Why Game Night Matters – And How You Can Help
Life is a lot right now. Between work, responsibilities, and the general chaos of the world, it feels like there’s always something to stress about. But when I sit down for NASAGA Game Night, my brain finally hits pause. Suddenly, my biggest problem isn’t my inbox—it’s whether I can pull off the perfect bluff, trade my way to victory, or, you know… not get eaten by a dragon. It’s a break I don’t just enjoy—I need it.
Some of my favorite NASAGA memories have come from Game Night. Like that Blood on the Clocktower session, where we were absolutely convinced we had the Imp figured out—only for Rachel to pull off the ultimate deception. Or the time we played Two Rooms and a Boom, cheered for Romeo & Juliet to end up together… and then immediately realized that meant they died together. Then there was Catan, where I had a whole epiphany about game design—but mostly, I just remembered, wow, this game is solid and why don’t I play it more often?
And of course, there was that night in Kingdoms of Equitopia when I roared like a lion. Not because I had to, but because I felt comfortable enough with the people around me to be the lion. That’s what NASAGA Game Nights do—they bring us together, build friendships, and create the kind of moments we’re still talking about years later.
But here’s the thing—attendance at Game Night has dropped, and we need your help to bring it back! We want to make sure everyone who wants to play has a chance to join, but we can’t do that without knowing when works best for you.
Take 30 seconds right now and fill out this quick survey.
By filling it out, you’re not just picking a time—you’re helping keep game night alive, fun, and full of epic stories we’ll still be laughing about at the next NASAGA conference. Plus, let’s be real, you probably need the break as much as the rest of us.
Click the link, take the survey, and let’s play!
#NASAGA #GameNight #PlayConnectLearn #TakeABreak #LionRoarsAreEncouraged
Anna Heinrich is the 2024-2025 NASAGA Past Board Chair and Director of Learning and Development, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU).
