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: Group-pleasing game ideas (41–50)
balloon art
Using balloons to make various things like dogs, rabbits, hats, and swords—often seen in street performances.balloon artYou can’t help but watch, holding your breath and wondering if it’ll pop, right? It might seem difficult, but with practice anyone can do it. All you need is a balloon and a dedicated pump.
Necktie Speed-Tying Contest
First, men and women form pairs.
At the host’s signal, the woman ties a necktie around her partner’s neck.
It’s a race to finish the knot the fastest, and since most women aren’t used to tying ties, the key to winning is the man guiding and giving clear instructions.
It’s enjoyable for those not participating as well, so it should really liven up the venue.
general election
We distribute ballots with various pre-set topics, tally the votes, and announce the results.
- a boss who is popular or not
- Popular or unpopular male employees
- Popular or unpopular female employee(s)
- Popular or unpopular business partners
Let's hold a general election in a way that doesn't leave lingering hard feelings!
YES/NO Coin
All you need are a handkerchief and a few coins! For each question, show heads for YES and tails for NO.
Cover the coin showing your answer with the handkerchief, shuffle the hidden coins, then remove the handkerchief to check the responses—this way, no one knows who answered what.
It gets lively with questions you don’t usually ask or borderline topics, especially in a large group.
Ugly Face Championship
The best part about this Bad Face Championship is that you can hold it with zero prep.
As the title suggests, you compete to see who can make the “baddest” face.
How you interpret “bad” is up to each participant—get creative with the situation and go for it.
Like I said above, you can play without any preparation, but putting thought into outfits or props can make it even more fun.
The discussion over “whose face was the baddest” is bound to get everyone hyped, too! If you want a big group to laugh out loud together, definitely give it a try.
Shin Takarajima Dance
How about recreating the unique vibe of Sakanaction’s “Shin Takara Jima” music video as a performance? The striking contrast comes from the members gently swaying side to side while dancers in front deliver sharp cheer routines.
The cheer section requires techniques like synchronized choreography, but the members’ swaying is a simple movement, so think creatively about how to position people.
Since doing only these moves throughout the song might not be visually compelling, it’s also a good idea to consider combining them with other performance elements.
No Roman Letters Party
A game where using loanwords is forbidden, often played as a segment on TV variety shows or by YouTubers.
From the moment someone declares, “From now on, no loanwords allowed!!,” you’re not allowed to use words like ‘smartphone’ or ‘glass.’ Even though you know you shouldn’t say them, English-derived words slip out so naturally that it’s guaranteed to get lively! You can make it a forfeit game for anyone who says a loanword, or give a prize to anyone who avoids using any loanwords at all to make it even more exciting!
