“Oh, What a Year” Dinner Game

Some years you’ll never forget. Not necessarily because everything was better back then, but mainly because everyone suddenly had the same hairstyles, listened to the same music, and thought—without a shred of doubt—that certain clothes were a good idea. During the “Oh, What a Year” dinner game, you’ll travel back together to a decade of your choice: the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, or 2000s. And that journey through time begins even before the party, because everyone is tasked with showing up fully in style.

That means hunting for platform shoes, tracksuits, glittery shirts, shoulder pads, denim jackets, and other fashion choices we’d collectively agreed never to discuss again. Of course, there’s always someone who says, “There’s no way I’m dressing up.” It’s often that very colleague who ends up showing up at the door fully decked out as Elvis, Madonna, or a Spice Girl. The best-dressed team can also earn bonus points, which means that a simple pair of sunglasses and an old blouse suddenly aren’t enough anymore. We’ve got to win.

Upon arrival, the venue is fully decorated in the style of the chosen era. Old advertisements, familiar objects, music, and decorations ensure that memories come flooding back immediately. Within a few minutes, you’re guaranteed to hear comments like: “We had one of those at home too!”, “That was my first phone!” or “I think that’s still in my parents’ attic.” From that moment on, the journey through time has officially begun.

During dinner, quiz questions, music clips, nostalgic tasks, and playful challenges alternate. Between courses, guests compete for points, revealing just how reliable the collective memory actually still is. Who recognizes the jingles? Who still remembers which artist sang that massive hit? Who knows a surprising number of song lyrics from their youth? And who’s especially good at convincingly giving completely wrong answers?

Precisely because every decade has its own music, trends, TV shows, and quirks, discussions naturally arise at the table. One colleague knows absolutely everything about the ’80s, while someone else only really perks up when the first ’90s hit comes on. Meanwhile, answers are defended as if a national championship were at stake, and at least one debate arises over a question where someone is certain that “things used to be different back then.”

Between rounds, you’ll enjoy dinner, giving you plenty of time to discuss tactics, reminisce, and already object to answers you think were “technically correct.” That makes the dinner game not only competitive, but above all fun and relatable.

Would you like to extend the evening? Afterward, you could kick off an afterparty featuring the biggest hits from the chosen era. The program can also be personalized with photos, videos, and questions from your own organization. The latter becomes especially interesting if there are any old staff photos lying around, because nothing strengthens the bond between colleagues as quickly as a photo of the CEO with a 1994 hairstyle.

A professional photographer can capture the evening, ensuring that all the outfits, dance moves, and memorable game moments remain available even after the event is over. This is especially useful if someone claims on Monday that they absolutely did not participate in that one dance challenge. Proof is surprisingly valuable in such situations.