Fun games for your next party

What makes an unforgettable party? Fabulous food! But fun, laughter and games are other important ingredients if you want to turn a great party into something special and unforgettable.

Party games are a wonderful way to settle your stomach after a lavish dinner and to get the party started. A great game boosts your energy levels and is a true icebreaker if your guests don’t know each other that well. After all, laugher is the shortest distance between people.

We'll explore icebreaker games, large party games, and smaller party games, with five ideas for each category.

Icebreaker games

Stick costume props

#1 Two truths and a lie

This classic game is perfect for large groups, parties, gatherings and team-building events. The game is very simple - but it is a great way to get to know each other and get the conversation flowing. You never know what suprising facts you migh tlearn about each other!

  • - A group of people
  • - Some time to share
  • To play the game, each person takes a turn sharing three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one of which is false. The other players have to guess which statement is the lie. The rest of the group has to guess which statement is the lie. The game is a fun way to get to know each other better and can lead to some surprising revelations!

#2 Two human knot

"The human knot" is a classic icebreaker game that's perfect for parties. The game requires communication, problem-solving skills, and teamwork to succeed.

  • - At least 4 people
  • - Some time to play
  • To play "The human knot," a group of people stands in a circle, facing each other, and holds hands with two people who aren't next to them. The group then has to untangle themselves without letting go of hands. The goal is to end up in a circle again, without any crossed arms or hands. The game can be challenging, especially for larger groups, but it's a fun and engaging way to get people working together and communicating.

Who am I? Game

#3 Who am I?

It's a versatile and enjoyable game that's perfect for any type of group gathering. Whether you're looking to break the ice, improve communication and problem-solving skills, or just have some fun, this classic icebreaker game is sure to be a hit.

  • - A group of people
  • - Some paper
  • - Some pens
  • Each person writes the name of a famous person (real or fictional) on a piece of paper and sticks it to the forehead of another player without that person seeing the name. The group then has to ask each other yes or no questions to figure out who they are. For example, "Am I a musician?" "Am I alive?" "Am I a character in a movie?" The game continues until everyone has figured out who they are.

#4 One-word story

It's a fun and creative game that requires everyone to work together to create a story, one word at a time. Get ready to create a hilarious and unforgettable story, but attention - one word at a time!

  • - At least 4 people sitting in a circle
  • - Some time to play
  • To play "One-word story," everyone sits in a circle and takes turns saying one word to create a story. The first person starts with a word, and the next person adds to the story with another word. This continues around the circle until the story is complete. The key is to make sure that each word builds on the previous one, so the story makes sense. It can be challenging and hilarious to see how the story unfolds!

#5 Would you rather?

It's a fun and exciting game that can quickly break the ice and get everyone involved in the conversation. In this post, we will go through how to play the game and what you need to start playing.

  • - A group of people
  • - Some creative ideas
  • The rules of "Would you rather" are simple. Each player takes turns asking a question that starts with "Would you rather." For example, "Would you rather live in a treehouse or in a castle?" The question should have two options that are equally challenging to choose from. The player who asked the question then gives a reason why they would choose one option over the other. After they explain their reasoning, each player must choose which option they would rather do. Players can also discuss their answers and reasons, making it a great conversation starter.

Large party games

#1 Test your guests!

This game challenges your social skills and allows the introverts to interact with the people they don’t know.

  • - Piece of paper
    - Pair of scissors
    - Pens

  • Leave a little note with a fun (not too crazy) task under each plate. It must be something your guests can do during dinner. If you’ve allocated seating, you can create a task designed for each guest. Tell your guests that you’ve left a note under their plate and stress that they must not reveal their task to anyone. At the end of dinner, the person to the left of a guest must guess what task that guest’s been assigned. It’s important to come up with a challenge that doesn’t leave people embarrassed. The task must lift the festive spirit and put everyone in a good mood.

- Deliver a short speech to the host (focusing on how fabulous the host is)
- Say ‘cheers’ 15 times during dinner
- Start a conversation about hula hoops, Tamagotchis and your great passion for Danish greyhounds
- Pick someone opposite you and send that person an intense smile at least 10 times
- Talk about your shoe size, a lot!
- Start a conversation about the many different types of hats that exist, and why they’re awesome

#2 Quiz time!

A quiz is always great entertainment. It brings excitement and allows people to shine.

  • - Printed paper with multiple choice questions
  • - Pens
  • - A prize for the winner
  •  

    1. Remember, the quiz must involve everyone. If there’s lots of you at the party, you may want to split people into groups. An idea for a quiz is to let your guests know how well they know you. By focusing on the host of the party, the quiz becomes personal and fun – and it’ll serve as a topic for later conversation… When everyone has picked their answers, the hosts give the correct answers. The winning team receive a prize. Maybe a picture of the host(s).

- How did the hosts meet each other (if they’re a couple or friends)
- Have they ever been to xxx?
- When are their birthdays?
- What’s their favourite band?
- In their mind, what’s their most embarrassing experience?

#3 The back bender aka. limbo

  1. How low can you go… The good old limbo dance is a festive element and everyone can participate. At least for a while. And laughter is guaranteed because at some point everyone must throw in the towel.  

  • - A stick, e.g. a broom
  • - Play the limbo song
  • - Something to play the limbo song on
  • Two people hold either end of the stick at chest height (or a starting point where everyone stands a chance). The guests must now take turns to get under the stick, bending their knees and leaning as far back as necessary (no part of the body is allowed to touch the bar and no hands must touch the floor). Anyone who knocks the bar off or falls is eliminated. When everyone has had a go, the bar is lowered slightly and the contest continues. The winner is the person who has knocked out everyone else.

