Thinking of party games may bring memories of Pin the Tail on the Donkey and piñatas, but there are so many more party game ideas out there. Like road trip games, clever party games can be tailored to the crowd playing them, and these ideas are practically guaranteed to ensure everyone has a great time.
If there's no room in your party-planning checklist for game time, that's fine. (Sometimes, great conversations and catching up with distant friends are all a successful gathering needs.) But if you would rather fill your holiday party with laughter and activity, or if you need to keep little ones entertained, these people-pleasing party games have you covered.
Party games, ideas for adults, kids, and families
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Because these games have flexible rules and little to no supplies, you can keep them casual and make them work for any event, whether it's a birthday party, a holiday celebration, or an intimate gathering around a small dining table.
Most can work for adults or kids, depending on what rules you play by. They're all great for families, so you have something to do after your gift exchange ideas and games or Thanksgiving feast besides gathering around the TV.
Pick a few party games that work for you, and keep them in mind for any gathering. They're so easy to explain and play that you can whip them out at a moment's notice if the party's energy begins to fall, saving your celebration from a tired fade-out.
The Best Games for Entertaining at Home
Party Games for Any Occasion and All Ages
Saran Wrap Game
This one requires a little prep: You'll need a box of plastic wrap and a bag of candy, or an assortment of small, durable goodies. (Packs of gum, dollar bills, lottery tickets, and the like all work.) Pick one item to place at the center of your saran wrap ball. Wrap it thoroughly in plastic wrap, then add more items as your wrapped ball gets bigger, trapping them in layers of wrap. (To make the game more challenging, tear the wrap into smaller sheets as you go.) Once you've used a whole roll of wrap (or more, if desired), you're ready to play.
Gather in a circle or around a table. Give one person the wrapped bundle; give the person next to them a pair of dice. The person with the saran wrap bundle must unravel as much of the ball as possible before the person with the dice rolls doubles. (Any prizes that fall out during your turn are yours to keep.) Once the person with the dice rolls doubles, they pass the dice down and receive the bundle. Repeat until the ball is completely unwound.
For alternative versions, have the person with the plastic wrap ball wear oven mitts, or set a timer for each turn instead of using dice.
Post It Note Game
You'll need a stack of sticky notes and a pen. Write a name of a well-known public figure or character on each note, then pass them around until everyone has one. Without looking, each person should stick their note on their forehead or back. Have everyone mingle, or sit in a circle and take turns asking yes or no questions to discover your assigned identity. ("Am I living?" is a great place to start.) Play until everyone has correctly guessed their identity, or pass out prizes to those who guess correctly.
How's Yours?
Pick one person to be "It" and send them from the room. With the people remaining, select a common characteristic: hair, articles of clothing, or body parts all work. When the person returns, they'll ask someone, "How's yours?" That person should then give a one-word adjective to describe theirs. (Itchy, thick, and stretchy all work for shirts, for example.) Repeat until the person asking guesses the attribute being discussed.
Never Have I Ever
Sit in a circle. Begin with one person saying, "Never have I ever…" and finishing with something they have never done. (Traveled to Africa, eaten escargot, and the like all work.) If someone has done it, they must hold up one finger; if no one in the group has done it, the person saying "Never have I ever…" must hold up a finger. Continue around the circle until one person has three fingers up: They're out. This party game can get as racy as you make it, so play carefully and set ground rules ahead of time if sensitive grandparents, kids, or conservative guests are involved.
Would You Rather?
Gather in a circle. Ask the person next to you, "Would you rather…" and include two challenging situations. ("Would you rather not shower for a year or not brush your teeth for a year?" for example.) After their response, it's their turn to ask the person next to them. Continue until you can't think of any more scenarios.
Heads Up!
This game requires an app: The Heads Up! app is available from the App Store and Google Play. After the 99-cent purchase and download, though, you have hours of entertainment on-hand at all times. (In-app purchases are also available.) One person will hold a phone to their forehead, facing out. Everyone else will act out or describe whatever appears on the screen while the person with the phone guesses. They have one minute to make as many correct guesses as possible, and then the phone goes on to the next person. Categories include animals, movies, public figures and celebrities, and more.
I'm Hosting a Party…
For a more cognitive game, play this brain teaser. Say you're hosting a party, and only people who bring the right contributions are given an invitation. Pick a secret rule: Typically, everyone must bring something that begins with the same letter as their name, but you can also get more creative with it. Don't tell anyone else your rule.
Go around the room and have each person say what they're bringing; you respond to each suggestion with a "Yes, you're invited," or "No, you can't bring that." Continue until everyone figures out the rule.
Two Truths and a Lie
Pick three statements about yourself: "I have two siblings, I've been to three continents, and I love cats," for example. Two should be true; one should be a lie. Everyone else must guess which is the lie, and then the next person goes. This is a great getting-to-know-you game; if you're playing with family or friends, pick obscure details to trick each other to make it even more fun.
Sticker Stalker
Purchase a pack of stickers. (This one is a great Christmas party game or Halloween party game, so try to find stickers that suit the occasion.) Give everyone one sheet of five to 10 stickers (or less, depending on the size of the party). This game works best at a party where everyone is mingling, so you can incorporate it easily into your happy hour or neighborhood function. Each person must discreetly place all their stickers on other party guests; the first to use all their stickers wins. If they get caught stickering someone, they must accept a sticker. At the end of the evening, you can laugh about how sneaky some people are—and wonder how you ended up with stickers all over your back without even noticing.
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