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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Exciting New Year’s games: A fun collection of ideas from classics to DIY (51–60)
Picture matching card game
@hoiku.labo [New Year’s Craft Play] A matching picture card game that kids can enjoy from age 3! 🎍ChildcareNursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten TeacherChildcare job openingsChildcare Column#NurseryTeacherThings#IWantToConnectWithChildcareWorkers#Nursery School Craft#DaycarePreparationNursery School PracticumChildcare studentAspiring childcare workerChildcare Job LabNursery teacher skillsJob change activities#JobChange#nursery_teacher_job_changeNursery teacher employmentProduction#CraftworkProductiondrawing paper#ConstructionPaperCraftsPoster Board CraftNew Year’s craft
♬ Ditto – NewJeans
A card-matching game that gets everyone excited for New Year’s—from kids to adults! Here’s how to play.
First, cut construction paper into pieces that are easy to hold and paste your favorite illustrations on them.
Create pairs of New Year–themed illustrations such as daruma dolls, Mt.
Fuji, rice cakes (mochi), battledores (hagoita), spinning tops (koma), and New Year’s dishes (osechi).
Feel free to adjust the number of pairs depending on the number of players.
It’s also a great idea to prepare coloring sheets so kids can enjoy coloring the illustrations before playing.
NG word game
An NG Word Game that helps you notice your own catchphrases you say unconsciously.
First, write down the catchphrases of your teammates—everyone except yourself—and decide each person’s forbidden NG word.
Once you’ve decided, stick a slip of paper with that word on your forehead without looking at it, and the game begins.
While steering others into saying their NG words, the winner is the one who makes it to the end of the conversation without saying their own.
The probing makes the dialogue awkward and hilariously funny! You can bet there will be plenty of people who keep blurting out their NG words!
Pétanque
Petanque is a ball game that originated in France.
The rules are simple: you throw your own balls toward a target called the “cochonnet” (also known as the jack), and whoever gets closer wins.
You’re allowed to hit and knock away your opponent’s balls, which adds to the excitement of the competition.
It’s a game that both adults and children can enjoy together.
Mario Kart Tournament
Released in 1992 as a Super Famicom title, Super Mario Kart set the record for best-selling domestic Famicom-related software.
Since then, new entries in the Mario Kart series have been released one after another, and as of 2020 the series’ cumulative worldwide sales have surpassed 150 million units.
While there are some advanced techniques, its simple, speed-focused rules make it enjoyable across generations, which is likely the reason for its enduring popularity.
It’s also great for playing with children who may find card-game rules hard to learn, making it a perfect fit for New Year’s holidays at home!
New Year’s Games to Get Everyone Excited: A Fun Collection of Ideas from Classics to DIY (61–70)
Pop-up Pirate
The heart-pounding Pop-up Pirate game keeps you on edge with its unpredictable popping moments! Players take turns sticking swords into the barrel, and the person who makes the pirate on top pop out loses.
It’s such a simple game, yet it somehow always gets everyone excited.
Pop-up Pirate has been a beloved long-selling toy since 1975.
While the original features a pirate character, many versions are now available that use Disney characters and popular Japanese anime characters.
Othello
Othello, the king of board games.
Using black and white discs, you can flip your opponent’s pieces to your color by sandwiching them—simple rules, yet the game has great depth and can go on for hours.
It exercises your brain, making it perfect for mental training.
Since anyone can play, it might be fun to decide a champion with a tournament when relatives get together.
Two-person hane-ori showdown
Let me introduce “Nininbaori,” a game that livens up New Year gatherings with a big crowd.
In Nininbaori, one person puts on an oversized garment without putting their arms through the sleeves, while a second person slips in behind them, reaches their arms through the sleeves from inside the garment, and feeds the person in front or performs other actions.
The fun comes from the mismatch between the front person’s facial expressions and the movements of the arms, making it perfect for recreation.
If adults and children are playing together, prepare a garment that can fit any pairing.
It’s also recommended to make one yourself by taping together colored plastic bags—the size can be adjusted to fit.