Playing games is a well-known strategy for making the most of house parties, game nights, group parties, travels, and more. Games can be the perfect icebreaker even for hardcore introverts, bringing the joyful and hilarious side to every person. House party games are also important to keep the party vibes and energy at a high pitch all the time and abandon oneself. Games for house party are essential to distribute prizes and rewards.
Wondering what games to pick for your house party night? I have listed some of the best party games ever (my personal favorites) that are easy to set up, quick to learn, suitable for adults, and let you release your steam.
25 Top House Party Games for Adults
S.No | Game | Features |
1 | Two Truths and a Lie | Uncovers funny or surprising facts about players. |
2 | The Voting Game | Encourages fun debates and playful teasing. |
3 | Telephone Pictionary | Combines drawing and writing for hilarious results. |
4 | Charades | Adaptable for different age groups and interests. |
5 | Spoons | Fast-paced card game with physical activity. |
6 | Truth or Dare | Works for all ages and can be light or daring. |
7 | Sardines | Promotes teamwork and creates suspenseful fun. |
8 | Sporcle | Challenges quick thinking and knowledge recall. |
9 | Tyrion’s Drinking Game | A go-to for Game of Thrones fans and adults. |
10 | Movie ID | Mixes movie trivia with a bidding strategy. |
11 | Post It Note Game | Endlessly creative for guessing identities. |
12 | Celebrity | Adds challenge with multiple engaging rounds. |
13 | Reverse Charades | Flips charades into a chaotic team game. |
14 | Heads Up! | Modern, tech-based twist on charades. |
15 | How Do You Doo | Simple melody-based guessing game for laughs. |
16 | Drop A Hint | Tests creativity and communication skills. |
17 | Saran Wrap Game | Fun physical challenge with wrapped prizes. |
18 | That’s What She Said Party Game | Witty and slightly inappropriate humor game. |
19 | Cards Against Humanity | Known for dark humor and expansion packs. |
20 | Murder Wink ‘Em | Simple, observation-based deception game. |
21 | Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better | Showcase skills in fun competitions. |
22 | Exploding Kittens Card Game | Quirky strategy game for all ages. |
23 | What Do You Meme? Core Game | Suits for pop culture and meme lovers. |
24 | No Wrong Answers | Laughter from funny and open-ended questions. |
25 | Who Can Do It | Entertains with physical and creative challenges. |
1. Spoons
Age Group: 8+
Number of Players: 3-8 players
Requirements: Standard deck of cards and spoons (one fewer than the number of players).
Playing Time: 10-20 minutes
Objective: Be the first to collect four of a kind and grab a spoon; avoid being the player left without a spoon.
If you have ever played musical chairs, consider Spoons an aggressive version. Everyone sits around a table where spoons are placed in the center. A deck of cards is dealt to all players in equal share.
Gameplay: Players pass one card at a time to a player to their left. Once a player collects four matching cards, they can grab a spoon from the center. Now, here’s your turn to be alert! The other players will scramble to grab one as soon as one player grabs a spoon. As the spoons are one less than the number of players, one player will be left out without grabbing one. The person left out will be out of the game, and one spoon will be lessened for the next round.
Winning: The gameplay continues until only one person remains, who will be the winner. Paying attention is everything here! As you can see, it is one of the best house party game ideas you can ever play with cards.
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2. Charades
Age Group: All ages (8+)
Number of Players: 4+ players (teams)
Requirements: Paper slips or cards with words/phrases to act out, timer.
Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
Objective: Act out words or phrases without speaking while your team guesses correctly within a time limit.
Charades is a special pick among house party games for large groups. Do you know why? It can be as simple or as complicated, depending on how you make it. Instruct everyone to write down their favorite movies, concepts, people, shows, acts, and anything that gives scope for acting out. Now divide the players into teams.
In every team, a person acts out something drawn from the paper slips, and it’s up to their team members to guess it correctly. When the time runs out, switch teams and repeat the gameplay.
You can record the scores of each time. Who made the maximum correct guesses within the time limit? Announce them as the winner. You may arrange prizes and surprises for a game night.
3. Telephone Pictionary
Age Group: 10+
Number of Players: 6+ players
Requirements: Paper, pens/pencils for each player
Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
Objective: Alternate between drawing and describing words or phrases, resulting in hilarious transformations by the end.
To start the game, distribute papers or notepads to each player. Each player requires as many papers as the number of players, e.g., 6 papers for each player if there are 6 players.
