Set three constraints
Before naming games, agree on available time, desired energy, and the kind of participation everyone wants. A two-hour relaxed evening with constant participation produces a very different shortlist from an all-night competitive session.
Constraints should remove options, not describe a perfect game. Examples include rounds under thirty minutes, no horror, controller support for four, or something that works while people talk.
Use nominations and one veto each
Let each person add one candidate that fits the constraints. Then give everyone one no-questions-asked veto. A veto is more useful than asking every person to rank games they have never played, and it avoids forcing someone into a theme or difficulty they strongly dislike.
Preview the loop, not the logo
For the remaining games, watch enough footage to understand what players do every minute. Ask whether everyone acts at the same time, how failure works, and whether newcomers can contribute. Familiar brands are reassuring, but the repeated loop is what fills the evening.
- Can everyone read the screen from the sofa?
- Does anyone spend long periods waiting?
- Can difficulty be adjusted per player or for the whole group?
- Is there a natural stopping point before the planned end time?
Let chance finish the decision
Once three acceptable games remain, pick randomly. At that point, more debate usually has less value than starting. Save the other two as ready-made choices for the next game night.