Crown

#4 Scavenger hunt

Scavenger hunts are a fun and exciting way to get people up and moving while encouraging teamwork and problem-solving skills. A scavenger hunt is a game where players are given a list of items or clues and must find or solve them all within a certain time limit.

  • - List of items/clues
  • - Designated area
  • - Timer
  • - Prize for the winner
  • To play a scavenger hunt, players are divided into teams and given a list of items or clues that they must find or solve. These items or clues can be located anywhere within a designated area, such as a park, office building, or shopping mall. The first team to find or solve all the items on the list wins. Scavenger hunts can be themed or tailored to a specific location or event, making them a versatile and customizable activity.

#5 Pictionary

Pictionary is a classic party game that's perfect for groups of all ages. It's a fun and creative game that requires players to draw pictures to represent words or phrases, while their teammates try to guess what they are.

  • - Some paper
  • - Pens
  • - Timer
  • To play "Pictionary," players are divided into teams. Each team takes turns selecting a word or phrase from a list and having one person draw it while the other teammates try to guess what it is. The person drawing cannot speak or write any letters or numbers. If their teammates correctly guess the word or phrase within a certain time limit, the team earns points. The game continues until all teams have had a chance to draw and guess, and the team with the most points at the end wins.

Watercolour paper. A3

Small party games

Egg timer

#1 Charade

Charades is a classic party game that's been enjoyed by people of all ages for generations. It's a fun and entertaining way to get people up and moving while encouraging creativity and teamwork.

  • - List of words or phrases
  • - Timer
  • - Group of people, divided into teams
  •  
  • Divide the players into teams. Then choose a word or phrase from the list. One player from the team has to stand up and play the word or phrase without speaking. The other players on the team have to guess what the player is playing within a certain amount of time, usually one or two minutes. If the team guesses the word or phrase correctly within the time limit, they get one point. If the team does not guess the word or phrase correctly within the time limit, the other team gets a chance to guess the word or phrase and get the point. The game continues with each team taking turns to play words or phrases until all the words on the list have been used. The team that has the most points at the end of the game wins.
  • - Choose words or phrases that are appropriate for your group's age and interests
  • - Consider setting a theme for the game, such as movies, books, or TV shows

#2 Voting gifts

  1. This game is for smaller parties where everyone knows each other well. The host must be willing to spend time and some money planning it.

  • - Small gifts for each guest (incl. yourself)
  • - Gift tags
  • - Blank pieces of paper (for voting)
  • - Pens

  • As host, you’ll need to buy some small gifts before the party. Wrap them and then label them with a gift tag stating who the gift is for. E.g. ‘The one with the sweetest tooth’ (chocolate, for example) or ‘the one with the coldest feet’ (a pair of slippers). All the guests now have to match each gift with a fellow guest. The host collects in the votes and distributes the gifts based on the number of votes.

Playing cards

#3 Mafia

Mafia is a game that requires players to use their deduction skills to identify and eliminate the "mafia" players among them.

  • - Deck of playing cards
  • - People sitting in a circle
  • - One assigned modarator

  • The players are dealt cards, with one player receiving the ace card and becoming the mafia. The others are innocent players. A moderator explains that there is a mafioso among the innocent players and the innocent players must identify and eliminate the mafia by deduction. The moderator announces that it is night and all players must close their eyes. He then asks the mafia player to open his eyes and silently choose a player to eliminate by pointing to him. The moderator confirms the choice with a nod. The moderator announces the time of day when everyone opens their eyes again and announces who the mafia eliminated during the night. The remaining players must now discuss and try to find out who they think is the mafia. After some time of discussion, the players have to vote on who they think the mafia is. The player who receives the most votes is eliminated from the game. If the player is innocent, the game continues in the next night phase. If the player is the mafia, the innocent players win. The game continues with night and day phases until either all mafia players or all innocent players are eliminated.

#4 Jenga

Jenga is a classic game that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for generations. It's a fun and exciting way to test your hand-eye coordination and strategy skills.

  • - Jenga game set, which includes wooden blocks and a base
  • - Flat surface to play on
    1. Start by building the Jenga tower. To do this, stack the wooden blocks in rows of three, alternating the direction of the blocks with each row. Once the tower is built, players take turns removing one block at a time from any level of the tower, except for the top level. The player must then place the block on top of the tower, creating a new level. The game continues with players taking turns removing blocks and adding them to the top of the tower until the tower falls. The player who causes the tower to fall loses the game.

Stacking tower

Balloons

#5 Minute to win

If you're looking for a fun and fast-paced party game that's sure to get everyone laughing and having a good time, look no further than "Minute to Win It". This game involves a series of short, timed challenges that guests have to complete in under a minute, making it perfect for groups of all ages.

  • - Variety of simple challenges that can be completed in under a minute, such as cups, balloons, or spoons
  • - Timer or clock to keep track of the minute
  • Optional: prizes or rewards for the guests who complete the most challenges successfully
  •  
    1. Set up a series of short, timed challenges that guests have to complete in under a minute. Some examples might include stacking cups, blowing up balloons, or transferring objects from one container to another using only a spoon. Divide guests into teams or have them play individually, depending on the size of your group. Set a timer for one minute, and have guests complete as many challenges as they can within that time frame. At the end of each minute, award points or prizes to the guests who completed the most challenges successfully. Repeat the process with new challenges until all guests have had a chance to participate.
    2.  

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