Gameplay: At the beginning of the game, a player writes a word or phrase on the first paper and passes their stack of papers to the person on their left. That player will have a look at your word, adjust the paper to the bottom of the stack, and draw interpretations of it. Now, the stack is passed on to the next player. The following person will look at the drawing and interpret it into a new phrase or word. They will write it on the next sheet.
Continue the passing and alternate between drawing and writing. Ultimately, the stacks will be returned to the owners. When it does, flip through the results and be amazed at the transformations! It can fit your house party games for kids and adults pretty well.
4. The Voting Game
Age Group: 15+
Number of Players: 4-10 players
Requirements: The Voting Game deck or a list of funny/revealing prompts
Playing Time: 30-90 minutes
Objective: Vote anonymously on who matches a funny or revealing prompt in the group.
The Voting game is about deciding who in the group is a likely match for a scenario.
Gameplay: In the game, a question card is drawn. Something like âWho would help you flee the country?â or âWho snoops on their partnerâs phone?â etc. An anonymous voting takes place, where all players vote for a person. Now, you have to guess who voted for you to win.
If you want house party games for adults to poke fun at (or tease!), go for this fun game.
5. Two Truths and a Lie
Age Group: 10+
Number of Players: 3+ players
Playing Time: 10-20 minutes
Objective: Guess which statement is the lie among two truths a player provides.
When you’re selecting games for house party, what are your intentions? Do you wanna the deepest and dark secrets of your close friends and family members? Two Truths and a Lie can help you dig!
Gameplay: The game is rather intuitive: each player has to write two truths and a lie about themselves on a piece of paper, fold it up, and put it in a bowl. The host will start picking them from above randomly and read them aloud. Players shall identify who the person is and their lie. It is very simple. But trust me, it can be very engaging and a laughter-coaster (an embarrassing one!)
6. Truth or Dare
Age Group: 12+
Number of Players: 3+ players
Playing Time: 15-30 minutes
Objective: Choose between answering a revealing question (truth) or completing a dare.
Truth or Dare is already popular among indoor house party games for adults. A group of players sit around a table or a platform. You can also arrange a campfire to suit the weather. The host will select a player randomly or in a clockwise direction. That player must choose between truth or dare. In the first case, they must tell the truth about the host’s question. In Dare, the selected player must perform an act told by the host with no excuses permitted. These games for house party events are also shown in movies.
7. Sardines
Age Group: 8+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: A large space for hiding and seeking
Playing Time: 15-30 minutes
Objective: Seek out the hidden person and join them in their hiding spot until the last person finds the group.
Sardiness happens to be the reverse of the hide-and-seek game but belongs to the list of best party games. Here, one person hides, and the rest of the players seek him or her. Each time a player finds the hider, they must join it and go into hiding. The person who finds out the remaining players will be the loser. It is ideal if you’re looking for house party game ideas for kids.
8. Sporcle
Age Group: 12+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: List of categories, timer
Playing Time: 15-25 minutes
Objective: Name items that fit within a chosen category until players run out of ideas.
Quick thinking is the name of the fun game Sporcle!
Players line up, and a category like âJane Austen booksâ is announced. Each person must name something in the category within 5 seconds. They’re out if they repeat an answer or run out of ideas. Keep going until one player is left. Nominate one player per team or let everyone compete for points. Points can be earned for top players in each round.
Play several rounds with different categories. Add up points to decide the overall winner. Of course, the last person standing wins!
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9. Tyrion’s Drinking (Game of Thrones)
Age Group: 18+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: Drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
Objective: Make true statements about others; if correct, they drink. If incorrect, you drink.
Do you know Tyrion’s character from the Game of Thrones? He’s the first person to play this game, so names after him. Don’t bother if you don’t know. The game is similar to the Never Have I game and best serves among the house party games for adults.
Unlike in Never Have I, where you make a statement about yourself, this game involves making a statement about someone else in the group. Players sit around a table or in a circle and make statements about others. If your statement about the other is true, the other person will grab a drink,, and you can make another statement.
Otherwise, you have to drink, and the turn goes to another player to make a statement. There is no winner in the game except the intention of fun and engagement from the best party games.
10. Movie ID
Age Group: 12+
Number of Players: 4+ players (teams)
Requirements: Movie title cards, timer, buzzer
Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
Objective: Get your team to guess a movie title while bidding on how few words youâll use for clues.
If you love movies and enjoy quick-thinking challenges, Name That Movie is the house party game for you! It’s like the classic game show Name That Tune but with movie titles. However, it is suited to be among the house party games for adults.
