The gameroom is a key part of many homes. If you want to spend more quality time with your family, have more entertaining parties, and always have something fun to do, dedicating part of your home as a gameroom is an excellent decision.
So now that you have a gameroom or have at least decided that you need to create one, the next decision involves what games should be a part of your gameroom.
In this article we’ll look at 10 awesome options. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
1. Ping Pong / Table Tennis
A ping pong table is a great addition to any gameroom. It’s a great game for 2 or 4 players, and you can even play by yourself with a folding table or a table tennis robot. Whether it is a fun family game or a spirited game between friends, ping pong is always an excellent choice.
Ping pong tables can get quite expensive, but you obviously don’t need a professional-level table for your gameroom. There are plenty of affordable options that will be more than sufficient for the typical needs of a home or office gameroom.
See our reviews of the best ping pong tables for your gameroom.
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JOOLA Inside 15mm Table Tennis Table with Net Set - Features Quick 10-Min Assembly, Playback Mode, Foldable Halves
STIGA Advantage Competition-Ready Indoor Table Tennis Table 95% Preassembled Out of the Box with Easy Attach and Remove Net
JOOLA Rally TL 300 15mm 5/8 Inch Professional Grade Table Tennis Table with Net Set, Ball Holders and Abacus Scorer
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JOOLA Inside 15mm Table Tennis Table with Net Set - Features Quick 10-Min Assembly, Playback Mode, Foldable Halves
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STIGA Advantage Competition-Ready Indoor Table Tennis Table 95% Preassembled Out of the Box with Easy Attach and Remove Net
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JOOLA Rally TL 300 15mm 5/8 Inch Professional Grade Table Tennis Table with Net Set, Ball Holders and Abacus Scorer
2. Darts
Darts is another popular choice, and a game with many possibilities. There are countless variations and types of games that can be played with a dartboard. You can play by yourself, with just one other person, or play a game with many teams and many players. Darts is a great game for parties when you want to find a game that many people can play together.
Another nice thing about dartboards is that they don’t need to take up a lot of space. You’ll need some open room in front of the dartboard for a clear throwing lane, but when you’re not playing it won’t take up any space in the room. You can even get a cabinet that will hide the dart board when it’s not being used.
Dartboards are also quite affordable. You’ll have to decide whether you want a traditional bristle dartboard or an electronic dartboard. Electronic dartboards typically use soft-tipped darts, which can be nice for home use because they are less likely to damage the walls.
See our reviews of the best dartboards for your gameroom.
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Viper Razorback Official Competition Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard Set with Staple-Free Razor Thin Metal Spider Wire for Increased Scoring, Reduced Bounce Outs; Self-Healing Premium-Grade Sisal Board
Viper 777 Electronic Dartboard, Easy To Use Button Interface, Red White And Blue Segments, Double Height Cricket Scoreboard, Quick Cricket Key Gets You Into The Game Faster, 43 Games And 230 Options
Fat Cat Electronx Electronic Dartboard, Built In Cabinet, Solo Play With Cyber Player, Dual Screen Scoreboard Display, Extended Catch Ring For Missed Darts, Classic Door Look Matches Traditional Décor
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Viper Razorback Official Competition Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard Set with Staple-Free Razor Thin Metal Spider Wire for Increased Scoring, Reduced Bounce Outs; Self-Healing Premium-Grade Sisal Board
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Viper 777 Electronic Dartboard, Easy To Use Button Interface, Red White And Blue Segments, Double Height Cricket Scoreboard, Quick Cricket Key Gets You Into The Game Faster, 43 Games And 230 Options
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Fat Cat Electronx Electronic Dartboard, Built In Cabinet, Solo Play With Cyber Player, Dual Screen Scoreboard Display, Extended Catch Ring For Missed Darts, Classic Door Look Matches Traditional Décor
3. Pool / Billiards
A pool table is another popular choice for your gameroom, and one that is sure to lead to many friends spending more time at your house. The downside to a pool table is that it will take up a good bit of space, maybe the majority of your gameroom, and they can also be quite expensive. Of course, you can get them for affordable prices if you don’t want a top-quality table. You can also get a mini table if you want to save some room (and some money).
