Not Just for Kids: Why Adults Need Game Nights Too

Holly Hartman
May 12
2 min read

Black, Yellow and Lime green game pieces scattered in a row, 3 dice stacked

Remember when fun didn’t come with a to-do list? When “Friday night plans” didn’t mean emails and laundry?

Yeah, we miss that too.

But here's the secret: adults need game nights just as much as kids do—maybe more.

Grown-Up Brains Need Play, Too

Let’s talk science for a sec (but like, the fun kind):

A 2021 Frontiers in Psychology study found that play-based activities reduce cortisol (aka stress hormone) and increase dopamine (aka the feel-good stuff) in adults.
Researchers have also linked adult play to greater emotional resilience, improved problem-solving, and even better relationships.So if you’ve been feeling burnt out, isolated, or like you forgot how to laugh from your belly—it’s not just you. You probably just need a little structured silliness.

Play isn’t immature—it’s essential.

Why Board Games Are the Adult-Safe Playground

Let’s be honest: adult friendships are hard. And self-care?

Ha. That’s often just scrolling TikTok and calling it “recharging.”

Board games give us something rare in grown-up life:

A reason to gather
Permission to play
A break from doomscrolling
Connection without performance

You don’t need to be good at games. You don’t need to be “funny” or “extroverted” or “cool.” You just need to show up, pick a meeple, and let the game do the rest.

Laughs, Snacks, and Sanity

At GTG, we’ve seen parents come alive again over Wingspan, teachers decompress with Sushi Go!, and entire tables of tired adults forget they were tired somewhere around round three.

The truth is: grown-ups are just kids with more bills. And game night?

It’s joy, disguised as strategy.