Gameplay: Split into two teams to start the game. One player from each team steps up. Show both players the same movie title. They bid on how few words they need to get their team to guess the movie. Take Forrest Gump, for example. A player might bid âfour words: Hanks, a box of chocolates.â Bidding continues until one concedes.
The winning player describes the movie using their bid. Their team gets one guess. Then, rotate the players and repeat with two new players from opposing teams until the movies run out.
The team with the most correct answers at the end of the game wins. Meantime, there is laughter, excitement, and friendly disagreements.
11. Post It Note Game
Age Group: 8+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: Sticky notes, pens
Playing Time: 15-25 minutes
Objective: Ask yes/no questions to discover the character or name on the note stuck to your head.
To start Post It Note game, grab a stack of sticky notes and a pen, and write the name of your favorite public figure or character on each note. Ensure the names are relatively well-known. Pass the notes around until every player gets one. Without looking at the names on their paper, every player must stick the note on their forehead or back. Mix up all players and take turns to ask yes or no questions to discover your assigned identity.
Start with “Am I living?” for the best. The gameplay continues until everyone guesses their identity. The winning prizes go to players who guess correctly.
12. Celebrity
Age Group: 10+
Number of Players: 4+ players (teams)
Requirements: Paper slips with celebrity names, time
Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
Objective: Guess celebrity names through three rounds.
This is a fast-paced party game where players guess celebrity names through words and acting.
Each player writes the names of 10 celebrities they think everyone knows (e.g., Tiger Woods or Shakira) on their slips of paper. Put all the slips into a bowl. Split into two teams and explain that the same names will be used across three rounds.
As the game starts, teams take turns, and one player draws a slip. They shall try to help their team guess the famous person. Pass the turn to the next player once a name is guessed. Keep playing until the timer runs out. And then, it is time to switch teams.
There are three rounds:
- Words Only: Players describe the celebrity using only words, no gestures.
- Act It Out: Players act out the celebrity with no words allowed.
- One Word: Players can use only one word to describe the celebrity.
Count how many names each team guesses correctly across all three rounds. The winning team is the one with the most correct guesses.
13. Reverse Charades
Age Group: 8+
Number of Players: 6+ players
Requirements: Word/phrase cards, timer
Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
Objective: Teams act out words together so that one teammate can guess correctly within the time limit.
Reverse Charades flips the traditional game on its head, making it a hilarious addition to your list of house party games for adults.
Gameplay
Split into teams of 4-6 people. For each round, one player from a team becomes the guesser while the rest of the team acts out clues together. No talking allowed! The goal? Get the guesser to correctly identify as many words as possible before the timer runs out.
Each correct guess earns a point. Teams can use one âpassâ per round if a clue is too tricky. After the timer ends, itâs the next teamâs turn. Play continues until everyone has had a chance to guess or for a set number of rounds.
The team with the most correct guesses wins.
14. Heads Up!
Age Group: 8+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: Smartphone with the Heads Up! app installed
Playing Time: 15-25 minutes
Objective: Guess words displayed on the phone held to your head using your teammatesâ clues.
If you’re looking for house party games online, Heads Up is there. You need a smartphone or tablet to play the game. The game is somewhat similar to Charades.
Gameplay: A player will hold the phone to their forehead, exposing the screen to everyone. Everyone in the group will act out or describe whatever is displayed on the screen. The player holding the phone/tab has to guess within a minute. The phone goes to the next person now. When playing this house party game online, you can include anything like animals, movies, celebrities, and actions.
The person who makes the most correct guesses wins.
15. How Do You Doo
Age Group: 10+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: List of popular songs, timer
Playing Time: 15-20 minutes
Objective: Get your team to guess a song while only singing the word “doo” in the melody.
Get ready for laughs with this simple and hilarious game! Can you get your team to guess a song by singing only âdooâ?
Gameplay: Split into two teams. One player from the first team starts as the singer. They pick a song from a bowl and sing it using only the word âdoo.â No gestures or hints, just âdooâ!
They can skip and pick another if they donât know the song. Once someone guesses the correct song, they take over as the new singer. Keep going for five minutes, earning a point for each correct guess. Then, itâs Team Bâs turn!
The team with the most points wins.
16. Drop A Hint
Age Group: 10+
Number of Players: 4+ players (teams)
Requirements: Word/phrase cards, timer
Playing Time: 15-20 minutes
Objective: Use one-word hints to get your teammate to guess the correct word.
Drop a Hint is a great game when teammates donât think alike. It becomes an effective means of generating boundless hilarity.
