I’ve played board games since childhood, and as an adult I dove into hobby headfirst in 1999 after being introduced to modern games like Settlers of Catan. Board games are central to many of my favorite memories, like…

The time a group of us played the entire campaign of Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 over a single weekend.

The time my wife and I introduced one of my older sisters to Saboteur and saw just how suspicious and conniving she can be.

The time I was the last player remaining in Ra and had a 50-50 shot of pulling the one tile that would give me the win… and lost.

The many times (far too many to count) that I nearly passed out from laughing so hard playing Time’s Up.

The time a good friend told me his house burned down and my first question was whether his game table survived the fire.

Most of all, I cherish the many incredible lifelong friendships built at the game table.

Needless to say, I love game nights. (And game days, game weekends, game weeks… if the word “game” is followed by a timeframe, I’m all in. Especially once the gathering restrictions related to COVID-19 are lifted!)

In fact, I love game nights so much that I’m writing a book for Tiller Press called How to Host a Game Night, and I’m thrilled to reveal the cover here at The Opinionated Gamers:

The book is scheduled to be released this fall, and right now I’m smack dab in the middle of writing it. How to Host a Game Night will be full of practical advice and a lot of stories based on my game-night experiences — and the experiences of gamers like you.

In fact, I would love to hear from you!

What are your favorite game night memories? What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen happen at a game night? What are your go-to games for new players?

Please take a few minutes to share your stories by filling out this form. (Even if you don’t host a regular game night, there are plenty of questions you can answer!)

How to Host a Game Night is my love letter to game nights and I can’t wait for it to be available. In the meantime, here’s to many more great memories at the game table!

How to Host a Game Night will be available in trade paperback and ebook. It can be pre-ordered via the Tiller Press website. Connect with Erik Arneson on Twitter at @ErikBoardGames.