Party games collection that get everyone excited in a big group
A must-see for organizers who are thinking, “We should play some games” at company gatherings or any large banquet! In this article, we introduce games you can enjoy at banquet tables with big groups.
Even classic, long-loved games can turn into a blast when the drinks and the lineup change.
We also cover team-based games that get everyone fired up with friendly competition.
From staples like quizzes and bingo to sure-fire laughers like drawing and telephone-style games, we’ve gathered plenty—use them as a guide to make your banquet a hit!
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Party Games That Liven Up Large Groups (1–10)
Gesture Game
Gesture games—where the prompt-giver conveys the topic to guessers using gestures—really come alive at parties, especially when drinks are flowing.
With a big group, you can add more guessers or more gesturers to make the game more complex and fun.
More guessers means you’ll reach the answer faster, and more gesturers lets the team express the prompt together.
The faster the game moves, the more entertaining it is for everyone watching.
It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a surefire laugh riot, especially if you split into teams and turn it into a heated competition.
What’s inside the box?
“What’s in the Box?”—a game often featured on variety shows.
Players put their hands into a box whose contents can’t be seen from the outside and try to guess what’s inside based on touch.
Usually one or two people do the guessing, while everyone else, who can see the contents, should make a racket: mislead them, hype up the fear, and keep the excitement high! For those feeling around inside, those reactions create suspense and anxiety, so the surrounding voices play an important role.
Recommended items to put inside include things that feel a bit creepy to the touch, like slime or a scouring brush, or high-surprise items like toy insects or snakes!
Balloon Popping Game
A balloon-popping game that lets everyone relive their childhood, like tag or tail-catching.
First, attach one balloon to each ankle.
At the starting signal, go pop other people’s balloons.
The rule is: use only your feet—no hands allowed.
The winner is the person who still has at least one balloon left at the end! If you’ve got a big group, play in a fairly spacious area.
Surprisingly, going on the offensive is better than staying on defense.
It’s just a game, so don’t hesitate to go after your opponents—even if they’re very senior bosses!
Party Games That Get Big Groups Excited (11–20)
Yamanote Line game where only one person doesn’t know the theme
The Yamanote Line Game is a game that’s often played at parties, but how about trying a variation called “The Yamanote Line Game Where Only One Person Doesn’t Know the Topic”? In this version, one person on the team isn’t told the topic, and they have to try to join in based on the answers given by the people before them.
The others should play as a team by giving answers that make the topic easy for the uninformed player to guess, indirectly conveying the theme to them.
It might be difficult if there aren’t many participants.
Bingo game
When it comes to classic party activities for company welcome and farewell parties, bingo is the go-to, isn’t it? These days you can even buy bingo cards at 100-yen shops, so it’s easy to prepare and get started without much hassle.
On the other hand, if the prizes aren’t fairly attractive, it can significantly affect participants’ enthusiasm, so it’s important for organizers to secure sponsors—such as their bosses.
It’s a sure-fire game for large gatherings that gets people of any generation excited and on the edge of their seats.
Quiz tournament
A quiz contest that can be enjoyed as either an individual or team competition depending on the number of participants could serve as a main event to liven up the party.
In recent years, various quiz shows have been broadcast on TV, so there are plenty of example questions and hints available, making preparation easy.
Questions on universally known themes are fine, but since it’s a special occasion, you might also enjoy turning topics about your own company or the local area where your company is located into questions.
It’s a party-friendly game that’s easy to tailor to the participants.
Telephone game
The more people you have, the more fun the telephone game becomes, making it a perfect choice to try at parties where lots of people gather.
Start with a short sentence and gradually make it longer—the resulting shifts will surely produce hilariously unexpected lines.
Passing the message along verbally is great, but if the venue is spacious, turning it into a drawing version—where players convey the prompt through pictures—can make it even more entertaining.
No matter which direction you take, it’s a surefire laugh riot in the end—a perfect game for any party.