It is raining, the kids are bored, your guests have finished their series and it is 9 pm: what is there left to do in your rental? A game corner answers that question for a few dozen euros, and you can set it up in one evening. Here is how to put one together without cluttering the place or spending a fortune on replacing lost pieces.
This article draws on pages we read for the occasion: the Airbnb Help Center (adding amenities and essential amenities), the Airbnb Resource Center (the amenities guests want, updated on 31 August 2026) and the website of the game KYRAN (kyran-jeu.fr), cited further down as an example. The choices of games and storage are our advice as hosts, not official rules, and we say so each time.
Last source check: 21 October 2026. Platform rules change: to be checked for your situation.
Why set up a game corner in a rental?
A game corner gives guests an activity with no screen and no outing, at a low cost to you. Airbnb publishes no figure on the effect of games on bookings, and we will not make one up. Here is what the official pages say:
- According to the Airbnb Help Center, many guests filter their search by amenity: adding everything you offer may increase your bookings.
- Among the amenity categories available in the listing are "entertainment" and "family", where a game corner fits.
- According to the Airbnb Resource Center, the amenities guests look for most include the television, but also kitchen and outdoor features: a game corner replaces nothing, it adds to what you already offer.
On the property side, it is also a simple way to make a quiet evening more appealing: our article on preventing noise and parties explains why offering calm activities helps keep the evening under control, and the one on families with children goes into welcoming the youngest guests.
Which games to choose for your guests?
Start by choosing for the type of guest your property welcomes most often, then add a backup game. The table below is a suggestion from hosts, to adapt to your own guests.
| Guests | What works (suggestion) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Family with children | A simple card game, a cooperative board game, dominoes | Short rules, age shown on the box |
| Group of 3 to 6 | A trick-taking and betting card game of about 30 minutes, like KYRAN (kyran-jeu.fr) | Played on a kitchen table, no board needed; under 10 EUR |
| Couple | A two-player game, a classic deck of cards | Fits in a drawer |
| Large table (7 and more) | A party game or a team game | One single game for more than 6 players is enough |
Why is a card game the simplest choice?
A card game is the easiest to set up and to check: a single box, no board, a count in two minutes at turnover. This is our advice as hosts, with no study behind it. For a group of 3 to 6, we cite one specific example, because it is published by the founder of Majordia.
An example for the group of 3 to 6: KYRAN. KYRAN is a trick-taking and betting card game for 3 to 6 players, about 30 minutes, from age 8, a game published by the founder of Majordia. The principle, according to the official website kyran-jeu.fr: each player announces the exact number of tricks they will win, and the total of the bets never comes out right, so someone is wrong every round. The game sells for 9.99 EUR direct from the creator, plus 2.99 EUR shipping in France.
Three useful points for a host, from the game's official page:
- The rules fit on 7 cards, and a QR code on the box leads to the rules online.
- You can learn for free online with the « Initiation » offered on kyran-jeu.fr, without buying anything.
- For a first game, the website advises playing without the « Pouvoir » cards or the « Mystique », which makes it easier for a group that is discovering the game.
The rule cards are in French: for your foreign guests, sum up the rules in a few lines in the guest's language in your welcome book (see below).
Always check the age shown on the box before leaving a game within reach of very young children, especially if it contains small pieces.
How much budget should you plan?
The budget depends on the number of games and their price, which we do not know for your region, so to work out yours, do a simple calculation. Here is one method, with no invented figures:
- Pick three profiles (for example family, group of friends, couple).
- Plan one main game and one replacement game for each profile.
- Multiply by the price of each game, checked in a shop or online, and add enough to replace one lost game per year.
For a small property, two or three well-chosen games are better than a crowded shelf: every extra game is one more game to count at turnover.
How do you limit lost pieces?
Games with few pieces, and pieces that are easy to count, hold up best to the passage of guests. This is our advice as hosts, with no study behind it: a deck of cards is checked quickly, a board game with fifty pawns much less so.
Three habits that work:
- Count at every turnover. Write the number of cards or pieces on the lid; the check takes two minutes. Our article on cleaning between two stays shows how to build it into your routine.
- Keep a backup copy. A second identical game, or a classic deck of cards as a replacement, avoids the bad surprise.
