Classic Party Games
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We all love the good old classic party games that work in so many different party themes or even as an extra activity to entertain your guests. Most of them are so simple, but growing up everyone finds them so much fun and then tries to remember them later to recreate those amazing memories. Depending on your event, you can play these games either inside or outside and both options are fun if the weather cooperates. Below you can find over 10 different classic party games and activities listed in alphabetical order that will be perfect for your next event. |
We all love the good old classic party games that work in so many different party themes or even as an extra activity to entertain your guests. Most of them are so simple, but growing up everyone finds them so much fun and then tries to remember them later to recreate those amazing memories. Depending on your event, you can play these games either inside or outside and both options are fun if the weather cooperates. Below you can find over 10 different classic party games and activities listed in alphabetical order that will be perfect for your next event.
Broken Telephone
Ages: 6 and older
Objective: To try and not be the broken telephone by keeping the same message throughout the circle of people by whispering it from ear to ear.
Players: 5 or more
Materials: List of secrets to pass or have guests make up a phrase to send
Rules: Have players sit in a circle. Tell the first person a message by whispering it in their ear. Have that first player then try and spread the same message to the next person in the same fashion. The message may only be told once. If a person does not understand, they must pass on what they think is the correct message. Continue passing the message until the last person has heard it. Have the last person reveal what they believe the message is. Is it the same?
Charades
Ages: 7 and older
Objective: To try and guess what things or phrases other players are acting out
Players: 6 or more
Materials: List of actable items and ideas. Eg. Animals, occupations, characters
Rules: Divide players into two teams. The first team starts by choosing a member to be first. The acting player privately views the action card. The player must then attempt to act out whatever was on the card. The acting player must not speak. Players from the same team then must guess at what they think it is. If they are correct within an allotted time, usually one minute they score a point. If an answer is not found the other team gets one united guess. If they are correct their team steals the point. If no answer is found, both teams are rewarded nothing and play continues with the other team. The team with the most points at the end wins this classic party game.
Dodgeball
Ages: 6 and older
Objective: To try to not get hit by a ball being thrown at yourself and to hit your opponent with a ball
Players: 10 or more
Materials: Large and soft bouncy balls
Rules: Divide all players into two even teams. Place the balls in the middle of the court area. Have all the players stand on the back of their side of the court. When the game play starts the players can move about their side of the court. When they have a ball you try to throw it to hit an opponent on the other side of the court. If you are hit you are either out of the round or you can go to the other side of the court (outside of the playing area) and try to hit the opponents from the other side to still assist your team. Make a rule of not aiming for the head. If a player is hit, they must leave the court. The last person remaining in the game wins.
Egg Toss
Objective: To toss the egg and catch it with a partner
Materials: Eggs (either boiled or raw)
Rules: Have guests get into partner groupings. Everyone tosses their egg. If you catch it without it breaking you move onto the next round. Take a step back and toss the egg again. Whichever team can toss their egg the farthest without it breaking wins.
Memory Game
Objective: To try to remember your surroundings when blindfolded.
Players: 4 or more
Materials: Blindfold, a list of items to remember
Rules: There are three main ways to play this type of game…
- Have the player have a good look around the party room and take in as many details as they can. Have them try to remember certain colors or where people are sitting or even what people are wearing. Then have that player leave the room and come back to the room blindfolded. Quiz the player about their surroundings and see what they remember. If they came with a partner, ask them questions about them or another specific individual. This could get interesting.
- Have a tray or table set up with items that are party related. Have the guests then leave the room or cover up the table items (or blind field your guests). Try to see how many of the items they remember.
- Have a character related to your party come into the room. Make a bit of a scene with a few other people. Have all the people in the scene leave the room. Then tell the party guests that you need their help. The one person in the scene “stole” something and you need a good description to send to the police. Get all the different descriptions and see which is the closest. Have the individual come back into the room to see how accurate they are. Make sure you tell your guests that the person was just acting and didn’t really cause any crime.
Musical Chairs
Ages: 4 and older
Objective: In musical chairs players go round and round a circle of an uneven number of chairs while listening to music. When the music stops players must find a chair to sit on or they are out.
Players: 5 or more
Materials: Equal number of chairs per player and music
Rules: Start with the same amount of chairs as players. Place chairs evenly in a circle facing out. Start the music. Have players march around the circle of chairs while the music plays. Stop the music mid-way through the song. When the music stops players must quickly find a chair to sit on. For the first round, every player gets a chair. When play resumes, take away one chair and start the music. The next time the music stops the player who doesn't find a chair is out. Continue to start and stop the music part way, and take away one chair each time. The last round will consist of two players and one chair. The player who sits down first the last time wins this classic party game.
