New Years Eve Party Games
Elevate your New Year's Eve celebration with this guide to the best party games! Discover a collection of entertaining and laughter-inducing games to make your countdown to midnight unforgettable.
✍️ December 13, 2023
- 🎇 New Years Eve Party Games For Family
- 🧒 New Years Eve Party Games For Kids
- 🎆 New Years Eve Party Games For Adults
New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to gather with friends and family, reflect on the past year, and look forward to the new one. But let’s be honest, sometimes those long hours leading up to midnight can get a little boring. That’s where party games come in!
Whether you’re hosting a small intimate gathering or a big bash, these games will surely spice up your New Year’s Eve celebration. So grab some snacks, put on those party hats, and get ready to have some fun!
New Year’s Eve Party Games For Family
New Year’s Eve is a great way to bring the whole family together, from the young to the young at heart. If you’re hosting a family party as the clock strikes midnight, these games are perfect for all ages.
1. Charades
This classic game is always a hit at any party. Split into teams and have each team member act out a word, phrase, or movie title for their team to guess. To add a New Year’s twist, you can use words or phrases related to the holiday.
Playing this game is simple, yet guaranteed to bring lots of laughter and fun. And who knows, maybe it will reveal some hidden acting talents within your family!
Best family-friendly Charades ideas
Want some ideas to get you started? Here are some New Year’s themed words and phrases to use in your game of charades:
- Brushing teeth
- The Grinch from the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
- A champagne cork popping
- Confetti
- Resolutions
- Countdown
- Balloons
- Monkey
- Harry Potter from “Harry Potter”
- French fries
- Ariana Grande
- A bike
- Rihanna
- Saxophone
- Fireworks
- Toast
- Firecracker
- Celebration
- Midnight
Unlock the secrets of Charades with our quick guide—spice up any gathering with this classic game!
2. Board games
Board games are a great way to bring the whole family together for some friendly competition. Choose a variety of games that appeal to different age groups and interests, such as Scrabble, Monopoly, or even a fun trivia game.
Not only will this keep everyone entertained, but it also encourages bonding and communication among family members. Plus, there’s nothing like a little healthy competition to bring some excitement to the party!
If you want to add a New Year’s touch to your board games, try playing some classic games with a twist! For example, in Monopoly, instead of buying properties, have players make resolutions for the new year. In Scrabble, only use words related to the holiday.
Want to try playing board games? Discover the wild world of Exploding Kittens with our guide—easy to learn, impossible to resist!
3. Trivia
Test your family’s knowledge of all things New Year’s Eve with a trivia game. From traditions and customs to pop culture references, there are plenty of fun facts to discover about this holiday.
Trivia is a great way for friends and family to bond over a common interest. It can also lead to some friendly competition. This is a great way to keep everyone entertained and engaged in the party!
Dive into this 100+ Trivia Questions compilation for a mix of fun and knowledge—perfect for quiz nights and gatherings!
4. Fool’s Fortune
Create a festive mood for any New Year’s party with Fool’s Fortune. In this game, players write down funny phrases and resolutions on small pieces of paper and put them into a hat.
Before your guests arrive, prepare sheets of paper with the words, “In the coming year, I will…”. Then, ask each guest to finish the phrase with something funny or outrageous.
For example, “In the coming year, I will…learn how to juggle flaming torches!” Everyone takes turns pulling out a piece of paper and reading it aloud. The person who reads it must then try to guess who wrote it. This game is guaranteed to bring lots of laughter and silliness to your party!
Here are some “fortunes” to get you started:
- In the coming year, I will work in the circus.
- In the coming year, I will be on television.
- In the coming year, I will live in Paris.
- In the coming year, I will write a book.
- In the coming year, I will marry someone shorter than you.
- In the coming year, I will travel the world alone.
- In the coming year, I will have a surprise visitor.
- In the coming year, I will invent something.
- In the coming year, I will marry someone rich.
- In the coming year, I will win the lottery.
- In the coming year, I will get married.
- In the coming year, I will get a pet cat.
- In the coming year, I will become a professional chef.
- In the coming year, I will learn to play the guitar.
- In the coming year, I will meet a famous celebrity.
- In the coming year, I will start my own business.
- In the coming year, I will run a marathon.
5. Musical Chairs
Who says musical chairs is just for kids? Add a twist to this classic game by playing some upbeat New Year’s Eve party music and having guests dance around the chairs instead of walking.
Make it even more challenging by setting up different categories, such as “favorite song from the past year” or “best dance move of the night”. The last one sitting in a chair each round gets to choose the next category.
This game is sure to get everyone up and moving, making it a fun way to burn off those holiday treats!
New Years Eve Party Games For Kids
Playing party games is a great way to keep kids entertained at any New Year’s Eve celebration. Even if they can’t make it to midnight, these games will make sure they have a memorable night!
1. Truth or Dare for Kids
This classic game is always a hit with kids. Have them think of silly dares or answer fun and creative questions. Make sure to keep the dares appropriate for young children.
To play this version of the game, have two bowls, one with truth questions and one with dare questions. Have kids choose a question from one of the bowls and then do the corresponding task. This is sure to get everyone laughing and engaged in the party!
Best Truth or Dare Ideas for Kids
There are all kinds of ways to make Truth or Dare more fun for kids. Here are some great ideas for dares:
- Have someone eat a tablespoon of hot sauce
- Sing the entire alphabet without stopping
- Do 10 jumping jacks
- Tell a joke
- Draw a picture of your family using only 6 dots
- Pretend to be a monkey for one minute
- Do a funny dance for 30 seconds
- Act out a scene from their favorite movie
Here are some truth questions for kids:
- What’s the funniest thing that happened to you this year?
