We’ve all been there. Dinner’s taking a little too long or finishes up just a bit too soon. You need something to fill the time, to make the gathering a success. This list of party games to play at your next party with friends, family, or your kids, can ease you into a good time and keep them asking for seconds.
1. Charades
Nothing’s better than a good, old-fashioned game of charades at any dinner party. Put some ideas in a bowl and start acting them out!
Learn more: Family Education
2. What Do You Meme
While you can buy this popular new game on Amazon, you can easily make it yourself if you have a printer. Google some memes, print them out (without words), and see who can come up with the funniest caption. You can always mix in some funny pictures you’ve taken yourself, too to make it more personal (and hilarious).
Learn more: Board Game Geek
3. Exploding Kittens
The Russian Roulette of card games, this is the perfect game if you have a party of 4-6 people. The game is sold online and at Target. It’s a ton of fun and is great for a party with kids.
Learn more: The Spruce
4. Phase 10
A card game for the ages, Phase 10 is a classic! The card game is cheap and can be found anywhere games are sold. It’s great for adults and kids alike and has multiple rounds, allowing for a great family dinner time game.
Learn more: Geeky Hobbies
5. 20 Questions
This game can be played with conversation cards to help it along or independently. Just think of a topic and have guests guess guiding questions, which should be yes or no only. They only get 20 questions, or the answer-keeper wins!
Learn more: Ultra Board Games
6. Apples to Apples
This simple game is another one bought as a set, but used time and time again as a family dinner game or for a night with friends. There are kid-friendly sets and an adult-only naughty version.
Learn more: Board Game Geek
7. Cards Against Humanity
If you want the creme-de-la-creme of games for adults, you can try Cards Against Humanity. If you have a dark sense of humor, this adult party game is sure to bring lots of laughs–and probably a bit of cringing, too. (Definitely a game for adult conversations only.)
Learn more: Cards Against Humanity
8. Blind Taste Test
This is technically a drinking game, but can be played with any food or drink you want! If you want to make it a game for adults, try buying different wines and covering up the bottles completely (number them, though)! For kids, use juice or even food.
Learn more: The Unconventional Route
9. Telestration
This original game is another one that works with any guest list. Grab a piece of paper and a pen for each person. In the first round, everyone draws a picture at the very top of the sheet, then you fold the paper down to just cover the small picture and pass it to left. The next person peeks at only the picture, then writes a caption they think the picture is depicting. Fold over the caption, then pass to the left again. Lift the flap to only read the caption, and do your best to draw it. The process repeats until you get your original picture back!
Learn more: A Thrifty Mom
10. Fishbowl
This classic game is great for large crowds and as an icebreaker game. Everyone writes down 3 nouns (person, place, thing), then all the slips of paper go into a bowl. Divide into two teams and begin the first round. Each round has different rules: the first is words and motions, the second is motions, and the third is just one, single word. Whichever team has the most points at the end of the game, wins!
Learn more: Bar Games 101
11. Spicy Uno
This is Uno, except better for older kids or adults. This fun game applies different rules to plain numbers. The rules can be a bit extensive, so check for a printer-friendly PDF version online to help everyone adjust to the new rules until they’re memorized.
Learn more: Crazy Little Projects
12. Mega Twister
Mega Twister is probably best before the meal. Get 3 or 4 different twister boards, spin the wheel, and get ready for some game night fun! The bigger board allows for more players and more twistiness!
Learn more: JB Inflatables
13. Mafia
This is the game for people who are sick of playing board games and card games. Mafia makes the guests at the party the pawns in the game, and it’s sure to be a hit. This can take just about any dinner party and turn it into a murder mystery, no pre-planning is needed.
Learn more: KQED
14. Spoons
A fun dinner table game that’s a favorite of guests is Spoons. It involves a deck of cards and spoons! Put them in the middle of the table (1 less than guests playing) and start passing cards clockwise (everyone can hold only 5 at a time). Once you have 4-of-a-kind, reach for a spoon to trigger everyone else to grab one. Whoever is left spoon-less is out.
Learn more: It’s Always Autumn
15. Customs Cakes
Nothing’s better than letting guests decorate their own cupcakes. Maybe it’s not a traditional game, but it can be if you decide that whoever looks the best, wins!
Learn more: Better Baker Club
16. Cup Stackers
Stacking cups is a simple, favorite game of many. Using plastic cups of the same size, start stacking them up going 4-3-2-1. Then collapse them all. The fastest stacker wins!
Learn more: Waterloo Region District School Board
17. Junk in the Trunk
This game involves an empty tissue box, cotton balls, and string. Tie the empty tissue box around someone’s waist with the string, fill it with cotton or ping pong balls, and set a timer for 30 seconds. The player shakes their butt as fast as they can. At the end of 30 seconds, count how many balls they shook out. Whoever shakes out the most, wins!
Learn more: Live About
18. Oreo Wiggle
For this game, twist an Oreo in half and stick it frosting side down on your forehead. Once everyone has done this, start twitching the cookie to your mouth (NO HANDS). If it falls, you’re out. Whoever gets it in their mouth first, wins!
Learn more: Stuff You Can Use
19. Leg Wrestling
This Native American game has become an internet sensation. Essentially, two players lay on their backs with their hips aligned (facing opposite directions). The touching legs go up, and you wrestle until one player is flipped.
Learn more: Sports Aspire
20. Corn Hole
Sometimes you need to take it back to the basics and get outside. This game is easily set up in the backyard and is perfect for a barbecue or any dinner party in the summer.
Learn more: Play Cornhole
32 Fun and Inventive Games For One-Year-Olds