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I am not a fan of games, I would rather socialize then play overdone baby games.

I prefer no games but if you really want to please everyone, just do one simple game. My favorite is to have everyone write down their best "parenting advice" and either have people vote on best overall and funniest or have the guest of honor guess who wrote which one. Simple, not too much time, a nice memento since the soon-to-be mother can keep the cards.

I like games because it makes it less about "come watch me open gifts" and more about fun and socializing. Plus, it's nice when there's people who don't know each other and you can incorporate everybody and make it fun, nobody feels left out.

I think there are a lot of fun games out there that aren't overdone, you just have to be creative. I like things like the price is right, gift bingo (really like this one because it gives guests something to do while the person opens gifts), trivia, name that tune, etc.

i'm with @eeh.

plus, i'm a total cheeseball, so i love the games.

@Minnie_Girl: ughhh hate those types of games. Or the taste and guess the baby food.. yuck.

I say YES to games. Partly because there are usually a couple people who aren't "in" your group of friends. Like for me and my sister's shower, we had my dads side who stuck together, mom's side who stuck together, our group of friends and then 2-4 stragglers who weren't a part of any of those "groups". So you could tell they felt uncomfortable and didn't engage much. Having the games breaks the ice in a fun way and people can get to know each other or feel more comfortable. I would feel really uncomfortable at a shower where it was 2 whole hours of socializing unless I knew it was JUST my friends, or JUST my family.

We played one game that was a HUGE hit and was sooo super fun. Ever played the drinking game "I never" (or "Never have I ever")? It's like that. Put a piggy bank in the middle of the room and have everyone fetch any spare change they may have (I have some extra rolls of coins just in case), then everyone goes around the room saying something they're never done. Everyone else who HAS done that thing, must put a coin in the piggy bank. The mom-to-be gets to keep the piggy bank for the baby!!
It was super fun and a great way to get to know each other.
One of the nieces started the game with, "I have never had a baby."
Everyone got a good laugh and all the moms in the room had to put a coin in the bank. I recommend that game all the time!

Also craft projects are a huge hit. At the shower I hosted for my sister we decorated onesies. Bibs or burp cloths would work too. At my friends shower we all made headbands for her little girl.

Good luck!

I agree with the idea of something that people can do at their leisure and can be a conversation starter, especially when it is a mix of social groups. I like things like a betting pool with lots of options, even if they are silly ones or the clothes pins on your clothes and you lose one if you say "baby"-- things that don't require everyone to sit down at once.

Bingo can be fun while opening gifts though!

My first reaction was "FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, SKIP THE GAMES!" Then I realized my aversion to them is stronger than most people's. It does depend on the crowd. If it was my old co-workers, then games would be in order (middle-aged and elderly ladies who go for campy stuff.) If it was my Army co-workers, it'd be a backyard BBQ with presents, no games at all (maybe croquet, but not as an official activity.) If it was family, heaven knows I'm keeping my mouth shut - I'll be a spoil-sport if I express my opinion.

Hehe these responses are funny. I always love games and I love winning them! But if you're not a game person, some sort of activity is always nice to avoid awkwardness among strangers.

I kind of actually love the games. I wish we played some at my bridal shower instead of sitting around talking and drinking tea and eating crumpets. It was a bit stuffy.

I'm not a fan of the traditional "guess the baby food" or "cut a string the size of mom's belly" or whatever. And I hate the ones where you have clothes pins or whatever and have to take them away from each other for saying something is cute. Can't stand them. At my friend's shower, we played one where you matched the celebrity baby name to the celebrity parent. That was fun. Everyone filled it out while they were eating and then we went over the answers while she opened her gifts. I like games like that.