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 acts for year-end and New Year parties: Group-energizing game ideas (161–170)
Who’s the dud?
This game requires acting skills from everyone and is all about how well you can fool the others.
It’s a battle of wits between the presenters and the guessers.
Randomly select the presenters by drawing lots—about three people is ideal.
The chosen players each drink a beverage placed in front of them.
The drinks are hidden from the others, and one of them is a “bad” drink—spicy, bitter, or sour.
The guessers watch the presenters’ reactions and try to identify who got the bad one.
Decide beforehand how many people you need to fool, or whether you must avoid being found out at all, and then start.
Your acting skills hold the key to everything!
31 (Thirty-One) Game
Here, too, you say the numbers in order, but each person can freely count from 1 to 3 numbers on their turn.
The person who says 31 loses.
Keep counting while adjusting so that 31 doesn’t come around to you.
For example: “1, 2,” “3,” “4, 5, 6,” “7, 8,” and so on.
As you approach 31, it’s thrilling and fun to see how many numbers the people near you choose to say.
DROW A LINE
Get a sheet of paper and a pen.
You must not use anything else.
On that paper, freehand a straight line that’s 10 cm long.
The person who comes closest to 10 cm wins—simple as that.
It’s simple, but that’s why it gets exciting.
You’ll end up laughing at the frustrating near-misses!
Impersonation of Scatman John
How about recreating one of Scatman John’s signature songs with attention to his singing style and wardrobe? Instead of lyrics, he uses a vocal technique called “scat,” which strings together nonsensical syllables, and the key appeal is the rapid-fire flow of the words.
Make sure to convey how the mouth keeps moving quickly, along with the sense of speed and crisp articulation.
In addition to focusing on the fast-paced vocals, it could be fun to recreate the surreal atmosphere of the music video with its quirky movements.
cheer dance
Cheer dance, which delivers messages of support through movement, is a classic performance with a glamorous touch.
Showcase your cheer dance with attention to choreography, costumes, and song selection, and express messages of appreciation for the past year and encouragement for the new year.
If you’re performing it as a stage act, acrobatic moves may be difficult, so it’s best to focus on sharp movements and unified choreography.
Standard cheer songs like “Mickey” work well, but choosing songs that as many people as possible know will help the audience catch the rhythm and enjoy it even more.
Samurai sword-fighting (chambara) battle
Chanbara is a game where you aim to defeat your opponent using soft swords.
If you play it in a battle-style format with teams, it gets even more exciting because strategy comes into play, not just individual movement.
A ball is attached to the arm opposite the one holding the soft sword, and anyone who drops their ball is eliminated.
By focusing attacks on the arm rather than the head or face, the game proceeds safely.
The key to making it exciting is to balance the number of players and abilities so that either side could reasonably win.
Pizza man
As one of Tsuntsuku-tsun Expo’s signature sketches, its catchy rhythm and distinctive character drew attention even among fellow comedians.
It starts simply, with a figure wearing a pizza headpiece—the “Pizzaman”—just dancing with basic choreography, but through the straight man’s interjections, the audience gradually learns Pizzaman’s backstory.
Since the song and dance repeat the same pattern, the idea is to convey Pizzaman’s rise by showing how people react to it.
It’s also recommended to add variations along the way—like increasing the number of performers, turning off the lights to make the LED decorations glow, and other such arrangements.