10 Best Games for Short-Term Rental Properties For 2023

Playing games ensures a fun time, but most of all, it brings families and friends together and helps create lasting memories. Here are the 10 best games for short-term rental properties. 

If you own a short-term rental, your business will be thriving! Short-term rental properties, such as vacation rentals and Airbnb listings, have been in demand due to increased travel and tourism. 

However, do you know how to keep the business floating in a saturated market? Well, the key is offering guests a unique and entertaining stay and, in return, receiving positive reviews.

The best way to do this is by providing fun and engaging activities, such as offering the best games for guests. 

Importance of Offering Games at Your Short-Term Rental

Offering games will keep guests entertained and promote a healthy environment. By playing games and spending time together (away from their screens), your guests will get a fair chance at bonding, social interaction, and fun. This is how they'll be able to create priceless memories, which will inspire them to write glowing reviews and revisit your short-term rental. We did list our favorite games below in this post, but I also wanted to include a link to Amazon's top family-friendly games.

10 Best Rental Games for Short-Term Rental Properties

From classic to a few modern games, our list of the 10 best games will help you decide on the most incredible games for your short-term rental.  

#1: Uno

Uno is a fast-paced and family card game that guests of all ages can enjoy. It's easy to learn, which is why it is perfect for couples or families staying at your short-term rental property.  

Players: 2 and more 

How to Play: In this game, players take turns playing cards with matching colors or numbers. To win, you should be the first to get rid of all your cards. 

Benefit: Uno is a great game for children, as it helps them learn about colors, numbers, and taking turns.

#2: Scrabble

Who doesn't know how to play Scrabble? It is one of the most popular word games that is best if your guests need to polish their vocabulary. 

Players: 2 and more

How to Play: In this game, players compete to create words on a grid using letter tiles with different point values. 

Benefit: Scrabble is a great way to exercise the brain, and it's also a good way to learn new words and improve vocabulary.

#3: Chess 

A timeless game that never goes out of style, chess is perfect for guests who enjoy intellectual challenges and strategic thinking. 

Players: 2 

How to Play: Each chess player takes turns to make a single move. Each chess piece has a specific way to move and is only permitted to move in that manner.

Benefit: It sharpens your IQ. It helps with problem-solving skills and is a fun way to pass the time on a rainy day or a lazy afternoon.

#4: Risk

A classic board game that generations have enjoyed, Risk is perfect for groups that enjoy strategy and friendly competition.

Players: 2-6

How to Play: In this game, players compete to conquer the world by taking over territories and engaging in battles with other players. 

Benefit: Playing Risk teaches patience and is a great way to get rid of boredom while staying at a rental.

#5: Cards Against Humanity

This adult-oriented card game is sure to bring plenty of laughs and memorable moments for guests. The goal is to create the funniest or most absurd combination of phrases. 

Players: 2-8

How to Play: In this game, players take turns selecting a black card with a fill-in-the-blank phrase, and the other players choose one of their white cards to complete the phrase. 

Benefit: Cards Against Humanity is a great way to break the ice and get guests laughing.

#6: Codenames

A word-based game that challenges players to come up with creative and imaginative clues to lead their teammates to the right answer. 

Players: 2-12

How to Play: In this game, players split into two teams and take turns giving one-word clues to help their teammates guess which words on the table are theirs. 

Benefits: Codenames is perfect for groups who enjoy teamwork and communication, and it's a great way to build bonds and relationships.

#7: Pictionary

Pictionary is a famous and entertaining game for all ages. It will surely provide guests with countless hours of entertainment. We suggest you skip the traditional version and offer your guest a modern variant with a light-up pen called Pictionary Air. 

Players: 2 or More

How to Play: Players create the object in mid-air with a pen while the image shows on their smart devices. The free app may be downloaded and installed on any device.

Benefits: Pictionary is a fun and creative way to spend an evening with friends or family, and it's a great way to exercise your artistic skills.

#8: Settlers of Catan

Settlers of Catan is a not-so-old and engaging strategy game that is fun and easy to learn but challenging to master. 

Players: 3-4

How to Play: In this game, players compete to build settlements, cities, and roads on the island of Catan while also trading resources with other players. 

Benefit: The game is well-designed and a perfect way to engage with your family. 

#9: Jenga

This classic game is perfect for groups of all ages. This one is perfect for a single guest as one can also play this game alone. 

Players: 1 or more

How to Play: The challenge is to remove blocks while building the tower without causing it to topple. 

Benefits: It's a great game to pass the time and remain active, as it helps develop hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.

#10: Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride is a modern train-route building construction game. The game rules are straightforward and beautiful, making learning simple, yet there is enough strategy to keep things intriguing game after game. 

Players: 2-5

How to Play: It is a board game in which players build tracks to connect cities and earn points.

Benefits: It is fun to learn and polish your strategy-building skills. 

Things to Consider While Choosing Games for Your Guests

• If your guests are a couple, avoid games that require more than two players.  
• Children's games are appropriate for vacation properties that cater to families. 
• If the guests are elderly, chess and Scrabble are the games to consider. 
• Competitive team games, like Pictionary, are perfect for large gatherings and parties.

Conclusion

As a short-term rental property owner, you can enhance the guest experience by providing guests with a variety of games. From classic board games to fast-paced card games, there's something for everyone on this list. So, the next time you're looking to add a little fun to your rental property, consider stocking up on some of these top games.