10 Absolutely Awesome Games for Home Game Room

Building your very own home game room is like a childhood dream come true. You will finally have the chance to add all your favorite games and fun activities that you always dreamed of as a kid! Imagine being able to have your friends and family over, and offer them the chance to experience hours of laughter and friendly competition from the comfort of your own home.

It's awesome, right?!

Although, once you set your heart on building the ultimate gameroom or man cave of your dreams, you still have to decide on what games to put in there.

Unless you are Bill Gates, you are likely to have limited space and resources and will have to narrow your list down to just a few games that everyone can enjoy. But, choosing the games that will best fit your humble abode can be like trying to build the perfect sandwich at Subway; there are just too many options!

That's why I have taken the time to compile this quick list of some of the top 10 best games that everyone building a home game room should consider.

Hopefully, this list will be informative and help you choose the perfect balance of games for your rec room.

Let's have a look!

1. Ping Pong

Sometimes referred to as 'Table Tennis', Ping Pong is one of the most commonly found games in the home game/rec rooms. From young to young at heart, anyone can play Ping Pong; the game is pretty SIMPLE to get started with. It's a very fun and fast-paced game with easy-to-follow rules.

The appeal of Ping Pong is how readily accessible and easy to learn it is. Although, it will require the players to have a bit of practiced skill to become good at it.

Ping Pong is a great choice for home game rooms in part because of the ability to involve up to 4 players when you are playing doubles. However, due to the relatively large table (5' x 9'), you will need quite a bit of space in your game room to be able to fit the table and still play comfortably.

If you want to bring a bit of a competitive edge to your game room, and have the proper room space to do so, adding a Ping Pong table is sure to be a welcome addition that will bring endless amounts of fun.

2. Pool

A Pool table is guaranteed to bring a cozy pub vibe to your home game room. Pool tables can come in a wide range of sizes, and are sure to fit in most game rooms. So if you have a smaller game room, you will have the option to choose a smaller Pool table to keep things comfortable. You can even mix things up and go for a Bumper Pool or Snooker table if you are feeling extra exotic.

In addition to the range of size options, Pool tables also offer the potential for dozens of billiard games that can be enjoyed on them. With a Pool table, you are not limiting yourself to just 8-Ball. You will be able to play games such as 9-Ball, 15-Ball, Chicago, Cutthroat Pool, One Pocket, Bank Pool, and many more.

A Pool table brings a lot of versatility and the possibility for endless fun to any home game room.

3. Darts

A dartboard, just like a Pool table, will bring no small amount of variety to your home game room. There are dozens of different types of dart games that can be enjoyed with just a standard dartboard and darts. In addition, you will have the chance to include far more of your family and friends in on the action at the same time.

Dartboards come in several types and allow you to choose between a range of models to appeal to your own personal tastes. You can find traditional fiber sisal dartboards, cork dartboards, wooden dartboards, and even plastic electronic dartboards. This ensures that not only do you add a wide range of games to your room, but also a wide range of styles without taking up a lot of space.

4. Foosball

Foosball is the tabletop take on the most popular sport in the world - soccer. Well, Soccer only if you are from the USA, Football for everyone else. No matter what name you prefer to call it, the concept of the game is the same. You can either play 1 on 1, or 2 on 2, and the game centers around two teams trying to strike a hard ball into the goal of their opponent, just like Soccer, or Football.

Depending on if you are in Europe or the USA, the layout of the tables might differ slightly. However, those slight differences will not detract from the fact that Foosball is one of the most classic and iconic home game room games around.

Just make sure you establish the complete game rules before playing, as they can differ depending on the region as well.

5. Air Hockey

Air Hockey is especially popular in arcades and 'barcades' across North America, not just the USA. This game follows the simple concepts of hockey, and utilizes air pressure pushed through small holes on the surface to allow the puck to glide smoothly. Many Air Hockey tables even come with digital scoreboards and other bells and whistles to make the overall vibe of the game more 'cool'.

Many of us remember the constant battle of back and forth, trying to slide the puck into the opponent's goal. It brought hours of fun, friendly smack talk, and bragging rights for the victor.

An Air Hockey table will bring plenty of nostalgia and great memories to your home game room for certain.

6. Arcade Basketball

Arcade Basketball games come in all shapes and sizes but are generally larger than most other games. This means that you might need a slightly larger home game room than average. But, if you have the space to spare, they are worth it. Arcade Basketball games come in single-player or multi-player formats and allow you to play a variety of point-based Basketball games.

Arcade Basketball will be a welcome addition to any home game room that has a bit of space to spare, and for those who love a bit of healthy competition. You can find out rather quickly who the Michael Jordan of the family is by making this simple addition to your home game room.

7. Arcade Machine

Almost any gamer remembers or at least knows about arcades. The sheer thrill of heading to the arcade with your friends on the weekend, and spending every quarter you have on Galaga, cannot be matched.

If you are in the market for recreating this same feeling of old school cool within your own home, an arcade game cabinet is the way to go. You can find many modern replicas that come with dozens of games pre-installed, or go the classic route and buy a used or restored unit.

Either way, Pac-Man, Galaga, or even Street Fighter can be pretty awesome to have at home whenever you want it. Not to mention, maintaining that coveted high score will bring endless amounts of bragging rights among your friends and family.

8. Video Game Consoles

You don't have to fully invest in a massive arcade cabinet to bring the appeal of digital fun to your home game room. While they are cool, they aren't for everyone. Perhaps you may appreciate the console world of gaming instead. Here you will still be able to capture that sense of nostalgia while also maintaining a smaller profile.

With only a TV, and a few cables, you can have the option of dozens of potential consoles to choose from, both modern and classic. You can choose to go vintage with the Nintendo NES, or grab a PS4 and play current releases.

A console library brings limitless potential. However, beware, consoles can often provide limited group fun experiences. Most consoles will only support up to 4 players at a time, so if you are looking for mass appeal, perhaps consider making sure there are more than just consoles to occupy your guests in your home game room.

9. Shuffleboard Table

Taking a step away from digital, and back into the pub feel, Shuffleboard tables are a timeless classic of the table games genre. Shuffleboard is a similar game to 'Curling', besides the obvious differences.

For one, this is played on a table at home and not on ice skates. The game revolves around players taking turns gliding their colored weights down the long table, and into their opponents in order to score points without being knocked off themselves.

A Shuffleboard table will pair extremely well with nearly any home game room aesthetic or decor. It has a classic feel and classic recognition that will appeal to nearly anyone; young and old.

While the game is limited to a maximum of two players, the games are typically rather quick and allow for easy in-home tournaments. This means that you can rather quickly establish a group Shuffleboard activity that can provide an entire day of fun.

10. Golf Putting Mat

You don't have to be a bored office worker, or an evil politician to enjoy a Golf Putting Mat in your home. A Golf Putting Mat can provide a fair amount more in entertainment within your home game room than you may have expected at first.

They can come in a wide range of styles and lengths, as well as digital and non-digital. This means that you and your friends or family members can spend hours practicing your puts or trick shots from the comfort of your own game room, without the need of a golf cart.

In addition to being fun, Golf Putting Mats are incredibly portable and quite easily stored when not in use. This means that you can save on space, and include an additional game option to your home game room all at the same time.

It's a win-win!

*By Kevin James

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