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 party games that get everyone excited: A fun collection of ideas from classics to DIY (81–90)
Shogi
Shogi, which stands as a quintessential Japanese game.
Learn how each piece moves, craft your strategy, and capture your opponent’s king.
In recent years, shogi masters have often become hot topics on TV and online, and it seems the game is becoming popular again.
Playing a match against your grandpa over New Year’s would be wonderful, too.
Tōsenkyō (a traditional Japanese fan-tossing game)
Let me introduce tōsenkyō, a game the whole family can enjoy at New Year! Tōsenkyō is known as one of the games that began in Kyoto in the mid-Edo period.
It’s an elegant, uniquely Kyoto traditional game in which you throw a folding fan at a target called the “chō,” and the score changes based on the beauty of how it lands.
Even if you don’t have a folding fan, you could substitute a round fan or make one yourself.
It’s also fun to make the target with the kids and add your own twists.
Come up with original rules and give it a try this New Year!
kemari (a traditional Japanese ball-kicking game)
Kemari, said to be one of the origins of soccer, is a ball game that came to Japan from China about 1,400 years ago.
Some people may have seen participants at shrines during New Year’s, wearing hakama-like outfits called kemari shōzoku and kicking a ball.
Players form a circle in groups of six to eight and pass the ball by kicking it so it doesn’t fall.
They compete by the number of times the ball is kicked up before it’s dropped.
There are various rules, such as juggling the ball at least three times yourself before passing it to the next person, or kicking it higher than trees planted around the area that serve as height standards.
Though it looks simple, it’s a surprisingly profound traditional pastime—why not get moving and give it a try this New Year?
Earphone Loud Telephone Game
How about trying the “Whisper Challenge” with blasting headphones when your relatives gather at New Year’s? It’s a simple game where you play telephone while listening to loud music through headphones.
The rules are easy, so everyone can start right away.
It’s simple yet hilarious—highly recommended! You’ll be laughing till your sides hurt, and it’s a great way to welcome the New Year with smiles.
Argo
The game known as “Algo,” which is said to make you smarter, actually originated in Japan! It’s a game where you check your own cards while trying to guess what cards your opponent has, and I remember loudly shouting “Attack!” when making a guess.
This one also gets really exciting when you play with a large group.
Captain Rhino
Introducing the card game Rhino Hero, a quick and easy game that anyone can enjoy, from kids to adults.
One of its charms is that knowledge and experience don’t matter much! If you want some lively fun when the family gathers for New Year’s, why not give it a try? The rules are very simple: take turns building a tower using wall and roof cards, and the first player to get rid of all their roof cards wins! But if you topple the building, you lose—so the suspense and thrills are all part of the fun, making this game even more enjoyable.
Drink cola and 〇〇
A classic party trick for banquets and gatherings is a game where you chug a cola and then do something.
It’s best to decide what to do after the chug each time.
It’s a fun, exciting game whether you manage to hold in your burp and finish, or end up burping partway through.
Bingo game
Bingo, the classic game that livens up year-end and New Year parties and farewell/welcome gatherings when lots of people get together, is also perfect for enjoying at home over the New Year! With the simple rule of just marking the number on your card when it’s called, it’s easy and fun for all ages.
Once you’ve got a bingo set ready, start the game right away! And if you’re playing bingo, prizes are a must.
Even when you’re playing with family, having small items like stationery or snacks on hand will make things even more exciting.
Werewolf game
The Werewolf game, a party classic that’s hugely popular with people getting hooked one after another.
It’s more fun with a larger group, so it’s perfect for New Year’s gatherings, isn’t it? In Werewolf, one or more werewolves—wolves in human form—are hidden among the villagers, and the goal is to find them.
It’s a logical game where you need to play your role, deceive others, and maneuver skillfully.
Once you get into it, you’ll want to play again and again.
Funny Face Match
A funny-face game that everyone can enjoy by making their silliest faces at full power! There are two sets of cards with different funny faces.
Lay one set out on the table and keep the other stacked, then draw one card from the stack.
The person who draws holds the card to their forehead to show the others.
By looking at the faces everyone makes to imitate the card, the drawer tries to guess which funny-face card it is.
The person whose face is closest to the card also earns points, so both the guesser and the performers can’t help but get fired up! You might even discover a surprising side of a family member who’s “actually great at making funny faces.”