Gameplay starts by splitting players into two teams. One person is the guesser, and the others give one-word hints to help them guess a word. For example, if the word is âpumpkin,â hints might be âorange,â âHalloween,â and âsquash.â The guesser gets one try per word. If theyâre wrong, move to the next word.
Each team has two minutes to guess as many words as possible. To continue, switch guessers each round.
Winning: Earn one point for each correct guess. The team with the most points wins.
17. Saran Wrap Game
Age Group: 8+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: Plastic wrap, small prizes, dice (optional)
Playing Time: 15-30 minutes
Objective: Unwrap a ball of plastic wrap to win prizes hidden inside before the timer runs out.
Start by wrapping one prize at the center of the ball. Then, keep adding items and wrapping them in layers until you have a big, sturdy bundle. For an an extra challenge, tear the plastic wrap into smaller sheets as you go.
During gameplay, sit in a circle or around a table. One person starts unwrapping the ball while the person beside them rolls dice. The unwrapping stops once doubles are rolled, and the ball passes to the next player. Any prizes you unwrap during your turn are yours to keep!
Want to make it harder? Use oven mitts for unwrapping or set a timer instead of using dice. This game guarantees fun and a little chaos at any party!
18. That’s What She Said
Age Group: 17+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: Thatâs What She Said card game deck
Playing Time: 30-60 minutes
Objective: Match hilarious phrases to prompts for the funniest results, similar to Cards Against Humanity.
That’s What She Said is frequently played at Birthday parties, bachelorette parties, or house parties. If you’re looking for house party games for adults, this is a good option. It is a card game in which players match setup cards with the joke: That’s What She Said.
The deck contains 400 phrase cards and 58 setup cards, leading to endless combinations of fun and laughter. You need at least four people to play the game. But the more, the better: the card game deck also offers an expansion deck for more games. Bring your most challenging friends; the game promises to break the ice. Each player discards one card that doesn’t suit them every round, beginning the new round fresh. That’s What She Said is easily one of the best party games for large groups.
19. Cards Against Humanity
Age Group: 17+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: Cards Against Humanity game deck
Playing Time: 30-60 minutes or more.
Objective: Create the funniest combinations of prompts and answers using irreverent cards.
If you love fill-in-the-blank card games, Cards Against Humanity is the best deal of house party games for adults. The game is entertaining and can be an inappropriate choice. Knowing the team you’re playing with is essential, as some of the cards contain sensitive or triggering topics. But, if all of you can agree upon inappropriate humor, you can unlock ample fun from the game.
Just like Apples to Apples, there will be a judge. They shall draw a Black card with a fill-in-blank sentence. Players then pick one of their White cards filled with a phrase or sentence to complete the sentence on the black card. The judge now picks the funniest combination of Black and White cards. As you can see, there are endless combinations and expansion packs to uncover.
20. Murder Wink ‘Em
Age Group: 10+
Number of Players: 5+ players
Requirements: Paper slips to assign roles
Playing Time: 15-30 minutes
Objective: Identify the secret murderer while avoiding being âkilledâ by their winks.
Now, the gameplay is straightforward: Every player sits in a circle and grabs a piece of paper kept in a bucket. Most papers are blank, but one will have an “M” or something to identify the murderer. When a person with this piece of paper makes eye contact or winks at another person, that person gets killed. The murderer player attempts to kill as many players as possible without anyone seeing or getting caught.
The person to identify the murderer wins in each round, while incorrect guesses lead to the elimination of that player.
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21. Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better
Age Group: 12+
Number of Players: 4+ players (teams)
Requirements: Supplies for pre-decided tasks (e.g., cupcakes for decorating, sock balls for tossing), timer
Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
Objective: Compete to replicate an expertâs task, such as decorating cupcakes or tossing items.
Think you can outdo your friends? This game is all about watching, learning, and proving youâre the best. Use it for game nights when you want friendly competition and lots of laughs!
Hereâs how it works: An expert shows everyone how to do something, like decorating a cupcake or shooting sock basketballs. Then, one person from each team tries to replicate it in a minute. The expert decides who did it best.
Points are awarded for first, second, and third place. After all rounds, the team with the most points wins. It’s simple, competitive, and oh-so-fun!
22. Exploding Kittens
Age Group: 7+
Number of Players: 2-5 players
Requirements: Exploding Kittens card game deck
Playing Time: 15-20 minutes
Objective: Avoid drawing the âExploding Kittenâ card while using strategy and other cards to survive longer than your opponents.