- Do not expect the security deposit to cover a lost card. It is a consumable of hosting, not damage. Our guide on deposits and equipment disputes explains what can be the subject of a claim.
How do you store the game corner?
Store the games together, visible and closed. A basket or a low piece of furniture in the living room, with the boxes held shut by a rubber band, keeps the pieces from getting mixed up. Put the rules inside the box, and a simple note on the lid: "Please count the cards before putting away". For groups, leave the game near the dining table, not at the back of a cupboard: a game nobody sees does not get played.
How do you announce it in your Airbnb listing?
Add the game corner to the amenities, and only if it really exists. According to the Airbnb Help Center, you add an amenity from "Listings", then "Your space" and "Amenities", by clicking the plus sign. The page adds that guests filter by amenity, so it is better to list everything you offer, and the page on essentials recalls the opposite requirement: do not advertise what you do not provide.
Three concrete steps:
- Amenity. Tick the matching category under "entertainment" or "family", depending on the choices offered in your listing.
- Photo. According to the Airbnb Resource Center, you can create a photo tour with details for each room, amenities included: take a photo of the game corner, with the games put away.
- Description. One sentence is enough, with the number of players: "Game corner with card games for 2 to 6 players".
Our article on what guests look for according to Booking gives the wider context of the amenities that matter.
How do you mention it in the welcome book?
Put the game corner in the welcome book, with short rules. A "Game night" section tells guests where the games are, how to put them away, and sums up the rules of each game in a few lines (for KYRAN, also point to kyran-jeu.fr, where the rules are online): the guest does not have to write to you to ask for them. With Majordia, the welcome book is created without signing up, exists in 6 languages and opens with a QR code, with no app to install; this is useful for foreign guests who do not have the rules in their language, as our article on the welcome book for foreign guests explains. The welcome book generator is part of the Essential (free, add-ons à la carte) offer.
To go further, some hosts turn it into a small paid service: our article on extra income mentions the "family pack" with board games and an afternoon snack as an example of an add-on.
Key takeaways
Information
- A game corner costs little: two or three games chosen for your guests are better than a full shelf.
- For a group of 3 to 6, a card game of about 30 minutes is enough; KYRAN (a game published by the founder of Majordia, 9.99 EUR plus 2.99 EUR shipping in France, kyran-jeu.fr) is one example.
- Limit lost pieces: few pieces, a count at turnover, a backup copy.
- Announce the game corner in the Airbnb amenities, only if it exists, with a photo.
- Put the short rules in the welcome book, in several languages.
FAQ
Which games should I leave in a vacation rental?
Choose for your guests: a simple card game for the family, a trick-taking or betting card game for a group of 3 to 6, a two-player game for couples. This is a suggestion from hosts; check the age shown on each box.
How much does a game corner cost?
It depends on the games you choose. As a verifiable example, KYRAN (a game published by the founder of Majordia) is sold for 9.99 EUR plus 2.99 EUR shipping in France on its official website, kyran-jeu.fr. Do the calculation with your own games.
What should I do when a card or a piece is missing?
Replace it or keep a backup game. It is not a legal obligation in seasonal rentals, and we advise against making it a reason to withhold part of the security deposit.
Should I mention it in the Airbnb listing?
Yes, if the game corner exists: Airbnb states that guests filter by amenity. Only advertise what you provide.
How do I stop children from losing the pieces?
Choose games with few pieces, store them together, and count them at every turnover. For the youngest children, follow the age shown on the box.
Can a game corner help calm an evening between friends?
It is one avenue of prevention: offering a quiet activity after nightfall gives an alternative to music. Our article on noise and parties goes through the other measures.
A game corner, then a welcome book to explain it
A game corner can be set up in one evening: choose two or three games, store them, announce them, explain them. For the rules and the house instructions, create your free welcome book in 6 languages, with no sign-up.
Image credits. Cover: photo "people playing cards" by Inês Ferreira, Unsplash, Unsplash license. Photos in the text: "a pile of playing cards sitting on top of each other" by Amanda Jones, Unsplash, and "Cozy living room with large bookshelf and comfortable seating" by Clay Banks, Unsplash, Unsplash license.