See our reviews of the best pool tables for your gameroom.
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Playcraft Sport Bank Shot 40-Inch Pool Table with Green Cloth
EastPoint Sports Masterton Billiard Pool Table - Tan Felt , 87-inch - Features Traditional Claw Legs and Parlor Style Drop Pockets - Includes 2 Cues, Billiards Balls, and Triangle
Barrington Springdale 90" Claw Leg Billiard Table Set with Cues, Rack, Balls, Brush, and Chalk (23 Pieces)
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Playcraft Sport Bank Shot 40-Inch Pool Table with Green Cloth
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EastPoint Sports Masterton Billiard Pool Table - Tan Felt , 87-inch - Features Traditional Claw Legs and Parlor Style Drop Pockets - Includes 2 Cues, Billiards Balls, and Triangle
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Barrington Springdale 90" Claw Leg Billiard Table Set with Cues, Rack, Balls, Brush, and Chalk (23 Pieces)
4. Air Hockey
Air hockey is one of my personal favorites. Not many home gamerooms have an air hockey table, so your gameroom is sure to see more visitors if you add an air hockey table.
Air hockey tables can be big and cumbersome, but there are some smaller and more economical options available as well.
See our reviews of the best air hockey tables for your gameroom.
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Playcraft Sport 40-Inch Table Top Air Hockey
MD Sports AWH080_037M 80-Inch Air Powered Hockey Table
ESPN Air Hockey Game Table: 84 inch Indoor Arcade Gaming Set with Electronic Overhead Score System, Sound Effects, Cup Holders, Pucks and Paddles
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Playcraft Sport 40-Inch Table Top Air Hockey
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MD Sports AWH080_037M 80-Inch Air Powered Hockey Table
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ESPN Air Hockey Game Table: 84 inch Indoor Arcade Gaming Set with Electronic Overhead Score System, Sound Effects, Cup Holders, Pucks and Paddles
5. Shuffleboard
There are a few different variations of shuffleboard. It can be played on the ground with large disks or pucks, or a different variation can be played on a table. As far as a gameroom is concerned, the table variation is a great option. The other version is great for your outdoor space.
Shuffleboard tables are quite long, but they’re narrow, so they are a realistic option for a lot of gamerooms. The game looks pretty simple, but once you play it, it’s really a lot of fun.
See our reviews of the best shuffleboard tables for your gameroom.
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Atomic 9’ Platinum Shuffleboard Table with Poly-coated Playing Surface for Smooth, Fast Puck Action and Pedestal Legs with Levelers for Optimum Stability and Level Play
Playcraft Woodbridge Shuffleboard Table, Espresso, 12-Feet
Playcraft Telluride Pro-Style Shuffleboard Table with Electronic Scorer, Honey, 22-Feet
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Atomic 9’ Platinum Shuffleboard Table with Poly-coated Playing Surface for Smooth, Fast Puck Action and Pedestal Legs with Levelers for Optimum Stability and Level Play
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Playcraft Woodbridge Shuffleboard Table, Espresso, 12-Feet
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Playcraft Telluride Pro-Style Shuffleboard Table with Electronic Scorer, Honey, 22-Feet
6. Foosball
A foosball table is always a popular option as well. You’ll need a decent amount of space in your room for foosball, because you won’t want to slam into walls or innocent bystanders when you’re spinning and maneuvering the players.
Foosball is especially fun with 4 or 6 players. It’s not my favorite 2-player game as it’s kind of hard to manage an entire side by yourself, but if you often have 4 or more people to play, it is a great choice.
See our reviews of the best foosball tables for your gameroom.
