We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you are an Airbnb host like me, I am sure you are always looking for ways to upgrade your Airbnb guest experience. So, today, I want to talk about one short-term rental extra that is often either overlooked or done very wrong – Airbnb games!
Like in most of my first-hand Airbnb hosting posts, I am here to share a little extra perspective to help you make the best decisions and invest your money wisely.
Why listen to me? I am a regular Mom, wife, and owner of four condos that I rent on Airbnb. I self-manage our rentals and take a lot of pride in being one of the highest rated hosts on the Airbnb platform. Over the last several years, I have earned a 4.98 overall rating from thousands of guests. I want to help you achieve the same!
Are you a new Airbnb host? You can click here to browse my FREE 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Guide and make sure to scroll my Ultimate Airbnb Setup Checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything!
Airbnb Games
Whether you own a cozy cabin or a sunny beachfront retreat, you’ll always have guests who spend a lot of time inside. Maybe the weather isn’t cooperating, or perhaps they just want to relax and enjoy each other’s company, but either way, it’s nice to have indoor activities available to them.
So, what other indoor activities can you offer them besides cooking in your Airbnb kitchen and watching movies on your smart TV?
Should You Have Games In Your Airbnb?
Absolutely!
You don’t have to go overboard, but including a few Airbnb games and even a gaming console can go a long way. But you have to do it right.
Because the only thing worse than no games is a guest getting out a game at your Airbnb and not being able to play it. Maybe it’s missing key pieces, or maybe it’s damaged, but it exposes a pain point you can easily avoid.
It’s sometimes the no-good-deed-goes-unpunished situation that many hosts tend to find themselves in when trying to do too much. In this situation, the best Airbnb is an Airbnb with games that work!
What to Look For in Airbnb Games
Basically, you want to look for Airbnb games that are easy to keep clean and that you can still play with some missing pieces.
For example, Monopoly is a terrible game to include in a rental property. As soon as some of the location cards go missing, you can’t properly play the game without having to rely on Google to see property values. This is true of most board games, which is why I don’t recommend many board games for Airbnb rentals.
On the other hand, something like Jenga is a great option. If some of the pieces walk away, it’s no big deal! Do you see what I am getting at?
In this Airbnb games blog post, I will primarily discuss games for grade school kids and families. However, if your rental is for young children, you should also include some books (themed to your rental) and some easy toddler puzzles.
RELATED POST: How To Create A Baby-Friendly Airbnb
Best Games for Airbnb Rentals
Here are some Airbnb games and a few activities that are worth buying for your short-term rental!
#1 Catchphrase
Catchphrase is one of the best games for Airbnb rentals because it has literally one piece! Plus, it’s inexpensive and fun for all ages.
#2 Apples To Apples
Apples to Apples is great because there are so many cards, and they don’t depend on one another like a regular deck of playing cards or a game like Uno. Plus, most people know how to play this game!
#3 Magformers / Magnatiles
These aren’t technically a game, but my guests constantly thank me for having these magnetic building blocks in our one-bedroom condo on 30A. Either brand is fine, but just pick one and stick with it. In my opinion, the Picasso Tiles, or even one of the generic brands of magnetic tiles, will offer the best value!
Make sure to get a basic plastic basket to store them in.
Here are a few great starter sets:
#4 Jenga
I mentioned Jenga above, and this is a great option for families and Airbnb guests of all ages. You can buy the regular Jenga for tabletop play or a fun oversized Jenga set for outdoor use or inside a game room!
You can buy a set that comes in a higher-quality storage box like this one.
However, if you buy the cheaper, basic sets that are in thinner cardboard boxes. You may have issues with the box getting damaged from frequent use and not being put together the right way, so consider a shoebox-style container instead. You can always cut out the front of the box and tape it onto the inside or outside of the lid, too.
#5 Pictionary
Pictionary is a great game for all ages and perfect for rainy-day family fun! Just make sure to replace the drawing paper and have fresh pencils on hand for your guests to use. They sell a version that has them, but you can also get a set of whiteboards and a dry-erase marker.
RELATED POST: Airbnb Essentials You Need to Buy Multiples Of
#6 Guess Who?
This is one of my favorite Airbnb games and always a classic!
Guess Who allows two players to take turns guessing traits until they figure out which character the other person has. And if some of the main character cards walk away, it’s not a big deal!
#7 Charades
If you have ample open space, consider buying a Charades game for your Airbnb. Plus, it’s a great way to keep the kids active and excited on rainy days!
#8 Bop It
Just like Catch Phrase, Bop It is a single-piece electronic game that all ages can play! It’s one piece so nothing can go missing. But always make sure you have some extra batteries on hand.
