I find the biggest impediment to gaming in this situation is that it's hard to use a mouse on the couch.
Solution: a $5 polypropylene cutting board, still in its shrink wrap, wrapped in patterned contact paper. It's rigid enough to sit on a couch cushion or (wide) chair arm and provides a nice big mousing surface.
I have my laptop _on my lap_ working/playing games etc on the couch instead of watching TV.
It's difficult to play many games in this situation.