- If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?
- What’s your favorite thing about New Year’s Eve?
- What are three things you want to accomplish in the new year?
- Who is your biggest role model?
- What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
- If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
- Would you rather live on a deserted island or in a big city? Why?
Master the art of Truth or Dare with this quick guide—adding a playful twist to your social occasions has never been easier!
2. Hide & Seek
Hide & Seek or variations of this game is a classic for kids. This is the perfect way to get kids engaged in the party and having fun! New Year’s Eve can be a great time to play games outside, so encourage everyone to bring their coats and have an outdoor version of Hide & Seek! If it is too cold outside, Hide & Seek can also be played inside the house.
This game is perfect for a larger crowd because you can split people into two different hiding spots and have them come out one at a time.
3. Would You Rather for Kids
This game is a great way to start conversations and get kids thinking. Give them two options and have them choose which one they would rather do. For example, “Would you rather swim with dolphins or go on a roller coaster?”
You can also make it holiday-themed by asking questions like “Would you rather stay up until midnight or go to bed early and wake up for the first sunrise of the new year?” You can even get creative and have kids come up with their own “Would You Rather” questions!
Best Would You Rather Questions for Kids
Would you rather questions are a great way to get kids thinking and having some fun. Here are some of the best would you rather questions for kids:
- Would you rather have a pet dragon or a unicorn?
- Would you rather be able to read people’s thoughts or control the weather?
- Would you rather be able to turn invisible or fly?
- Would you rather have a superpower or be able to speak any language?
- Would you rather be able to go back in time or forward in time?
- Would you rather be the most popular person at school or the smartest person at school?
- Would you rather be able to eat anything you want without gaining weight or never get sick?
- Would you rather live in a world without music or a world without books?
- Would you rather have super strength or the ability to read people’s thoughts?
- Would you rather be able to swim like a fish or fly like a bird?
- Would you rather have the ability to teleport anywhere or time travel?
- Would you rather be a wizard in a magical world or an astronaut in space?
- Would you rather have a lifetime supply of candy or toys?
- Would you rather never have to do homework again or be able to stay up as late as you want every night?
- Would you rather be able to talk to animals or breathe underwater?
Turn decision-making into a joyous adventure with this Would You Rather guide—adding laughter and fun to your gatherings has never been simpler!
4. New Year’s Eve Photo Scavenger Hunt
Get your kids’ creative juices flowing with a New Year’s Eve photo scavenger hunt. This game is perfect for kids who love taking pictures and capturing memories.
How to play
- Divide your guests into teams of 4-5 people and provide each team with a copy of the scavenger hunt list.
- Give the teams at least 10 minutes to go around the party venue to take photos of the items on the scavenger hunt list.
- Ask them to do a funny pose with the items to make the game more exciting.
- Don’t forget to hide some of the items before your guests arrive!
- The team that has the most photos or funniest photos at the end of the game wins!
Try to do this during the early part of your party when your guests are not drunk yet!
Here are some New Year-themed items that you can include in your scavenger hunt list:
- Happy New Year balloon
- Clock
- Party hat
- Champagne bottle
- Confetti
- New Year’s resolution list
- Party poppers
- Star
- Champagne glass
- Calendar
- Ball
- A group selfie with funny faces
- Candle
- Glow stick
- Sunglasses
- Something glittery
- Tiara
- Christmas lights
New Years Eve Party Games For Adults
The fun doesn’t have to stop just because you’re an adult! A party isn’t complete without games, and here are some New Year’s Eve party game ideas that will bring out the competitive spirit in your friends and family.
1. Cards Against Humanity
Cards Against Humanity is a popular party game, and it’s perfect for New Year’s Eve. It’s a game of dark humor and inappropriate jokes, so it’s not for the faint of heart.
If you are looking for a game that will get everyone laughing, this is the perfect choice. Just be sure to know your audience and make sure everyone is comfortable with playing before starting the game.
Master the art of edgy laughter with Cards Against Humanity — perfect for adding a dash of irreverent fun to your game nights!
2. Never Have I Ever as a drinking game
Never Have I Ever is a classic party game that can be easily turned into a drinking game. The rules are simple: one player starts by saying “Never have I ever…” followed by something they have never done.
If any of the other players have done that thing, they take a sip of their drink. This game is sure to bring out some interesting stories and get everyone in a festive mood.
3. Card Drinking Games
New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to break out some card drinking games. From Kings Cup to Ride the Bus, there are endless options for fun and competitive drinking games that will keep your guests entertained all night long.
Getting a deck of cards is easy and these games require minimal set-up, making them perfect for a last-minute party addition. Just remember to drink responsibly and always have a designated driver.
Elevate your gatherings with Card Drinking Games, spice up game night with entertaining challenges and shared laughter!
4. New Year’s Eve Bingo
Give the classic game of bingo a New Year’s twist by creating your own bingo cards with holiday-themed items. You can use images of champagne glasses, party hats, fireworks, or even popular New Year’s resolutions.
Some websites even offer free printable New Year’s bingo cards if you don’t want to make your own. This game is perfect for a more relaxed and low-key party, but can still bring a lot of fun and excitement.
5. Two Truths and a Lie
This classic icebreaker game can also be a fun party game for New Year’s Eve. Have each person write down two true statements about themselves and one lie on a slip of paper.
Then, have everyone take turns reading their statements out loud while everyone else tries to guess which statement is the lie. This game is not only entertaining, but it’s also a great way to get to know your friends and family better.
No matter what type of New Year’s Eve gathering you’re planning, these party games are sure to add some fun and laughter to your celebration. Whether you’re playing with kids or adults, these party and drinking games will make your countdown to midnight a memorable one.
Have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve!🎉🥂