Games for house party are supposed to be light on strategy and high on fun. Exploding Kittens promises both. The game is like a hot potato with a twist. You’re eliminated when you attempt to avoid drawing an Exploding Kitten card unless you have a defuser card for your rescue.
There are defuse options like kitten yoga or catnip to save you, while other cards let you skip turns or pass the danger. The best part of the game is that there are versions for kids and adults over 17, so you can select the most appropriate one for your games for house party events. The graphics and quirky themes are the charm to steal from the game.
23. What Do You Meme?
Age Group: 17+
Number of Players: 3+ players
Requirements: What Do You Meme? Card game deck
Playing Time: 30-45 minutes
Objective: Match caption cards to funny meme images to create the most hilarious combinations.
Here’s an option for meme lovers and pop culture fans to organize house party game ideas! What Do You Meme card is the right choice to make your occasion a laughter-ride.
Gameplay: A designated judge will display a meme card at the start of a new round. Players will compete to make the meme card funniest by matching it up with caption cards from their hands while throwing fun at each other, reasoning why one is a better caption than the other. The judge will pick the best combination, and the gameplay proceeds.
What Do You Meme is similar to Cards Against Humanity but less offensive. The sole objective of the game is fun and fun alone.
24. No Wrong Answers
Age Group: 18+
Number of Players: 4+ players
Requirements: No Wrong Answers Adults Only card deck
Playing Time: 20-30 minutes
Objective: Answer provocative and funny questions without worrying about being âwrong,â sparking laughter and debates.
No Wrong Answers is popular among group traveling games, but it can also invigorate house party games for adults.
The gameplay is to answer hilarious and thought-provoking questions like âWhat celebrity could you pick up at a bar?â or âWhich historical figure had the best butt?â. In the process of answering, the game can trigger debates, funny conversations, sarcasm, and whatnot. It promises a laugh-riot in groups.
While you can use it among the games for house party occasions, the game yields the best results on your road trips or traveling parties. There is a high replay value, as every group can play it differently. The game has different versions for different age groups, which is exactly needed at house parties.
25. Who Can Do It
Age Group: 17+
Number of Players: 3+ players
Requirements: Who Can Do It card deck
Playing Time: 20-40 minutes
Objective: Complete funny, daring, and outrageous challenges to prove whoâs the most entertaining or skilled.
Who Can Do It is yet another game that gets everyone moving and laughing. It promises plenty of interaction, which is essential for group plays, house parties, friendly banter, etc.
As the gameplay starts, players compete in rather silly challenges, such as taking the worst selfie, naming an emo band, or reading their last text in a quirky voice. The most creative and impactful player emerges as the round winner and keeps the card.
The player with the most cards at the end of the game will be the ultimate winner. Trust me, everyone will be absorbed in the fun and hilarity of the gameplay to worry about the winner or winning. If you’re not thick-skinned, don’t enter the game only to face embarrassments coming your way. Extroverts are more suited to the game, though it’s not a rule.
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Conclusion
House parties are less about games and more about creating connections and memories. Consider adding personal touches like themed decorations or a playlist curated by your guests to make the night even more special. Donât forget to capture moments with photos or videos for keepsakes! Lastly, ensure everyone feels included by offering a mix of games, food, and activities. The effort will make your party unforgettable!
FAQs
How do I make my house party fun?
You can make your house party fun by playing background music to set the mood. Light-scented candles are used in restrooms, and fresh flowers are placed around the house. Arrange amazing seating areas. Serve plenty of food and use outdoor space and gardens if possible.
How many people should I invite to a house party?
The number of people to invite depends on your space and budget. For small gatherings, 6-10 guests work well. For larger parties, 15-20 is manageable. Ensure everyone fits comfortably.
How can I reduce spending on house party game ideas?
To keep spending in check for games for house party, you can implement the following:
- Host a potluck and ask guests to bring food.
- Keep the guest list small to manage costs.
- Use DIY decorations for a personal touch.
- Plan simple games that donât need much supplies.
- Serve affordable food and drinks.
- Shop early to find discounts and save money.
What are the precautions to take when organizing house party games?
Taking precautionary measures is essential to avoid undesirable incidents during party games. Ensure the following measures are taken care of:
- Ensure enough space for games to avoid accidents.
- Remove fragile or valuable items from the play area.
- Set clear rules to keep games fair and fun.
- Supervise games involving physical activity.
- Provide proper equipment and materials.
- Ensure everyoneâs safety and comfort throughout the event.