Recommended for kids' birthday parties! Exciting party games
A once-a-year birthday.
Many families hold birthday parties for their children, don’t they?
At those times, you might invite not only family but friends as well.
In this article, we’ll introduce “party games” that are perfect for kids’ birthday parties!
They’re also great for home parties with lots of children.
We’ve gathered ideas kids will love, so feel free to copy them and enjoy a fun time.
It’s packed with exciting, crowd-pleasing games!
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Recommended for Kids’ Birthday Parties! Exciting Party Games (11–20)
Beef Tongue Game
Let me introduce a classic party game that’s simple yet exciting: the “Gyutan Game.” Everyone stands in a circle, holds their hands out, and waits with palms together.
After choosing a starting person and the direction of play, the first person says “Gyu” (cow), the next person claps to represent “tan” (tongue), and you pass it around in the rhythm: “Gyu–tan, Gyu–tan, Gyu–tan–tan.” On the second round, one extra “tan” is added to the end; on the third round, another “tan” is added, and so on—each round increases the number of “tan” at the end.
If your rhythm is off or you make a mistake, you’re out.
If everyone clears it, speed it up to raise the difficulty!
What’s inside the box?
It’s the “What’s in the box?” game you’ve seen on TV variety shows! Cut hand holes on both sides of a box and leave the front open so everyone can see.
You can easily make it with an empty box, wrapping paper, or colored construction paper.
As for the crucial contents, items you can identify by touch are recommended—things you often see, like stuffed animals or toys.
Things with distinctive textures, something chilly to the touch, or squishy items also get everyone excited!
Picture shiritori
Picture shiritori is also a popular party game.
In regular shiritori, you pass along words using speech.
However, in picture shiritori, you convey the words through drawings.
The most exciting part is that, depending on how the illustration turns out, the word might not be conveyed correctly.
By the way, there are also online services that let you enjoy picture shiritori.
So it’s perfect when you want to play with friends who are far away.
Paper Cup Stacking Showdown
How about trying a paper cup stacking showdown that puts your concentration and reflexes to the test? This is a game based on sport stacking.
Sport stacking is a sport where you compete for time by quickly shuffling cups and stacking them into pyramids.
In this version, the cups are replaced with paper cups—that’s the paper cup stacking showdown.
Once you get used to stacking the paper cups, try the downstack, the motion of taking the cups back down.
Bamboo Shoot Nyoki
Takenoko Nyokki, which gained popularity from a TV show, has become a staple recreational game.
It was originally played with six people, but it can be played with any number.
At the start signal, players call out “number + nyokki” in order—1 nyokki, 2 nyokki, and so on—but the speaking order isn’t predetermined.
If two or more people speak at the same time, they’re out; anyone who doesn’t manage to say their turn by the end is also out.
Since it’s a simple game of calling out numbers, you don’t have to worry about the number of players, and it’s easy to enjoy even with young children.
Forehead cookie
When it comes to birthday parties, it’s common to prepare snacks and drinks and have a good time.
Among those snacks, how about choosing cookies and playing a game called “Forehead Cookie”? The rules are simple: tilt your head back, place a cookie on your forehead, and at the start signal, move your facial muscles to slide the cookie down into your mouth—if it makes it in, you win! You can only move the cookie with your face; using your hands is against the rules.
If it falls off your face, you have to start again from your forehead.
It’s a game that’s fun to watch too—you’ll be so desperate you won’t even notice you’re making silly faces!
Ping-Pong Ball Blowing Game
It’s a simple yet exciting game called the “Ping-Pong Ball Blowing Game.” Ping-pong balls are light, so when you blow on them, they roll easily, right? But what if there are lots of them? Fill a bowl or basin with ping-pong balls, and at the start signal, blow to push them out of the bowl.
Whoever gets them out the fastest wins! It’s a game that takes a bit of lung power.
You can adapt it for team battles or time trials, too.
Russian cream puff
It’s a “Russian cream puff” that makes you wonder if it’s a game or a punishment.
You often see it on TV shows as a prank or a test of courage! They’re bite-sized cream puffs that are normally delicious with custard cream inside, but just one of them is filled with plenty of spicy mustard.
If kids are playing, you can avoid spicy fillings and put something else inside.
Using vinegar or lemon to make one sour could be a fun idea too!
The “Haa” game
Ha tte Iu Game is a card game popular with both kids and adults.
Even with the same word, the way you say it and your facial expression change depending on the situation, right? This game collects such variations and turns them into gameplay.
For example, the word “hai” (meaning yes) is used in many different situations—when responding, affirming, or asking for repetition.
Separate from the cards that list different situations, there are also cards drawn by the person who says “hai,” and those cards specify the situation to act out.
The speaker performs it, and the observers try to guess which situation it is.
Gesture Game
You often see gesture games on TV variety shows, right? It’s a game where you look at a prompt and try to convey it using gestures alone—can you get the others to guess it? The person acting can only use gestures and must not speak or use any words.
It gets really lively if you use prompts like kids’ favorite anime characters or animals! All you need is paper and a pen, so it’s a quick and easy game you can play anytime, anywhere—highly recommended!