Do you need to improve date night or to make game night spicier? Enter board games, the intimacy tool you didn’t realise you own. Before we get started, no the games themselves are NOT sex toys, that is a whole different discussion on hygiene, sharp edges and where to buy unique items that are designed to be used internally.

Have you ever played strip poker?

Even if you have never played strip poker the premise is simple – whoever loses the hand removes an article of clothing. The goal of the game being to trick and bet your opponents into nudity. Poker as a two player game isn’t terribly exciting, even when nudity is on the line. So a while back my husband and I started modifying this idea and applying it to games like Backgammon, Chess, Connect 4, Battleships and more. Strip ‘insert board game name here’ could suit any number of 2 player games.

These spicy board game sessions could include sexy toys, lingerie, challenges separate from the standard rules and more. I will get into some suggested guidelines later, but for now it feels important to highlight that this became a way for us to reconnect and focus on each other, away from the distractions of phones and digital entertainment. We did try using video games instead of the board games but they lacked the intimacy of a face to face competition. Also video games, at least in my house, have a tendency to become more aggressively competitive. It’s hard to stay in a sultry mood when you’re trying hard to blue shell your partner, or when you are button mashing to achieve Fatality.

Social media and digital distractions have the world in a choke hold, it can be hard to focus solely on your partner with so many things trying to grab your attention. This phenomena is dubbed Technoference and possibly has far greater costs than just damaging relationships.  That is the true beauty of engaging in activities like board game initiated intimacy. Without the distractions of the outside world it is easier to connect and see the sensuality in the person sitting across from you. If this doesn't spell out the importance of connecting in different ways, or make a good case for my "spicier game night" concept, stick with me a minute.

The experience can be truly erotic.

Eye contact, mutual masturbation, naughty challenges, and bets. Wagers over rolls of dice and outcomes of matches. Visual foreplay can be easily lost after years together. Sit face to face with your partner and make a game out of getting each other naked and horny, then tell me that visual foreplay isn’t a great way of connecting, both physically and emotionally.

How do I make my board games more fun?

By now I’m hoping that you are curious about the mechanics of this flirtatious competition, so these are 4 basic tips to help you enjoy a spicier game night.

1 – Before starting agree on game rules and modifications, reading the rules can help guide your modifications.
2 – Get dressed tactically, maybe you can include a sexy surprise under your outfit.
3 – Make sure space/toys/props are clean and ready for use
4 – Focus on each other and the game, keep phones and other digital distractions separate from the game space.

Creating space for emotional intimacy goes beyond sex, it is about supporting and being an available partner, connecting through experience and communication. Stepping away from your phones, televisions, laptops and all of the digital distractions creates space for you and your partner to reconnect.  Having fun without something or someone else getting in the way. Foreplay doesn’t have to be fast or overtly dirty, games can be a way of changing up your routine together.

As the world gets more complicated and expensive things like date night can be challenging to plan on a budget. Dinner at home, followed by some games and some physical fun together is a cheap, easy way to create a unique date night at home. Unique, new and fun foreplay is just 4 steps and a spicy board game away.