Entertainment ideas for year-end and New Year parties: games everyone can enjoy together
Are you struggling to decide on entertainment to liven up your year-end or New Year’s party? Bingo and karaoke are classics, but having games that make everyone smile can really boost the energy of the event.
If the rules are simple, easy to prepare, and anyone can join right away, it keeps things light for everyone.
In this article, we’ve gathered a wealth of ideas—from acts that instantly lift the mood to a wide variety of games that work regardless of group size.
You’ll find everything from show-stopping performances to conversation-sparking mind games and energizing activities that get people moving—plenty of variety to keep everyone engaged!
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Entertainment ideas for year-end and New Year parties: fun group game themes (91–100)
Challenge the Guinness World Records
We’ll research potential record-breaking ideas in advance and aim to achieve one on the day. Even if we don’t succeed, we’ll make sure it’s something that still gets everyone excited. Reference:How to attempt a Guinness World Records title
Shōten
The comedy show Shoten, loved by people of all ages, is a type of act that’s easy to put on even at a banquet.
Unlike so-called “everyone participates” games, as long as you have a few people who can flexibly land jokes, it works as a performance, making it easy to run.
Another key point is that even if someone bombs, it still works as a gag because they ‘lose a cushion.’
rakugo (traditional Japanese comic storytelling)
rakugo (traditional Japanese comic storytelling)It’s especially well-suited for local events. Not only young people but also the elderly can enjoy it!
I couldn’t find the link to the app “Rakugo Days.”
Apple Peeling Championship
Good news for organizers who are unsure what entertainment to prepare for year-end or New Year parties: we recommend the “Apple Peeling Championship,” a fun idea that everyone can enjoy together.
This game is simple yet surprisingly deep, creating moments where participants’ personalities shine.
Each person peels an apple using their own technique, and the winner is the one who manages to peel continuously without the peel breaking.
Speed matters, but by also evaluating dexterity and beauty, you can add variety to the competition.
After the apples are peeled, the host divides them up so everyone can eat together, creating a sense of unity.
It’s easy to prepare and guaranteed to be a hit—why not give this game a try?
Stopwatch Game
When we were kids, many of us belonged to race-oriented clubs like track and field or swimming.
Here’s a game where you try to stop a stopwatch at exactly 10 seconds.
How to play: The host or organizer prepares papers labeled with the numbers 1–10.
Draw one at random from a box, and give a prize to the person who can hit that exact number of seconds.
If there are lots of participants and not enough stopwatches, you could make it a team competition.
The reference video just shows stopping at 10 seconds.
Surprisingly tricky, isn’t it?
darts
simplydartsYou can compete for high scores, or give out prizes based on the scores! You could also make it a roulette-style darts game by spinning a target labeled with items like “snacks” and “juice,” then throwing at it. It might be fun to include penalty items like “slap” or “one-shot performance,” too. A darts board is easy to make with cardboard or colored paper, so it doesn’t take much money or time. I think it’s a game that people of all ages can enjoy!
Pin Pon Pan Game
Form a circle with several people, and go around clockwise with each person saying “pin → pon → pan → pin → pon → pan…” in order.
When it’s “pan,” that person must point at someone while saying “pan.” The person who gets pointed at then says “pin,” and the cycle continues.
Keep the rhythm with claps or similar, and gradually speed up! A player loses if: the “pan” person forgets to point; the person to the left of the “pan” player says “pin” without being pointed at; a “pin” or “pon” player points; or someone who is pointed at on “pan” fails to say “pin.”