When it’s time to liven up a get-together, party games are the go-to fix to ensure everyone has a blast. Here are 11 of the greatest party games ever that are guaranteed to bring laughter, fun, and maybe a bit of friendly competition to your gathering.
1. Charades
A classic game that never fails to amuse. Players act out a word or phrase without speaking while their team tries to guess. It’s a test of creativity and quick thinking.
2. Pictionary
Just like charades, but with drawing. You don’t need to be an artist to excel at Pictionary, in fact, sometimes the worse the drawings are, the more fun the game becomes.
3. Cards Against Humanity
Not for the faint of heart, this party game involves filling in the blanks of statements with humorous, often risqué, phrases. It’s known as “a party game for horrible people” for a reason and is best reserved for adults.
4. Mafia
A social deduction game where players are secretly assigned roles as either members of the mafia or townspeople. The goal of the mafia is to eliminate the townspeople, while the townspeople must identify and get rid of the mafia members.
5. Werewolf
Similar to Mafia, Werewolf assigns players to roles within a village. Some are werewolves, trying to consume the villagers each night, and others are villagers trying to root out the werewolves among them.
6. Twister
A physical game where players place their hands and feet on colored spots on a mat, resulting in hilarious poses and inevitable collapses. It’s a great way to get everyone moving.
7. Beer Pong
A popular game at college parties involves throwing ping pong balls across a table into cups of beer. It’s often very competitive and just as entertaining for spectators as it is for participants.
8. Heads Up!
Popularized by Ellen DeGeneres, this game has one person holding a card on their forehead with a word or phrase while others describe or act it out for them to guess. It’s a lively game that can be played anywhere, anytime.
9. Trivial Pursuit
For a more intellectually stimulating game, Trivial Pursuit challenges players’ knowledge in various categories. It’s perfect for a dinner party or a family gathering.
10. Apples to Apples
This is a game of hilarious comparisons. Players match nouns to adjective cards in their hand, and the judge picks the funniest or most appropriate pairing. With a large group, this game is sure to provoke laughter.
11. Secret Hitler
A dramatic game of political intrigue and betrayal set in 1930s Germany. Players are either liberals or fascists, and they must work to either pass liberal policies or install Secret Hitler to power.
Each of these games has a unique way of breaking the ice and encouraging guests to interact, making them the perfect ingredient for a memorable party. Whether you’re looking for something active, something strategic, or just something downright silly, there’s a game on this list that’s sure to fit the bill.
