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ideas for a guys night in

Is your guys night in turning boring? That's not uncommon since men are often creatures of habit and classic ideas such as just hanging out watching a movie or playing video games while drinking beers at home tends to be the go-to idea that we need to take to the next level. Don't worry, I'm not talking about spending some crazy cash, doing anything that could get you in trouble or take tons of time setting up. Instead, we're going to talk about some ways that you can take your next guys night in and turn it into an awesome memorable experience.

Themed Movie Night

You may have thought that simply hanging out on the couch with the guys and watching something random on TV would be good enough for a fun guys' night in, but let's turn things up to 11 and turn that movie experience into an all-out Movie Theme Party!

Movie ThemeFoodDress CostumesGames/Activities
James Bond Night Martinis, finger foods Tuxedos, black suits Poker, casino games
Star Wars Night Wookiee cookies, Jedi juice Jedi robes, Sith attire Lightsaber duels, trivia
Superhero Night Heroic sandwiches, Super Sodas Superhero costumes Superhero board games
Top Gun Night Aviation-themed snacks Flight suits, aviator shades Fighter jet simulators
The Godfather Night Italian pasta, cannoli Sharp suits, fedora hats Poker, mafia-themed games
Rocky Night Philly cheesesteaks Boxing robes, boxing gloves Boxing video game tournament
Indiana Jones Night Adventure trail mix Fedora, leather jacket Treasure hunt, archaeology games
The Lord of the Rings Night Hobbit pies, elven bread Hobbit costumes, elf ears Lord of the Rings trivia, quest games
The Hangover Night Hangover cure breakfast Bachelor party attire Drinking games, scavenger hunt
Die Hard Night Nakatomi Plaza-inspired snacks NYPD / LAPD badges, John McClane attire Die Hard movie marathon, obstacle course

Feel free to adapt these theme night elements to suit your preferences

Let's face it. At this point you and your friends probably have seen your favorite movies several times so putting something up on the TV or projection screen to watch isn't about listening to every piece of dialogue. So, take it to the next level by hosting a movie night featuring Top Gun, where everyone dresses up for the occasion. Think of it the way people make the Rocky Horror Picture Show an event. This is pretty much the same way except with other movies.

You know you'll have fun watching the movie ... but you'll certainly remember the night laughing at your buddy rocking a fake mustache in honor of Goose.

Whiskey, Beer or Wine Tasting

You'll be drinking something, so why not make it an experience to remember? While you probably have your favorite beer or spirits, that's fine but now you can share with the rest of the guys and do a tasting during your next guys night in.

Tasting TypeIdeas to Take It to the Next Level at Home
Whiskey 1. Whiskey Flight Experience: Curate a selection of different whiskeys, ranging from bourbon to scotch, for a guided tasting.
  2. Whiskey Tasting Sheets: Create tasting sheets with notes on appearance, nose, palate, and finish to encourage detailed analysis.
  3. Whiskey and Food Pairing: Prepare whiskey-friendly appetizers like smoked meats, gourmet cheeses, or dark chocolate to complement the tasting.
  4. Virtual Whiskey Expert: Invite a whiskey expert to join the tasting virtually, providing insights and answering questions.
  5. Whiskey Blind Taste Test: Blindfold participants and challenge them to identify the whiskey's brand or type based on taste and aroma.
Beer 1. Craft Beer Sampler: Assemble a mixed pack of craft beers from different breweries and regions for a diverse tasting.
  2. Beer Tasting Cards: Create tasting cards with categories like aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and overall impression to rate each beer.
  3. Beer and Food Pairing: Pair beers with homemade sliders, pretzels, or gourmet popcorn for a fun beer and food pairing experience.
  4. Virtual Brewery Tour: Arrange a virtual brewery tour with a brewery representative, offering insights into the brewing process.
  5. Beer Trivia or Quiz: Test your beer knowledge with a trivia quiz or a beer-related game to keep the night engaging.
Wine 1. Wine Flight Selection: Choose a variety of wines (red, white, sparkling) and create a flight for a guided wine tasting.
  2. Wine Tasting Mats: Provide wine tasting mats with spaces for notes on appearance, aroma, flavor, and finish.
  3. Wine and Cheese Pairing: Create a charcuterie board with assorted cheeses, grapes, and crackers to pair with the wines.
  4. Virtual Sommelier: Invite a sommelier or wine expert for a virtual wine tasting session with educational insights.
  5. Wine Trivia or Blind Tasting: Test your wine knowledge with trivia questions or conduct a blind tasting challenge among friends.

These ideas can elevate your at-home whiskey, beer, or wine-tasting experience and create the foundation for an epic guys' night in, allowing you to explore flavors, learn, and have a great time in the comfort of your own home.

The key here is setting the rules to guide what each guy brings in. For instance, if your group loves whiskey - then each guy should bring something he loves from a different country. For instance, you might have one guy bring a bottle of NED Green Sash, which is said to be the best Australian whisky, while another brings a bottle from South Africa, Thailand, India, or Japan.

To take things even further - you should contact our friend Tom from BourbonBlog.com so he can do a virtual whiskey tasting for your group.

Retro Game Night

Sure, you could sit at home and play Xbox during your guys night in but what fun is that? Instead, you can consider renting an arcade game or even pooling your money to buy one for an awesome birthday present for the host.

Here are some of our top picks for retro game machines that you can find on Amazon.

