Games are a staple of any party, whether it’s a birthday party or a Halloween party! But rather than just deciding winners and losers, things get even more exciting when there’s a penalty game for the loser.
In this article, we’ll introduce penalty game ideas that will take your party to the next level.
From classic ones you often see on TV to options that might reveal an embarrassing side of yourself, we’ve gathered a variety of punishments.
Be careful not to go overboard or force anyone, and enjoy them as one element to liven up your games!
- A simple punishment game you can do anywhere without any props—even at school or outdoors.
- Simple but intense! A quick-and-easy penalty game that hypes everyone up
- Punishment games that liven up drinking parties and banquets
- [Classic] Funny! Hilarious! A roundup of punishment games that will liven up the classroom
- A penalty game that livens up the after-party
- A fun penalty game recommended for men
- Punishment games that liven up company drinking parties and banquets
- A fun punishment game recommended for women
- [Punishment Game] Embarrassing Lines: A Collection of Material That Will Make You Blush
- Recommended for college students! Punishment game ideas that will make everyone laugh and hype things up
- [Simple but Fun] Penalties That Hype Up Elementary School Classrooms
- Party games that get everyone excited at school
- With friends or couples! A set of questions perfect for penalty games
Party-Pumping Punishments (1–10)
butt-letter
When you were a kid, didn’t you try “butt writing” at least once? It’s where you write the given word using your butt.
Instead of being given a prompt, it might also be fun to write something on your own and have others guess what it is.
It’s a slightly embarrassing punishment game because of the movements.
Russian cream puff
It’s like Russian roulette, but with cream puffs—Russian cream puffs.
You take bite-sized mini cream puffs and inject something that isn’t sweet cream, like mustard or wasabi, from the bottom.
It’s recommended for situations where a few people out of a large group have to do a penalty game.
It’s not good to leave food, so even if you get the mustard or wasabi one, make sure to eat it!
eat extremely spicy food
You often see scenes on variety shows where people have to eat insanely spicy food as a penalty, right? For those who aren’t good with spicy food, “extremely spicy” can be pretty rough…
Even for people who like spicy food, “extremely spicy” is quite a challenge.
Of course, the rule is to finish everything without leaving any food, so do your best!
doodles on the face
A classic punishment game: drawing on someone’s face.
Coloring the cheeks red, sketching a mustache under the nose, drawing eyes on the eyelids—doesn’t that already sound hilarious? These days, you can even buy special pens that wash off easily with water, so be sure to make good use of them.
imitation
If you want to spice up a party game with a fun penalty, impressions are a great choice.
How about doing impressions of celebrities or famous people? Distinctive personalities like Masahiro Nakai from SMAP or Matsuko Deluxe are especially recommended.
If you mimic their voice, gestures, and even catchphrases, you’re sure to get everyone laughing.
If you can, try adding your own twist, too.
The key is not to be shy—throw yourself into the role and go all out! Just be sure to avoid impressions that might hurt someone’s feelings.
Choose ones that keep things fun and lively.
funny face
The classic punishment game: making funny faces.
If it’s just a single funny face, it’ll be over in a flash, so it might be good to set rules like how many variations to do or how many minutes to keep it up.
A funny-face photo contest on smartphones could really liven things up too! It’s a bit scary that the photos might stick around, though…
bad-tasting drink
You often see this on variety shows as a punishment game—the loser has to drink something nasty.
Aojiru used to be the go-to, but it’s been getting tastier over time.
These days, it seems you can buy bitter teas made specifically for punishment games at variety shops, so using those is an option.
I also recommend quirky local specialty drinks.
Put on pantyhose over one’s head
Utterly embarrassing: the pantyhose-on-the-head penalty game! You often see it on variety shows and the like, but there probably aren’t many people who’ve actually witnessed someone doing it in real life, right? It deals a big psychological blow, so it’s perfect as a punishment game, but showing it off outdoors is pretty much torture.
If you’re going to use it as a penalty among friends, make sure you can do it in a private room at a venue or somewhere that isn’t easily visible to others.
Also, thick tights make it hard to breathe and are dangerous, so if you’re going to put something over someone’s head, always use thin stockings!
pie in the face
When it comes to classic penalty games, a pie in the face is the go-to, right? It’s one of those full-on, physical punishments, but since it doesn’t involve pain or heat, it’s something people of all ages can try.
The downside is that, because the pie is loaded with cream, your clothes might get a bit messy.
If you’re planning a surprise pie-throwing penalty, it’s considerate to prepare something like disposable raincoats in advance to be kind to the person on the receiving end!
serious flick on the forehead
You know how nostalgic childhood games can unexpectedly become the highlight of an adult party? Among them, the “serious finger flick” is a simple yet surprisingly thrilling and hilarious penalty game.
The gap between how strong it looks and how much it actually hurts creates a fun sense of tension.
Just be sure to avoid flicking too hard—keep it within a safe and enjoyable range.
If you and your friends go in with the right mindset, you’ll experience a level of excitement like never before.
Why not try it as a fun party activity that both livens up the event and strengthens the bonds between participants?