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Best Choice Products 48in Competition Sized Wooden Soccer Foosball Table for Home, Game Room, Arcade w/ 2 Balls, 2 Cup Holders - Natural
Hathaway Playoff 4’ Foosball Table, Soccer Game for Kids and Adults with Ergonomic Handles, Analog Scoring and Leg Levelers
MD Sports Barrington 58" Wooden Home Gameroom Foosball Table with Accessories
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Best Choice Products 48in Competition Sized Wooden Soccer Foosball Table for Home, Game Room, Arcade w/ 2 Balls, 2 Cup Holders - Natural
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Hathaway Playoff 4’ Foosball Table, Soccer Game for Kids and Adults with Ergonomic Handles, Analog Scoring and Leg Levelers
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MD Sports Barrington 58" Wooden Home Gameroom Foosball Table with Accessories
7. Pinball
Adding a pinball machine can make your gameroom a lot of fun. This is a great choice if you spend a lot of time in the gameroom by yourself. There aren’t many games that are as fun playing by yourself as pinball.
You can buy a new pinball machine, or check Craigslist and you may be able to find a vintage/used one in your area.
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Stern Aerosmith Pinball Side Armor Kit - Purple
Stern Pinball WWE Wrestlemania Arcade Pro Edition Pinball Machine
Stern Pinball WWE Wrestlemania Le Arcade Pinball Machine
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Stern Aerosmith Pinball Side Armor Kit - Purple
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Stern Pinball WWE Wrestlemania Arcade Pro Edition Pinball Machine
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Stern Pinball WWE Wrestlemania Le Arcade Pinball Machine
8. Arcade Basketball
An arcade-style basketball game can be a lot of fun, and some of them are surpisingly affordable. This a great 2-player game, and with more players you can always play tournament style. This is a popular game for kids and adults alike. When I was a kid I would have loved to have one of these, and even now as an adult it’s on my list of things to add to the gameroom.
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ESPN EZ Fold Indoor Basketball Game for 2 Players with LED Scoring and Arcade Sounds (6-Piece Set)
Pop-A-Shot Official Home Dual Shot Basketball Arcade Game – 10 Individual Games – Durable Construction – Near 100% Scoring Accuracy – Multiple Height Settings – Large LED Scoring System
Lifetime 90056 Basketball Double Shot Arcade System
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ESPN EZ Fold Indoor Basketball Game for 2 Players with LED Scoring and Arcade Sounds (6-Piece Set)
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Pop-A-Shot Official Home Dual Shot Basketball Arcade Game – 10 Individual Games – Durable Construction – Near 100% Scoring Accuracy – Multiple Height Settings – Large LED Scoring System
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Lifetime 90056 Basketball Double Shot Arcade System
9. Video Games
Many homes today have a video game console of some type. Video games aren’t just for kids anymore, with many adults still enjoying the games. I grew up playing a lot of sports and racing games, and they’re still my favorites.
To have video games, you’ll obviously need a TV or computer in your gameroom. Surround sound is also a welcomed addition that can make the gaming even more fun.
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PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB Console
Xbox One S 500GB Console - Minecraft Complete Adventure Bundle [Discontinued]
Cocktail Arcade Machine 60 Games in 1 Commerical Grade with Set of 2 Chrome Stools 5 Year Warranty
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PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB Console
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Xbox One S 500GB Console - Minecraft Complete Adventure Bundle [Discontinued]
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Cocktail Arcade Machine 60 Games in 1 Commerical Grade with Set of 2 Chrome Stools 5 Year Warranty
10. DIY Games
While there are plenty of great games you can buy for your gameroom, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a fun place in your home. You can go with budget-friendly options for basics like ping pong tables and dartboards. In most cases the budget options will be more than adequate just for having fun at home.
There are also plenty of fun games that you can make yourself. For plenty of ideas see our article 37 DIY Ideas for Your Home Gameroom. That article includes links to pages with instructions on how to make your own games. There are DIY versions of popular games like air hockey and ping pong, and several made up games that are great family entertainment as well.