 Product NameShort DescriptionUser Rating (Number of Reviews)Price
 atari flashback retro games Atari Flashback 12 Gold, Retro Game Console Retro Game Console, Built-in 130 Classic Games, Two Joystick and Paddle Controllers, HDMI, PLUG & PLAY on HD TV 3.9 out of 5 stars (27 reviews) $82.99
 funtell wireless retro games FUNTELL Wireless Retro Game Console Wireless Retro Game Console, Plug & Play Video TV Game Stick with 15000+ Games Built-in, 64G, 9 Emulators, 4K HDMI Nostalgia Stick Game for TV, Dual 2.4G Wireless Controllers 3.4 out of 5 stars (785 reviews) $36.49
 nes retro game console SHMILYS Classic Mini Console 8-Bit Video Retro Game System Classic Mini Console 8-Bit Video Retro Game System Built-in with 777 Classic Old-School Games Dual Players Mode Console for Adults Kids Christmas/Birthday/Thanksgiving/Valentine Gift 4.1 out of 5 stars (10 reviews) $27.99
super retro snes classic video game console  Super Retro Game Console Classic Mini HDMI System Super Retro Game Console Classic Mini HDMI System with Built in 821 Old School Video Games, Super Classic System, Plug and Play 3.5 out of 5 stars (26 reviews) $36.99
 kinhank retro console Kinhank Retro Game Console with 100000+Games Retro Game Console with 100000+Games, Super Console CUBE X3 Video Game Console with EmuElec 4.5/Android 9/CoreE, 8K Output, 2.4+5G, BT 4.0, Emulator Console Compatible with Most Emulators, Best Gift 3.8 out of 5 stars (49 reviews) $129.99
 arcade1up classic galaga multi arcade game ARCADE1UP Galaga Deluxe Arcade Machine Galaga Deluxe Arcade Machine, Built for Your Home, 5-Foot-Tall Stand-Up Cabinet with 14 Classic Games, 17-Inch BOE Screen, Black 4.6 out of 5 stars (59 reviews) $499.99
 arcade classics 4 player retro multigame arcade machine Full Size Commercial Grade Upright Standup Arcade Machine Full Size Commercial Grade Upright Standup Arcade Machine 4 Player 3500 Classic Games 32 inch Screen Black 5.0 out of 5 stars (1 review) $2,899.99

Just imagine how much fun it will be to turn the music up loud and pound those buttons as you recall memories from days gone by!

Food Tasting From Around The World

This can be done in a few different ways - for instance, following the pattern set by the drinks above where instead of just bringing wine from Italy, you also bring some Italian food to share. Or it can be more exotic than that where you try a completely new cuisine and have it delivered or one of the guys can pick it up on the way over.

quick, fun, and easy international foods that men can either make or find easily to bring to a guys' night in party, featuring diverse cuisines:

CuisineDishDescription
Russian Pelmeni Dumplings filled with meat or mushrooms, served with sour cream or butter.
Polish Pierogi Stuffed dumplings typically filled with potatoes, cheese, or meat.
Scottish Scotch Eggs Hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meat, coated with breadcrumbs, and deep-fried.
Thai Satay Skewered and grilled marinated meat (chicken, beef, or pork) served with peanut sauce.
West African Jollof Rice A flavorful rice dish cooked with tomatoes, peppers, and spices.
Lebanese Falafel Deep-fried balls made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, often served in pita bread with tahini sauce.
Japanese Gyoza Pan-fried dumplings filled with pork, cabbage, and seasonings, served with soy sauce.
Spanish Churros Fried dough pastries, usually served with a rich chocolate dipping sauce.
Indian Samosas Triangular pastries filled with spiced potatoes, peas, and often meat, deep-fried to perfection.
Greek Spanakopita Flaky pastry filled with spinach and feta cheese, typically served in small triangles.
Mexican Elote Grilled corn on the cob, slathered in mayonnaise, cheese, chili powder, and lime juice.
Korean Kimbap Seaweed-wrapped rice rolls filled with vegetables, meat, and pickled radish.

These international dishes offer a wide range of flavors and are perfect for a diverse and adventurous guys' night in party. Whether you decide to make them from scratch or source them from local restaurants, these options will surely delight your taste buds and add a unique twist to your gathering.

Feats Of Atheleticsm!

Ok so for most of this post about guys night in activities, we've been helping you find ways to sit back and relax. Still, you need to burn off some of thos calories too, so let's dig in and find some ideas to compete against your fellow man and determine once and for all who is the greatest athelete of the bunch.

And no ... I'm not talking about normal things like who can bench a car or how many pushups you can do - let's focus instead on pub sports you can do at home!

ActivityDescriptionRules/Scoring
Slick Floor Slock Sliding Think of this like the long jump, your goal is to see how far you can slide with a limited space to get up to speed. Winner is the man who slides the furthest.
Pickle Eating Contest See who can devour the most pickles in a minute. Points for quantity and a bonus for crunch sounds.
Beer chugging  Contest This doesn't require too much explanation - first to finish wins. Bonus points for the loudest burp at the end.
Toilet Seat Toss Toss decorated toilet seats onto designated targets. (this game is best played outside in the backyard or driveway) Points awarded based on distance and accuracy.
 Watermelon Seed Spitting  Spit watermelon seeds for distance and accuracy. Farthest seed spit wins, bonus for hitting a target.
Sloppy Slurpee Sip-Off Guzzle brain-freezing Slurpees at record speed. Finish your Slurpee in the shortest time.
 Air Guitar Battle  Rock out on imaginary guitars to epic tunes.  Audience judges on style and enthusiasm.
Hot Sauce Roulette Take turns trying increasingly spicy hot sauces. Last one to give up or drink milk wins.
Extreme Chair Races Roll office chairs through obstacle courses. Fastest time through the course wins.

These quirky and comical activities are sure to provide lots of laughs and a memorable guys' night in. Don't let this guide limit you, look at these ideas as inspiration for planning the ultimate guys night.