Liven up even first meetings! A collection of fun games perfect for welcome parties
A welcome party to celebrate the arrival of new teammates.
It can be tricky to figure out what activities will get everyone excited.
In gatherings with many first-time meetings, the key to success is easing nerves and bringing out smiles.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of perfect games for welcome parties that warm up the atmosphere! From activities that can start easily without special props, to ones that deepen team bonds, to unique self-introduction games, we’ve gathered ideas that will bring participants closer together.
Find games that suit the size of your venue and the vibe of your group, and create a fun, memorable time!
- Get closer in no time, even with first-time meetings! Games that liven up welcome parties
- [Self-Introduction & Games] Icebreaker Ideas Collection
- Fun games recommended for making friends with people you’ve just met
- Team-based recreational activities for adults that are fun even with large groups
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
- Icebreaker acts for welcome parties that rapidly bring people closer: surefire, easy crowd-pleasers
- Ideas for team-based games to enliven a party
- [Let’s Get Closer] A Collection of Engaging Questions for Self-Introductions
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- A roundup of recommended icebreakers for college students
- [For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- Games that liven up social and networking gatherings
Lively Even for First Meetings! A Fun Collection of Games Perfect for Welcome Parties (21–30)
The “Haa” gameNEW!
It’s a game that tests each player’s acting skills: you perform the given prompt using only your voice and facial expressions, and everyone else tries to guess the original prompt.
The flow is to interpret which situation was acted out and vote for it, so the clearer your performance, the higher your score can be.
Since you’ll be acting with expressions and movements as well, if you’re not confident about verbal nuances, you might focus on those aspects.
Once you get used to the game, try acting using only words to make it harder to discern—progressing with that pattern is also recommended.
NanjamonjaNEW!
This is a memory-testing game where you give unique names to the creatures depicted on the cards and proceed while remembering them.
You draw a card from the deck and place it on the table; if it’s a creature appearing for the first time, you give it a unique name.
You repeat this process, and if the card already has a name, the first person to shout that name earns points.
If you choose complicated names, they’ll be harder to remember, so keep that balance in mind as you play.
High & LowNEW!
This is a card game where you declare whether your card is higher or lower than your opponent’s.
First, shuffle a standard 52-card deck well, excluding the jokers, and deal the cards evenly to the two players.
The dealer then places one of their cards face up on the table.
The other player places one card from their hand face down and declares “high” or “low.” Reveal the card: if the declaration is correct, that player wins the cards on the table.
The player with the most won cards at the end wins.
Alternate the dealer each round.
If the declaration is wrong or the numbers are the same so it’s neither high nor low, treat the cards as discards.
Majority GameNEW!
How people think and act in their daily lives varies from person to person—some viewpoints attract empathy, while others may not be accepted by those around them.
In this activity, everyone considers their own ways of thinking and behavior patterns, and we try to find the minorities within the group.
Whether you’re in the minority or majority is what matters most; let’s proceed with rules where you earn points depending on which side you’re on.
If participants also explain why they think that way, it could be a chance to discover new perspectives.
Word WolfNEW!
In the Word Wolf game, each participant is dealt one card.
Most of the cards have the same word or phrase, but one person—the Wolf—has a different one.
Everyone except the Wolf is a Citizen, and they try to find the Wolf through conversation.
At the end, everyone points to the person they think is the Wolf.
If the actual Wolf receives the most votes, the Citizens win.
Conversely, if a Citizen gets the most votes, the Wolf wins.
However, even if the Wolf receives the most votes, they can snatch a comeback victory by correctly guessing the word or phrase written on the Citizens’ cards.
It’s a fun game that naturally gets conversation flowing, even among people meeting for the first time.
Toppling a mountain-sized pile of Kaki no TaneNEW!
Let us introduce a heaping “Kaki-no-Tane Mountain Collapse” you can enjoy as a game while snacking.
It’s a very simple game: stick a rod into the center of a pile of Kaki-no-Tane (crispy rice crackers) on a plate, and players take turns eating the crackers so that the rod doesn’t topple over.
When there are lots of pieces, you can enjoy chatting; as the number dwindles, you’ll feel a thrilling tension.
Kaki-no-Tane come in several flavors, so why not mix different kinds to build your mountain? You might find someone who shares your taste, and it’ll help keep the conversation flowing.
First Impressions GameNEW!
This is a game where you announce a theme like “Someone whose first impression is XX” and then point to the person who fits it.
Like a rhythm game, start with the call, “Starting with XX! First Impressions Game!” before you begin.
After the theme is announced, take a moment to think, then point on the cue “Ready, set!” It’s fun because you’ll learn what kind of impression you give others.
It might get lively if you include a chance to explain yourself in case people had an unexpected impression of you.
When playing in a group with many first-time acquaintances, try to keep the themes as positive as possible.