The holidays are fast approaching, promising good tidings and joy. The anticipation of celebrating
New Year's Eve is always a mix of excitement and nostalgia. It's a time to gather with friends and family, say goodbye to the past year and look forward to the new unpredictable year that is waiting on the doorstep.
No matter what is being planned, a grand celebration with a large group of friends or a quiet night in with your closest loved ones, New Year's Eve party games are the perfect way to create positivity and have fun.
When making a plan, you can also list New Year's Eve party games that are suitable for the whole family, as well as a few adult-only games to make it more fun!
These can be classic games that are suitable for any party or company, as well as more specific games with a New Year's theme.
Who I am
How to play: write the name of a famous person, a fictional character, or a word related to New Year's Eve on a sticker (e.g., "champagne flutes" or "
New Year's tree"), stick it on each player's forehead so that they can't see the writing. Players take turns asking yes-no questions to find out who or what they are. The first person to guess correctly first wins!
What you need for the game: stickers or pieces of paper, pen or marker.
Preferences
How to play: take turns asking questions such as: "Would you rather watch fireworks at midnight or sleep through the countdown?" or "Would you rather relive the past year or travel to the next?". It's a fun way to engage people of all ages and keep the conversation going in a light, casual atmosphere.
What is needed for the game: a list of questions "Would you prefer..." or make them up on the spot impromptu.
New Year's bingo
How to play: create Bingo cards with Christmas items such as "Christmas toys", "any Christmas movies", "snowman napkins" and so on. As items are mentioned or spotted throughout the evening, players will tag them. Whoever is the first to collect five in a row will win a small prize!
What you need for the game: printed Christmas bingo cards, markers or tokens.
Tennis ball
How to play: if there is a desire to organize an active indoor game that will not lead to breakage, balloon tennis is a great idea. Plastic fly balls and balloons can be used.
Photo: simplifycreateinspire.com
You have to create a makeshift "grid" from a strip of tape on the floor and divide into 2 teams. A ball is thrown across the line, and if it touches the ground on the other side, the team earns a point. The kids will have something to do before the New Year!
What you will need for the game: balloons, fly swatter, colored tape.
Balloons
How to play: divide the players into pairs and give each pair a balloon. Players should stand back to back and burst the balloon, pressing against each other without using their hands. The couple that bursts their balloon first wins. This game is great for children.
What is needed for the game: balloons.
Hot sauce roulette
How to play: if you're going to celebrate New Year's Eve with adventurous friends, this game will do the trick. Place a bunch of soda and spirit glasses and straws on a bench, adding hot sauce to some of them. Players must choose a drink to sip from and hope they don't get a drink with hot sauce in it.
What you'll need: soda cans with different flavors, hot sauce, straws.
The riddle of the alphabet
How to play: Take a large piece of paper or a blackboard and divide everyone present into two teams. One team member must draw a picture on the piece of paper that represents a word or phrase without using any letters or saying anything out loud. The other players on their team must try to guess what is drawn before the timer goes off. The timer is set for 30 seconds.
If they fail, the other team has a chance to guess. The teams then switch teams. The game continues until one of the teams reaches a certain number of points (e.g. 5 or 10).
What you'll need for the game: a large sheet of paper or whiteboard, markers, words to solve.
Left-right
How to play: This storytelling game is perfect for groups of all ages. You have to write a story in which the words "left" and "right" occur several times. Players sit in a circle and pass a gift or object to each other while the story is read aloud. Each time the storyteller says "left," the object is passed to the left, and when he or she says "right," the object is passed to the right. At the end of the story, the gift stays with the person holding it!
What you will need: a small gift or prize, a pre-written Left-Right story.
Drawing by touch
How to play: players are blindfolded while one person reads out step-by-step instructions for drawing something (e.g., a snowman, a
Santa Claus hat, or a gift box). The results are guaranteed to be fun! At the end of the contest, the drawing is judged on accuracy and detail, and a prize is awarded to the winner.
What you will need: paper, markers, pencils or crayons, a list of drawing tasks and instructions.
New Year's promises
How to play: each guest will write a few notes with a New Year's promise and put them in a glass jar. Each guest pulls out a piece of paper and let everyone guess who wrote it. Whoever pulls out their promise gets a prize.
What you will need: pieces of paper, pens, glass jar.
Two truths and one lie
How to play: Each player takes turns telling two true and one false statement about themselves. The rest of the group tries to guess which statement is false. This game is good for getting to know each other better or just having a laugh.
What's needed: nothing - just the players and their imagination.
Have a drink if
How to play: take turns reading statements starting with the words "Have a drink if..." followed by a condition, such as "have you ever fallen asleep before midnight on New Year's Eve". Players to whom the statement applies take a sip of the alcoholic beverage.
This game is more suitable for adults, but you can also involve children (their drinks will be juices or sodas).
What you'll need: drinks for everyone (juice, soda, or adult beverages), a list of "Drink if..." statements.
Countdown
How to play: write the task or questions on pieces of paper and put them inside the balloons. Label each balloon with a time (e.g. 8pm, 9pm, etc.). Burst a balloon at each hour to reveal the task the players must complete.
Photo: simplifycreateinspire.com
The best thing about the balloon game is that it is played throughout the party, so care should be taken to have the balloons ready from the very beginning of the event.
What you will need: balloons, pieces of paper with tasks, a pin or needle, any items needed to complete the tasks.
Truth or Dare
How to play: players take turns choosing between answering a personal question (truth) and performing a funny or silly task (action). This classic game can be adapted to any age group by changing the questions and tasks. For New Year's cheer, focus on questions and tasks related to promises, the past year or the coming year.
What you will need: pieces of paper with pre-written questions and activities that players can draw out in random order.
With these New Year's Eve party games, the party is guaranteed to be boring, as this list has ideas for everyone - kids of all ages, teens, and adults alike. Plus, many of these games require minimal preparation, making them a great way to keep your guests entertained!