Play Poker:
- Choose a Poker variant (common variants include Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Crazy Pineapple, etc)
- Each player joins the game with a predetermined amount of chips or money as their initial stake
- The dealer who shuffles the deck and deals hole cards (private cards) to each player, following the specific rules of the chosen Poker variant
- Community cards are placed in the center of the table, with the number of cards and the method of revealing them varying by variant. Players must use their hole cards combined with the community cards to form the best hand possible
- The player to the left of the dealer typically begins the betting, with subsequent players having the option to call, raise, or fold
- Community cards are revealed in stages, and betting rounds occur between each revelation
- Bluffing is a crucial element of the game. Players may bet or raise to mislead opponents about the strength of their hand
- The game continues with multiple betting rounds and card reveals until a winner is determined or players reach a showdown
- In a showdown, the remaining players reveal their cards, and the player with the best hand wins the pot
Poker, with its blend of skill, psychology, and mathematics, offers an immersive indoor gaming experience. Whether played casually among friends or in more competitive settings, the game provides endless possibilities for strategic thinking, risk assessment, and quick decision-making
Carrom
Objective
The primary objective of the game is to pocket all of your carrom men and the red queen before your opponents. Players or teams take turns using a striker to flick carrom men into the four corner pockets of the square wooden board. The red queen must be pocketed before the final carrom man to win the game.
How to Play Carrom
- Place the carrom board in the center of the playing area
- Arrange the carrom discs (also called carrom men) in the center circle of the board
- Position the red queen at the center of the carrom men
- Each player or team selects a color and places their carrom men in their designated starting positions, forming a Y shape
- Decide who goes first through mutual agreement or a coin toss
- The first player takes the striker and flicks it, aiming to pocket their carrom men and the red queen
- Players take turns in a clockwise fashion until one successfully pockets all their carrom men and the red queen
Ludo
Objective
Ludo is one of the best games to play with friends indoors. To win, you have to move all of your tokens from the starting area, around the board, and into the finishing area before your opponents. Players achieve this by rolling a dice and moving their tokens based on the number rolled. The first player to get all their tokens to the finish line is declared the winner.
How to Play Ludo
- Place the Ludo board in the center of the playing area
- Each player selects a color and places their four tokens in their respective starting areas
- Decide who goes first through mutual agreement or a random method
- Players take turns rolling a six-sided dice and move one of their tokens forward the number of spaces indicated by the dice
- Tokens move around the board clockwise, following the designated path towards the center
- Players must roll a six to move a token out of the starting area or to make a move from the finishing area
- The first player to move all four tokens into the finishing area wins the game
Chess
Objective:
In Chess, you have to checkmate your opponent’s king. Players achieve this by strategically moving their pieces on an 8×8 grid, putting the opponent’s king in a position where it cannot escape capture. Chess is a game of tactics, positional play, and calculated moves.
How to Play Chess
- Place the chessboard so that each player has a white square on their right-hand side
- Position the pieces on the board: each player has 16 pieces – one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns
- The pawns are placed in a row in front of the other pieces
- Rooks go in the corners, knights next to them, then bishops, with the queen placed on her matching color square, and finally, the kings
- Decide who goes first, traditionally determined by the color of the pieces (white moves first)
- Players take turns moving one of their pieces according to its allowed moves until one achieves checkmate or a draw is declared
Monopoly
Objective:
In Monopoly, you have to bankrupt your opponents by strategically buying, trading, and developing properties. Players move around the game board, purchasing properties, collecting rent, and aiming to create monopolies to increase their financial dominance. The last player remaining with money and assets is the winner.
How to Play Monopoly?
- Unfold the Monopoly board and place it in the center of the playing area
- Each player selects a game piece and places it in the ‘GO’ space
- Shuffle the Chance and Community Chest cards and place them face-down on their respective spaces
- Place all properties, houses, and hotels next to the board
- Each player receives an equal amount of money (Monopoly money) in various denominations
- Decide on a banker to manage money transactions
- Roll the dice to determine the starting player; the one with the highest roll goes first. Players roll two six-sided dice and move their game pieces accordingly
- Players move their pieces around the board according to the dice roll. Depending on the space landed on, players can buy unowned properties, pay rent to other players, draw Chance or Community Chest cards, or engage in other in-game events
- Building monopolies (owning all properties of a color group) allows players to construct houses and hotels, increasing rent fees
- The game continues until all players but one are bankrupt, with the remaining player declared the winner
It’s time to pick your favorite from this list of indoor games and gather your friends to join in the fun! May the best player win!
Frequently Asked Questions
What age group are these indoor games suitable for?
These indoor games are suitable for a wide range of age groups, from children to adults. While some may require more strategic thinking, many of them can be adapted to accommodate players of different ages and skill levels.
How many players are required for each game?
The number of players required varies for each game. Games like Chess and Poker can be played with just two players, while Ludo and Monopoly are best enjoyed with multiple players, typically ranging from 2 to 4 or more.
Can indoor games be played online?
Most of these games can be played both offline and online, depending on personal preferences and availability. Many digital versions of these games are available for PCs, smartphones, and gaming consoles, allowing players to enjoy them anytime and from anywhere.
Conclusion
Playing indoor games is the perfect way to bond with friends and family. Whether you prefer the strategy of Chess, the excitement of Poker, or the nostalgia of Ludo, there’s a game for everyone to enjoy. So next time you are planning a gathering or just want to spice up a cozy night in, consider trying out one of these classic indoor games for endless fun and memorable moments.
