Gameshows have been a TV staple since the 1930s. From quiz shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire? to fun-filled games like Supermarket Sweep, there have been many variations over the years, and some have become part of our everyday schedules.
If you’re tempted to bring the fun of these games from the small screen straight into your home, here are some ideas. Whether you want to play solo or enjoy with friends and family, you’re having a relaxing night in or you’re planning a party with pals, these should keep you entertained for the evening.
Wordle/ Lingo
Wordle went viral back in 2022, with the number of players rising from 90 to 2 million
within a few weeks. For most of that year – and in the years since – people from across the world flock to the New York Times’ site, where the challenge changes daily.
This is a relatively simple format where players take turns guessing five-letter words within a limited number of attempts. They must use their deductive reasoning and vocabulary know-how to uncover the hidden word and score points.
From there, it made its way to TV in the form of ITV gameshow, Lingo, presented by Adil Ray. Wordle is, stylistically, based on the Lingo format, which originally aired in the 1980s. However, the TV show was reprised after Wordle became such a hit.
You can access today’s Wordle puzzle online, but you might want to create an interactive pen-and-paper version so you can play with friends. You could split into teams and see who guesses the word first, Lingo-style.
Deal or No Deal
This classic gameshow first aired in 2005 right up to late 2016 and became something of a cult hit among viewers over the years. It recently made a comeback and has proven popular once more.
In this game, players on the TV show experience the thrill of opening the big red boxes. Each box is numbered and there’s a different cash amount inside, ranging from 1p to as much as £250,000. The boxes are sealed before anyone plays the game and each player is allocated a box.
They then take it in turns to eliminate the other boxes, with an aim to remove the lower amounts from the game. The banker regularly calls to make a counteroffer. The player must decide whether they take the banker’s offer (deal) or not (no deal).
In the TV version, games can take a while. But it’s possible to join a fast-paced version of this by playing along with Deal or No Deal bingo online. This picks up the pace without losing the charm of the TV show and is a fun combination of the format you know and the thrill of a bingo game.
Name That Tune/ The Hit List
Although this show originated in the US in the 1950s, we’ve seen different variations of this game over the years. In the original, songs are played, and contestants have to name the track they’ve heard.
One of the more recent incarnations is The Hit List, which is a BBC show that sees players identify a range of songs from across the decades. These games are timed to add to the fun.
You could set up something similar in your own home. You’d need to plan the music, arrange to have buzzers for the participants and a way of keeping score. Once everything’s in place, you can adapt the rounds to suit you and your friends.
What gameshows are you planning to bring into your home?
