New Year party games that get everyone excited: a fun collection of ideas from classics to DIY
When it comes to New Year’s, it’s a special time spent with family and relatives.
Osechi dishes and New Year’s money are exciting, but having games everyone can play instantly livens up the gathering.
In this article, we’ll introduce game ideas perfect for the New Year.
From classic New Year’s games and easy DIY activities to popular board games and active play, these are all things people of all ages can enjoy! As the new year begins, why not put down your phones and spend some fun time laughing together?
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New Year’s games to liven up the party: A fun collection of ideas, from classics to DIY (21–30)
rice cake pounding play
Even if you think, “I want to try pounding mochi for New Year’s!” it’s hard to do at home because you may not have the tools, and parts of it can be a bit dangerous for kids.
But if you make some simple tools to simulate mochi pounding, anyone can easily experience it at New Year’s! Prepare two long, narrow strips of thick paper, each about 10 cm wide, and fold them back and forth in an accordion to make spring-like pieces.
Put those into a container to serve as the mortar.
For the mochi, put bubble wrap (or similar) into a plastic bag and place it on top of the “springs.” For the mallet, combine a cardboard tube from plastic wrap with a styrofoam block wrapped in bubble wrap—that’s all you need! You can play with it over and over, so give it a try!
Monopoly
Monopoly, the board game released in 1965 and played by a great many people ever since.
You buy properties and utility companies, hold auctions, mortgage assets, go bankrupt—various money-related keywords appear—but once you learn the rules, it’s an undeniably addictive and entertaining game.
Twister
Let’s beat New Year’s inactivity with Twister, a game you can play indoors that gets your whole body moving as you spread your legs and twist your torso! Lay the mat with four colored circles on the floor, and place your hands and feet as the spinner commands.
Poses that are easy for flexible kids can be unbelievably tough for adults! It’s also fun because you never know what moves will come next—feet getting tangled, someone having to duck underneath the other, and more.
Just be careful not to strain a muscle by overdoing your poses!
daruma stacking
How about a DIY game you can enjoy making? In the spirit of the New Year, it’s a game where you stack lucky Daruma dolls.
Combine two empty containers, like those from finished instant cup noodles, to create a Daruma.
You can cover them with construction paper or paint them—both would look great.
If everyone makes one, you’ll end up with a delightful variety of unique Daruma dolls.
Then, stack the finished Daruma as high as you can without them toppling over.
It’s an idea that’s sure to be a hit in both individual and team play, bringing lots of smiles.
Paper balloon play
@yuioishi Paper Balloon (Nostalgic Old-Time Play)Elementary school entrance examMs. Arihime
♬ Lips Are Movin – Meghan Trainor
An old-fashioned pastime, paper balloons are light, soft, and safe to enjoy—highly recommended.
When you blow into one, it inflates into a round shape, and a gentle push with your palm sends it drifting slowly through the air, making it easy even for small children to handle.
Because it falls slowly, batting it up to keep it from dropping or passing it back and forth with friends naturally helps develop balance and coordination.
Choosing colors and patterns adds to the fun, and they can also be used as decorations.
They’re quiet, easy to replace if they break, and safe for indoor play—perfect for quality time with parents and friends.
Atama-Oshiri Game
The fresh, TV-famous rhythm game “Atama-Oshiri Game”! In time with the music, you answer by connecting the first and last letters of the word presented.
You have 10 seconds, and the key to winning is whether you can come up with longer words or more letters.
It tests both speed and creativity, so everyone can have fun cranking their brains together.
On the show, Banana Man and Sandwich Man take on the challenge, with unexpected answers being a highlight.
Enjoy laughs and edge-of-your-seat moments.
It’s a recommended game that gets families and friends pumped up while training rhythm and quick thinking at the same time.
New Year’s gift envelope game
We’d like to introduce a New Year’s otoshidama cup game that naturally exposes kids to numbers and arithmetic through play! It’s easy to make: write different amounts on paper cups, stick labels on them, and tape the cups to the table.
Lining them up against a wall makes it easier to land beanbags in the cups when thrown.
Aiming and tossing helps build concentration, and the joy of getting one in boosts motivation.
By adding up the amounts in the cups, even young children can get familiar with numbers and experience the fun of calculation while playing.
It’s also fun to make your own play money, so be sure to try making it and playing together!
Quiz: Let’s Aim for the Sweet Spot!
The buzzworthy board game “Good to go! Quiz SHOW!” features quiz questions that are all answered with numbers—and nobody actually knows the correct answers.
The rules are simple: players take turns tackling a question and write down the number they think is correct on a board or card.
The person closest to the correct answer earns points, and after multiple rounds, the total scores determine the winner.
Since all the questions are ones you don’t really know the answers to, the thrill of making a guess and the excitement it creates are the highlights.
Playing with family or friends sparks conversation and laughter, making for a great time.
It’s a quiz game anyone can jump into with ease.
Jumbo Karuta
Here’s an introduction to “Jumbo Karuta,” a great recommendation for New Year gatherings that kids and adults can enjoy together! You match the large picture cards to the corresponding clue cards as they’re read out.
For example, when you hear a food item from a clue card, quickly find the matching picture among the laid-out cards and grab it.
Because the cards are jumbo-sized, there’s a physical, active element to the game, and younger children can learn by recognizing the illustrations.
Adults get their reflexes and decision-making tested, which makes it easy to get competitive and really fired up.
Play it with family, relatives, or friends, and you’ll have a lively time full of laughter and cheers—so definitely give making a set a try!
Nine Tiles
Nine Tiles is a fast-paced game where you slide and flip the nine tiles in front of you to match the arrangement shown on the challenge card.
It’s only nine tiles, but just figuring out the placement and orientation gets your brain and hands working at full throttle! Your concentration and decision-making are put to the test as you race to finish before anyone else.
Because rounds are quick, you can play again and again, making it fun for both kids and adults—and it’s easy to get everyone excited.
You’ll be using your head while keeping your hands busy, so it’s a game you can’t help but get absorbed in.
The rules are simple, yet the sense of accomplishment will have you coming back for more.
Give it a try!