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 gatherings: a collection of hilarious games that will have you laughing nonstop (41–50)
Umaibō Sommelier
When it comes to long-beloved dagashi snacks, Umaibo is the classic, right? Most people have probably tried it at least once.
This is a game where you’re blindfolded and have to guess the flavor of an Umaibo.
There are all sorts—mentaiko, corn potage, cheese, takoyaki, and more—but it turns out it can be surprisingly hard to tell them apart, and you might be shocked at how tone-deaf your taste buds are (lol).
Dice Talk
Here’s a fun recreation idea you can enjoy with friends and family: “Dice Talk” to liven up your New Year holiday time.
Prepare a die and write a discussion prompt on each of the six faces.
The person who rolls answers the question that corresponds to the number they get.
It’s an exciting game—the moment you roll and the moment the number comes up both get your heart racing.
Think up and write fun questions that will draw out entertaining stories everyone will want to share.
If someone really finds a question hard to answer, it’s a good idea to have a pass they can use.
Bring the energy to your New Year gatherings with friends and relatives by playing Dice Talk!
What’s inside the box?
It’s the familiar game from TV where you put your hand in a box and guess what’s inside.
Prepare a square box with a transparent window so that the audience can see the contents.
It’s safest to avoid living creatures and fresh foods for the items inside.
Look for things with interesting textures, such as stuffed animals, konjac jelly, or rubber toys, and get them ready.
Watching your friends get surprised is sure to liven things up! If you play in pairs and take turns as the guesser, it might even deepen your understanding of each other.
Team Competition Bingo
How about turning the classic bingo game into a team competition? As usual, you mark off numbers on your card, and you get bingo when you complete a line vertically, horizontally, or diagonally… but you don’t win just by being the first to finish.
For example, you can set a rule like “the round ends when three people at the table get bingo,” which removes the “it’s over as soon as I win” scenario and keeps everyone on the edge of their seat until the end.
Whether you snag a lavish prize comes down to luck—let’s all cheer and groan together with every number that’s called!
Quiz using puzzles
How about a groundbreaking game that combines puzzles and quizzes? All you need is a store-bought blank jigsaw puzzle and a permanent marker.
For preparation, assemble the puzzle in advance and write a quiz question on it with the marker.
On the day, proceed as follows: first, distribute the disassembled puzzle to each table and have the guests at the same table complete it.
The team that answers the quiz written on the completed puzzle the fastest wins.
Since too many pieces will take too long, the key is to choose a puzzle with a number of pieces that can be completed in just a few minutes.
UNO
UNO is the gold standard of party games—a card game that could be said to be found in almost every household.
You can play with as few as two people, but the more players, the livelier it gets.
Deal 7 cards to each player, and place the remaining cards face down in a draw pile in the center.
Flip over the top card to start a discard pile.
Players take turns placing a card that matches the top card by number, color, or symbol.
When you have only one card left, call “UNO.” The first person to play all their cards wins.
Swat-and-Helmet Rock-Paper-Scissors
With simple rules that anyone of any age can enjoy—where the winner of rock-paper-scissors hits the opponent’s head and the loser guards with a helmet or similar—this is “Hit, Wear, Rock-Paper-Scissors!” Even though it only adds “hit” and “defend” to the rock-paper-scissors everyone knows, once you try it, split-second decisions are surprisingly tough.
You end up hitting each other, or both taking a defensive stance at the same time, and while the players are dead serious, the audience is in stitches! It’s the perfect entertainment to liven up year-end and New Year parties, don’t you think?
