Party games to liven up your New Year’s celebration: a fun collection that will keep everyone laughing non-stop
Have you ever been stumped when someone at a New Year’s party asked, “Got any fun games we can play?” The truth is, there are tons of party games anyone can enjoy right away! From brain teasers and games that spark hilarious, unexpected answers, to unique activities that let your acting skills shine—this article is packed with ideas that will put a smile on everyone’s face.
We’ll introduce easy-to-prepare games that anyone can try, regardless of age—perfect for any party.
You’re sure to find tips that will make this year’s gathering truly unforgettable!
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Party games to liven up New Year’s gatherings. A collection of hilarious games that will keep you laughing (21–30)
Word Wolf
Do you know the game Word Wolf? One person is the Wolf and everyone else is a Citizen, and only the Wolf receives a different prompt.
Since the Citizens all start talking about a shared topic, the person playing the Wolf has to keep talking while pretending to follow that topic.
At the end, everyone points to who they think the Wolf is; if they’re wrong, the Wolf has a chance to earn a high score.
Even if someone points to the Wolf, the Wolf can still earn a high score by correctly guessing the Citizens’ prompt.
Guess the caricature game
It’s a game where you look at a portrait drawn in one minute and guess who drew it.
Because the time limit is short, you need to instantly capture and draw distinctive features.
The subject can be someone you know or a famous character.
If you make the respondent themselves the subject, you might get a fun twist where the person doesn’t even recognize it’s them.
Have several people draw at the same time rather than just one; that way you can enjoy the differences between the drawings, which is highly recommended.
You might even discover an unexpected talent through this game.
Party games to liven up New Year gatherings: A collection of hilarious games that will keep you laughing (31–40)
Picture shiritori
It’s an idea to play shiritori—which is usually done with words—using drawings instead.
With word-based shiritori, everyone proceeds with a shared understanding, but that becomes quite difficult when it’s done with pictures.
That’s because even if the prompt is the same, how each person chooses to express it varies.
Also, if you add a time limit, the drawings inevitably become simple.
Regardless of drawing quality, the key to success seems to be whether you can instantly capture the prompt’s defining features and translate them into a clear, easy-to-understand image.
No-English game
You might think it’s easy to talk without using any English at all during a conversation, but it’s surprisingly hard! Our everyday speech is already full of English words.
Often we only realize it when someone points it out—“Wait, that word was English?” This game bans English words during conversation.
Set a time limit, and whoever uses the most English within that period gets a penalty.
The longer it goes on, the more people let their guard down, so it might be fun to keep it running throughout the whole party!
◯-letter Shiritori
Maru-character Shiritori is a way to make the usual shiritori game more challenging and fun.
In this version, the word you answer with must have the specified number of characters.
If 3 characters are specified, you can only respond with 3-character words like “ringo” (apple) or “panda.” As the required character count increases—or even if it stays small but the turns keep going—the difficulty steadily rises.
It gets even harder if you add a rhythm and answer in time.
You can also set other constraints for the answers and try different variations to enjoy the game in many ways.
Quiz: Let’s Aim for the Sweet Spot!
The buzzworthy board game “Good to go! Quiz SHOW!” features quiz questions that are all answered with numbers—and nobody actually knows the correct answers.
The rules are simple: players take turns tackling a question and write down the number they think is correct on a board or card.
The person closest to the correct answer earns points, and after multiple rounds, the total scores determine the winner.
Since all the questions are ones you don’t really know the answers to, the thrill of making a guess and the excitement it creates are the highlights.
Playing with family or friends sparks conversation and laughter, making for a great time.
It’s a quiz game anyone can jump into with ease.
Rating Check Game
@artbellangenagoya What really gets the guests scratching their heads is… the ranking check game! 😆 Each table dives into lively discussions over the tricky questions… and the excitement keeps going even after the answers are revealed! 🥳 It’s a wonderful touch that really gets conversation flowing at each table. Definitely consider adding it! 🫶🏼#Arver-ange Nagoya#Arverl Ange Nagoya staff#AichiWedding#NagoyaWedding#BrideAndGroomDirection / StagingWeddingWedding production#NewEraWedding#NewWeddingWedding Reception Production#WeddingCakeSurprise#WeddingInvitationMarriage registrationWedding venue#NagoyaWeddingVenue#Nagoya City Wedding VenueWedding ceremony#BrideAndGroomChapel
♬ Athletic Meet “Heaven and Hell” (No Introduction) – Shinonome
We’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!