If your guests are really young, you may wish to have everyone always in the game. Still remove the first chair. If you do not have a chair to sit on they get to sit in the middle and have a rest watching their friends continue with the game. They could snuggle a stuffed animal. In the next round that player is back in and another person is resting in the middle.
Truth Or Dare
Objective: To get to know your guests better
Rules: One person asks another person, "Truth or dare?" If that person should ask the truth, you ask a question about their life and they have to answer truthfully. If they should choose to dare, then they have to do whatever you tell them to do. Now either they can choose who they want to ask or you can go clockwise (or counter clockwise) that way no one feels left out. You basically repeat this until you decide to change to something else.
Piggy Back Race
Ages: 8 and older
Objective: To try to hop on your partner’s back and race together
Players: 6 or more
Materials: Strength and teamwork
Rules: Have players pick a partner or divide players into even teams of two. Just before the race starts, have one of the players hop on the back of their teammate. They can hold on any way they feel most comfortable. Once the race begins teams must work together and make it down the race track without falling over. If teams do fall they must re-position and continue. The first team to make it to the end wins. If players still have energy, race again with players switching roles.
Pin The Tail
Ages: 3 and older
Objective: While blindfolded, try to pin the tail on the donkey that is hanging on the wall.
Players: 3 or more
Materials: Poster of donkey or theme related picture, equal number of cut out tails or other picture as players, double sided tape.
Rules: Hang a donkey or theme related picture on the wall or door that is child height. Place double sided tape on the tails. Blindfold the player in front of the picture. Spin player around three times (or the number of the guest of honors age). Guide the player in the general direction of the poster. Players must then try to correctly place the tail. The player who comes the closest to the right spot wins this classic party game.
Prize or Surprise
Ages: 4 and older
Objective: Is a musical chairs like game where several gift boxes are passed around. Only one contains the prize.
Players: 5 or more
Materials: Several wrapped empty gift boxes. One or two wrapped gift boxes with a prize inside.
Rules: Have everyone sit in a circle. Pass out the gift boxes. Start the music. When the music starts so does the passing of the gift boxes. Have players pass the gifts to the person on their right. Keep passing until the music stops. Usually an entire song. When the music stops players will then unwrap the boxes. The lucky one wins the prize.
If you wish you could have multiple layers of paper on the gift boxes. Each round your guests remove one layer of paper. When you get to the box everyone gets to look inside to see who is the lucky winner.
Shoe Toss
Ages: 5 and older
Objective: To see how far players can kick their shoes.
Players: 4 or more
Materials: The shoes players are wearing
Rules: Have all players form a line arms length apart facing out towards the playing field. Players must then loosen their shoes and place them only half way on or so just their toe is in. Players may adjust the position of their shoe for the best results. At the same time, players must kick their shoe off and send it as far as they can. Repeat this move with the other shoe from the other foot. The shoe kicked the longest wins. A best 2 out of 3 works best for this game as players will learn different techniques to better their kick.
Three Legged Race
Ages: 5 and older
Objective: To race while your leg is tied to your partner's leg.
Players: 6 or more
Materials: Strong ribbon, scarves or old neck ties
Rules: Tell players to pick a partner. However, if you feel you should pick the teams then try to match pairs evenly. (example: height, weight, strength etc.) By using a scarf or old necktie, assist players to tie two of their legs together. One at the ankle or another just below the knee works best. Check all the players tying jobs before beginning for fairness and safety. When the race begins, players must work together and try to run down the race track without falling. Players will not be penalized for falling. Preferably play on grass like a soccer field or big backyard. The first team across the finish line wins the classic party game.
Tug Of War
Ages: 8 and older
Objective: To pull your opponent's end of the rope over the middle section
Players: 10 or more
Materials: A long strong rope, ribbon
Rules: Be sure the play area is flat and clear of any obstructions. Divide all the players into two evenly matched teams. Take a rope that is long enough for all the players to hold on to and tie a ribbon in the very middle. Stretch the rope out and lie it on the ground in a straight line. Make a mark on the ground where the ribbon is. This mark will be the winning line. Have teams spread their players evenly on each half of the rope and hold on facing the middle. When play begins, players must then attempt to pull the other team’s rope across the winning line. The team that pulls the rope over the winning line is victorious.
Twister - Classic Party Games
Ages: 5 and older
Objective: Match your hands and feet on the twister mat with the color and limb selected by the color wheel. Other players do the same at the same time without falling over.
Players: 3 or more
Materials: Twister the board game, or make your own by using a pattern blanket or spray paint on grass.
Rules: In a large area, spread the mat on the ground. One player spins the color wheel. Players will attempt whatever color and designated limb the dial lands on. If a player falls during a move, he or she is out. Last one standing wins.