How to build the ultimate playlist for games night

A games night can be a great way to get together with your friends and enjoy some light-hearted entertainment. Who doesn’t enjoy a game?

There are absolutely loads of ways that people can host games nights with their pals. They can be competitive and take on formats such as tournaments, but they can also just be a bit of casual fun between friends as they dust off old board games or log in to mobile games together if that’s more your vibe.

Music can always enhance the occasion and make it feel far more immersive, but only if you get it right. So, what are some of the ways to build the ideal playlist for games night?

Choose Music That Suits the Games
Games nights can take a lot of different forms. A lot of people choose to get together to play digital games such as console games. You can also incorporate casino games if you want, too. The rise of UK mobile casinos means that the games are accessible anywhere. Additionally, some mobile casinos have atmospheric music included in them!

People who are running casino or card game nights might choose music that fits – by this, we mean the kind of jazzy music found in films such as Ocean’s 11. Rat pack tunes, such as that of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, can also give casino game vibes.

Every form of game has its own musical vibes and accompaniment. Playing 80s-themed console games? This was a golden age of music that definitely has its own signature sound that can fit with the game night.

Break the Night Into Sections
A single mood can grow stale. Even if every song is a real hit, people want variation in style. Divide the evening into chapters. Start with warm-up tracks that ease people in while they grab a couple of drinks and set up. You can then raise the tempo when everyone’s in the mood. There’s a time in the night where you can play upbeat rock like The Hives or even more dance-focused music, but this probably won’t work for the whole night.

When the winners are crowned and people are chatting, it could be time for easy listening background songs that let conversation take over and the natural flow of the night progress. We’ve all been in the situation where we want to chat and the music is just too loud. Don’t let it get to that stage.

If you are going to plan music for the whole night, then playlists are definitely your friends. Who has time to sit and plan five or six hours of music? Playlists on Apple Music or Spotify can be a useful tool for that conundrum.

Mix Familiar Favourites With Hidden Gems
Crowd-pleasers keep people interested. Sliding in a few less obvious tunes adds personality. You can search for remixes or instrumental versions of classics to keep them fresh. A gentle cover of a pop hit can sit behind serious rounds of trivia without drawing attention away from the action.

Serious gaming crews might also appreciate things such as nods to the gaming world. Soundtracks can become iconic in the world of gaming, and people like to listen to them outside of the gaming context.

Table games often require something a little bit more mellow approach. Some smooth jazz or soft funk helps players stay present without breaking concentration. Music that nods to quiet coffee shop vibes can bring a sense of atmosphere.

Take Some Requests
As long as your friends are nice and sensible…

Requests are a good way to know what kind of mood people are in. There will always be someone who just chooses a completely crazy option for the sake of it, but if you notice a few people going in a more rock-y direction, for example, then you can switch up the songs for the rest of the night.

Some people just make joint playlists. This is super easy to do on platforms such as Apple Music now and people can add songs to the playlist from their own devices.

Keep Volume and Flow in Check
Even the perfect playlist can lose its charm if it’s too loud or the songs jar against each other. Aim for a level where people don’t have to shout over the speakers. Cross-fade settings in most apps let one song glide into the next. This stops awkward gaps in the flow of the evening.

Make sure tracks aren’t too short or too long. Rapid switches can disrupt focus in games such as poker or dominoes. Epic tracks can drag if the action is moving quickly.

Stay Flexible
Every group has its own rhythm. Some nights lean competitive, and others just become social catchups where the games almost fade into the background. Keep an eye on how people react to the music. If chatter is louder than the playlist, you can slide in subtler tunes. If a new party title takes over, swapping to upbeat hits might help fuel the laughter.

Apps make adjustments easy. Many streaming services offer “radio” features based on a song or artist you’ve already added, giving you fresh picks without hunting through menus mid-game.

Don’t Overthink It
This point ties in very closely with the previous. If you are making a playlist, the worst thing you can do is overthink it and not be willing to change it. Nobody can predict exactly how the night is going to go. Some nights have a silly feel; others end up being more serious. If somebody is in a serious mood, “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang just is not going to hit the right notes.

Letting others have an input and being flexible about what you’re going to play are perfect methods to avoid overthinking. Everything can change; don’t feel like your playlist is set in stone.

Leave the Guests With a Smile
You’ve been their DJ for the night, so give them something to smile about at the end. As the evening winds down, use music to signal a shift from playing to talking. Softer tracks or gentle acoustic renditions encourage people to linger and chat. If there’s a clear winner of the night, a playful victory theme or tongue-in-cheek anthem such as “Who Let the Dogs Out: can sometimes send everyone home with a chuckle.