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!
- A fun, everyone-joins-in game that gets everyone excited!
- Simple mini-games that liven up a party
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- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
Party Games That Get Big Groups Excited (11–20)
Picture shiritori
Picture shiritori is a version of shiritori played with drawings instead of words.
Prepare paper and pens, then take turns drawing pictures and keep the shiritori going while you guess what each drawing represents.
You can divide into teams and, with each drawing, try to guess what it is as you go—whichever team gets the most correct wins.
Or, whether you split into teams or not, you can simply enjoy seeing how long you can keep the chain going—make up the rules as you like! In picture shiritori, what matters more than artistic skill is drawing in a way that gets your idea across.
You might discover just how strong your communication skills are!
Finger Catch
No equipment needed! When it comes to easy games you can play with a big group, “Finger Catch” is the one.
Participants form a circle and extend their left hand, palm up, toward the person on their left.
Place your right index finger on top of the left hand extended by the person on your right.
When the leader says “Catch!”, quickly close your left hand while trying to pull your right index finger away so it doesn’t get caught.
It’s fine to fake out with “Ca, ca…” or say a different word like “Caster!” too.
It’s a fun game that tests your reflexes and decision-making.
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.
Rating Check Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@artbellangenagoya/video/7484572781951061256We’d like to introduce the “Ranking Check Game,” a perfect party activity to test participants’ discerning eye! The host prepares two options, and players simply choose which one they think is the real deal.
If you’re correct, you stay top-tier; if you’re wrong, your rank drops—a simple yet thrilling set of rules.
Anyone can join, and the unexpected results are sure to spark laughter! It’s great as a team competition too, and the moment you reveal who remained “first-class” at the end is always a highlight.
Give this game a try to instantly liven up your event!
Earphone Loud Telephone Game
You often see this game on variety shows too, right? I think the classic “telephone game” format is fun for all ages.
Preparing the music device is easy nowadays since we have smartphones.
If you don’t have headphones, earphones will do just fine.
For older participants, pick prompts about trends among young people; for younger participants, choose prompts with a Showa-retro vibe—add a little twist in how you select the topics.
The limit might be around 20 characters that people can memorize at once.
Getting some bitter tea ready as a penalty could make it even more exciting!
Tasting Game
Kirin, Asahi, Suntory—just hearing those names is irresistible to beer lovers, right? So instead of a sake tasting, how about a beer tasting or even a juice tasting competition to liven things up? Even the same orange juice can taste subtly different depending on the brand.
And that canned coffee you sip without thinking—if you taste it seriously, you’ll find it’s completely different from others.
At a party with lots of dishes, you could even do blindfolded tastings and try to guess the foods—that’s sure to get everyone excited.
If you usually act like a gourmet, make sure not to show any uncool moments!
Party Games That Get Everyone Hyped (21–30)
Telepathy Gesture Game
It’s no exaggeration to say that gesture games have long been a pillar of Japanese variety shows, and they’re always a hit as party entertainment.
Here, instead of a typical communication-style gesture game, we’ll introduce a telepathy-style version that tests whether two people are on the same wavelength.
First, present a prompt.
If the two performers make the same gesture, it’s a correct answer.
For example, if the prompt is “baseball” and one person acts as a batter while the other acts as a pitcher, that’s a miss.
It’s even more fun if you set up a screen so they can’t see each other’s gestures!