Most couch games top out at four players. That's great for a cosy night in, but what happens when the whole crew turns up? Suddenly half the room is "waiting for the next round", scrolling on their phones while four lucky people have all the fun.
Good news: there are some brilliant local multiplayer games that can handle five, six or even eight players on a single screen. We've rounded up our 6 favourites for big group game nights, birthday parties and those end-of-year get-togethers where everyone ends up on the same couch.
The ultimate big group game, and the easiest to set up. The Jackbox Party Pack 3 uses everyone's phones as controllers, so you don't need a single extra gamepad.
Up to eight players can join, and extra guests can jump in as the audience to vote. Quiplash 2 will have the whole room crying with laughter, while Trivia Murder Party is the perfect mix of quiz night and horror movie. It's also our top pick for groups with non-gamers.
If your group likes Mario Party but wishes it were a lot more ruthless, meet Pummel Party. It's a board game party for up to eight players, packed with brutal items and chaotic minigames.
Steal keys, drop bear traps, launch your friends across the board and fight over the Goblets. The minigames are short and frantic, so even with a big group, nobody is waiting around for long. Fair warning: friendships may not survive the night.
Football with no rules, for up to eight players on one Nintendo Switch. Mario Strikers: Battle League lets you split into two teams of four and go head-to-head in 5v5 matches.
Tackle your friends into the electric fence, throw shells and charge up a Hyper Strike for a spectacular goal. Matches are quick, easy to understand and guaranteed to get the whole room on its feet. Just make sure you have enough Joy-Con to go around.
You might know Luigi's Mansion 3 as a cosy 2-player adventure, but its ScreamPark mode is a hidden party gem. Up to eight players can play on the same console, split into Team Luigi and Team Gooigi.
Race to catch the most ghosts, collect the most coins or shoot down the most targets in short, silly team battles. It's simple enough for kids and casual players, and the team format means nobody feels singled out when they lose.
Sometimes the best big group game is a co-op one. Pico Park supports up to eight players working together through deceptively simple puzzle levels, and it gets harder (and funnier) the more people you add.
Stack on top of each other, push blocks, share a single key and somehow get everyone through the door. With eight people, one rogue player can ruin everything, which leads to some legendary shouting matches. It's a fantastic test of patience and teamwork.
A classic for a reason. Worms W.M.D lets up to six players take turns on the same screen, which makes it perfect for a relaxed pass-the-controller evening.
Banana bombs, holy hand grenades, exploding sheep and fully destructible maps: every turn is a chance for glory or an embarrassing self-own. Because it's turn-based, it's also a great choice when you don't have enough controllers for everyone.
Whether you're writing terrible jokes in Quiplash 2, tackling your mates in Mario Strikers or blowing up worms with a banana bomb, these games make sure nobody gets left on the sidelines. Invite the whole crew, stock up on snacks, and get ready for your biggest (and loudest) game night yet!