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!
- Simple! Easy one-shot gags. Surefire bits that liven up parties and performances [2026]
- [Easy] A Collection of Party Dances to Liven Up Year-End and New Year Parties
- Get the office buzzing! A collection of recommended entertainment and performance ideas for year-end and New Year parties
- [Definitive Guide] Guaranteed Crowd-Pleasers! Party Acts and Gags Everyone Will Enjoy
- Roundup of easy party tricks. A collection of ideas that require no preparation.
- Simple yet exciting! Recommended games and activities for year-end parties
- Party games to liven up your New Year’s celebration: a fun collection that will keep everyone laughing non-stop
- Party acts that hype up the crowd: Recommended entertainment and performances for banquets and drinking parties [2026]
- [Hilarious] Rhythm Gags That Kill at Parties and Performances
- [Hilarious] One-Liner Gags That Kill at Parties and Events
- Year-end/New Year party crowd-pleasing performance dance [2026]
- [Easy to Imitate] Comedian Impressions: Crowd-Pleasing Entertainment and Performance Ideas
- Simple mini-games that liven up a party
Entertainment ideas for year-end and New Year parties: fun group game themes (91–100)
Arm Wrestling Tournament
Simple is best—arm wrestling has always been the go-to crowd-pleaser at year-end and New Year parties! If you’re into sports or go to the gym, this is sure to get you fired up.
Another perk is how easily you can tweak the rules, like using a tournament format or team matches.
If you’ve got the time, you can even turn it into a full-on arm-wrestling competition: learn the official rules, prep the equipment, and you’re guaranteed an intense showdown.
It’s a classic activity that men, women, and even kids can join.
Saito-san Game
As many of you may know, this game became a hot topic in a mobile carrier commercial back in 2016! In the commercial, even high school girls were playing it, and I think it could be a great way to build closer relationships with younger employees through a game like this.
Entertainment ideas for year-end and New Year parties: group-friendly game ideas (101–110)
Let’s dance ‘Donguri Korokoro’ in a circle.
“Donguri Korokoro Dan” is a popular icebreaker recreation to help people who are meeting for the first time warm up to each other.
Participants form a large circle and tap the knees of the people to their left and right.
It’s great for events like New Year’s parties, year-end parties, and welcome mixers—situations where many attendees don’t know each other well—and it quickly helps close the distance between people.
tablecloth trick
It’s a classic act for hidden-talent performances.
It seems best to practice at first with something like plastic cups.
It’s a surefire crowd-pleaser that will liven things up in a short time.
Once you get better, stacking the cups while you do it should make it even more exciting.
Doing it as a quick one-off gag after other performances also seems like it would hype up the crowd.
Matsuken Samba
This is a series of songs that Ken Matsudaira performed in stage kabuki-style song shows.
In particular, Matsuken Samba II drew major attention, including being performed on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
The uniquely flashy costumes—sparkling while drawing on kimono motifs—and the exuberant, festive atmosphere are especially appealing.
The glittering outfits reflect the lighting, and because they move around, they really convey a festival vibe, so it’s important to be meticulous about the costumes.
The choreography is simple, making it a piece where you want to create the mood through the overall movement.
Catch it with your mouth! Marshmallow Man
Pairs compete by dropping marshmallows while blindfolded and catching them using only the mouth.
In teams of two, the catcher lies down while the dropper releases a marshmallow from a higher position aiming at the catcher’s mouth.
The goal is to see how many marshmallows can be eaten within the time limit.
Chopstick-Using Game
This game reveals just how neat your chopstick grip and technique really are.
Players compete to see how many small beans—like adzuki or soybeans—they can pick up with chopsticks.
Beyond how you hold the chopsticks, concentration also plays a role, making it a fun challenge.
It’s quite well-known, and the rules are simple, so as long as you have the materials, it’s an easy game to try!