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)
Milk Carton Stacking Game
The “Tsumitsumi Game,” made by cutting a milk carton into thin strips, is a simple handmade game you can enjoy with everyday materials.
Players take turns stacking the cut pieces and compete to see how high they can build without toppling the stack.
It’s great for young children to develop fine motor skills, and it also challenges adults’ concentration and sense of balance, making it fun across a wide range of ages.
With simple rules, it’s easy to play in a short time and is recommended for family or friends.
The satisfaction of a successful stack and the funny mishaps when it collapses make for lots of laughs.
Its appeal also lies in the convenience of using recyclable materials and the freedom to change how you play with a bit of creativity.
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.
Who am I? game
Liven up your New Year’s with 10 “Who am I?” quiz questions! Each question comes with three hints, and you use the clues to figure out the answer.
For example: “I have a red body and I’m always standing with my mouth open,” “I used to be round, but now my body is more angular,” and “Someone comes at the same time every day to take what’s inside me.” By reading the hints carefully and using your imagination, you’ll enjoy the thrill of arriving at the answer.
It’s great for all ages—from young children to adults—and helps develop thinking and observation skills.
It’s a game where you can feel the excitement of guessing correctly and enjoy discussing the hints with friends.
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!
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!
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!
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.