Of course, if you leave too many, they are tempting for guests to steal. So, I like to have a baggie in the cabinet above the fridge with 4 or so of each type. The rest are in my owner’s closet, and I replenish them as needed. I only tell the guests where these are if they mention that something is out of batteries!
#9 Rubik’s Cube
Even if you choose not to have many games on hand, a Rubik’s Cube is a fun little extra. They are basically indestructible and easy to wipe down and clean between guests.
#10 Super Nintendo Classic Edition
Ok, another item that’s not technically a game. But we have this little Super Nintendo Retro Console at home, and it’s really fun! What I like about this is that the games are included, and it doesn’t rely on streaming, unique accounts, or other bells and whistles.
I just have one quick note. If you don’t plan to always have it hooked up, make sure it’s in a room or near an Airbnb TV where it’s easy for guests to plug it in with the HDMI cable. For example, if you have a small space with a TV mounted flush against the wall, it may be difficult and risky to try to access the inputs.
#11 Connect Four
I think Connect Four is a great option, but if too many pieces go missing, you may have to replace them. However, unlike some other games, it doesn’t depend on having every single piece.
And the Basic Connect Four game is so cheap that you can easily have a backup or swap in a new one every year when you deep-clean and refresh your Airbnb.
#12 Lincoln Logs
A tin of Lincoln Logs is always a good idea, especially in a cabin-like setting! These are fun for almost all ages and easy to clean up and store. These are similar to magnetic tiles I mentioned earlier, great for younger kids, and easy to pick up. You can easily opt for one or include both, depending on how often you expect children to be at your rental.
I really like this set of Lincoln Logs because it comes with the nice storage tin!
#13 Tic Tac Toe
I love using an upscale-themed Tic-Tac-Toe game as a statement piece in my rentals. Here, you can see that it is coastal-themed and complements our decor! I think this is a great upscale farmhouse Tic Tac Toe game that would be great for rentals.
Click here to browse upscale Tic-Tac-Toe games!
What About Other Popular Games?
So, what about checkers, chess, and all of the favorites? Well, they are great games, just not for rental properties!
If a piece goes missing, which it will, then your guests can no longer play the game. And, as I mentioned above, that’s usually when they are setting it up and excited to play. This exposes you to a pain point. In that case, you would have been better off not providing those games! Does that make sense?
The same line of thought applies to Scrabble, Uno, and other probably not the best board games for Airbnb rentals.
I didn’t include regular playing cards because I have a love-hate relationship with them. They are nice to include, but often, one missing card ruins the whole deck.
And for some reason, people never put these back into the box nicely. Most of the time, when I am at our place, I open my TV console to find them just thrown in there loosely.
I also have a running list of my favorite Airbnb games that you can browse. It includes even more options and variations! And if you have any game recommendations that you think are great for Airbnbs, leave me a comment on this blog post. I will add them!
Tips for Managing the Games at Your Airbnb
Maintaining your Airbnb games requires a little extra effort. Many times, if pieces are missing or lost, guests will put them back and hope you don’t notice.
Your cleaners can’t possibly inventory game pieces on every turn. So, you will need to get your games out and make sure they are good to go each time you visit. Wipe them down and discard any trash (scratch paper). If they are missing pieces, you’ll likely just need to replace them.
Likewise, I actually do not recommend advertising specific games in your listing because you would hate to upset someone expecting to play Pictionary only to find it missing. Just have a nice assortment and replace them as needed.
Additionally, as I mentioned above, if you have battery-operated games, keep a small zip-lock bag of replacement batteries in a safe place. I keep mine in the cabinet above the refrigerator so they are accessible only when needed.
RELATED POST: Things New Hosts Often Forget to Buy
More Tips for Airbnb Hosts
Airbnb hosting is a lot of work, but it is such a unique way to make money!
If you are looking to maximize your profits and streamline workflows, you have landed in the right place! Here at Our Little Lifestyle, I have countless informative blog posts about Airbnb hosting. And they are all written 100% by me and based on my experience as a top-rated Airbnb host in 2026.
Click here to read all Airbnb blog posts!
Also, I encourage you to sign up for my Airbnb hosting newsletter and join my Airbnb Hosting Facebook Group, where I personally answer your questions!
Here are some other popular Airbnb hosting posts you will enjoy:
- Steal My House Manual Template
- Airbnb Furniture Guide
- My Airbnb Cancellation Policy
- The Perfect Airbnb Bedroom
- Must Have Blackout Curtains
- Master List of Kitchen Essentials
- How To Become A Superhost
- Social Media For Your Rental
- The Best Airbnb Bedding
- 7 Airbnb Essentials You Need
- Smart Locks For Your Airbnb
- Self Manage vs Property Manager
PIN: Airbnb Games For Your Short-Term Rental
