Party GamesParty games for every group, with ready party plans
29 games sorted by how many are playing and who they are, and 12 complete running orders for birthdays, kitty parties, sangeets and more.
29 games ·
- Raja Mantri Chor SipahiThe classic Indian chit game of bluff.4 (or more with extra chits) players · 15 to 20 min · quiet
- Chidiya Ud"Chidiya ud" means "bird, fly".3 to 15 players · 5 to 10 min · quiet
- PoshampaPoshampa is the Indian cousin of the bridge-and-arch singing games played all over the world.6 to 20 players · 10 to 15 min · active
- Kokla ChhapakiA circle game from Punjab, loved across north India.8 to 25 players · 10 to 15 min · active
- Dog and the BoneTwo teams face each other across a space with a "bone" in the middle.8 to 30 players · 15 min · active
- Fire in the MountainA running-and-grouping game from Indian school assemblies.10 to 40 players · 10 min · active
- Aankh Micholi (Blind Man's Buff)One player is blindfolded and must catch the others, who creep, clap and tease within a marked space.5 to 15 players · 10 to 15 min · active
- Hanging Jalebi RaceJalebis hang on strings at mouth height, and the players must eat theirs with hands held behind the back.4 to 12 at a time players · 10 min · active
- Stick the BindiA blindfolded player is turned round and must walk to a large picture of a face on the wall and stick a bindi exactly in the middle of the forehead.4 to 20 players · 10 to 15 min · quiet
- Wrap the MummyTeams race to wrap one of their members from neck to ankle in toilet paper, so that the result looks like an Egyptian mummy.6 to 30, in teams of 3 or 4 players · 10 min · active
- Newspaper DanceEach pair dances on a sheet of newspaper.6 to 30, in pairs players · 10 to 15 min · active
- Balloon StompEvery player has a balloon tied to one ankle.6 to 30 players · 5 to 10 min · active
- Coin in the TumblerA steel tumbler stands at the bottom of a bucket of water.3 to 12 players · 10 min · quiet
- Straw and RajmaUsing only a drinking straw and their breath, players lift dry rajma (kidney beans) one by one from a plate to a bowl.4 to 20 players · 5 to 10 min · quiet
- Cup PyramidPlayers race to build a pyramid of paper cups and then collapse it back into a single stack.2 to 20 players · 5 to 10 min · active
- Biscuit on the ForeheadA biscuit is placed on each player's forehead.2 to 20 players · 5 min · quiet
- Blindfold MakeoverOne partner is blindfolded and must put a bindi, lipstick, kajal-free "eyeshadow" dots and bangles on the other, guided only by touch and by the giggled directions of the audience.4 to 20, in pairs players · 10 to 15 min · quiet
- Cut the Flour CakeA mound of flour is turned out like a cake with a coin or a sweet balanced on top.4 to 12 players · 10 min · quiet
- Taste and TellBlindfolded players taste a tiny spoonful from each of eight or ten bowls and name what it is.4 to 20 players · 15 min · quiet
- Don't Say ItA player must make their team say a word, but is forbidden to use the most obvious clue words.4 to 20, in two teams players · 20 min · quiet
- Hum That TuneOne player hums a song.4 to 30, in teams players · 20 min · quiet
- The Couple QuizCouples sit back to back and answer questions about each other at the same moment, without seeing the partner's answer.2 to 8 couples plus audience players · 20 min · quiet
- How Well Do You Know the Bride?Before the function, the bride (or the birthday person, the retiring colleague, the grandparents) answers twenty questions about herself.6 to 40 players · 15 min · quiet
- Wink DetectiveOne player is secretly the "sleep-sender", who puts people to sleep by winking at them.8 to 25 players · 15 min · quiet
- Pass the HoopThe group stands in a circle holding hands, with a hula hoop hanging on one pair of joined arms.8 to 40 players · 10 min · active
- Newspaper TowerEach team gets a pile of old newspaper and a roll of tape and must build the tallest tower that stands by itself.6 to 40, in teams of 3 to 5 players · 20 min · quiet
- Human KnotA group stands in a tight circle, everyone grabs two different people's hands across the middle, and the tangle must be undone into a circle without anyone letting go.8 to 12 per knot players · 10 to 15 min · active
- Seated Balloon VolleyballTwo teams sit on chairs facing each other across a string "net" and bat a balloon back and forth.6 to 20 players · 15 min · active
- Musical HatsPlayers stand or sit in a circle, each wearing a hat except one.6 to 30 players · 10 min · active
No game matches all three choices. Remove one, or tap "Show all".
Ready party plans
- Birthday party, ages 4 to 6
- Birthday party, ages 7 to 10
- Teenagers' party
- Family get-together, all ages
- Kitty party
- Sangeet and mehndi evening
- Office party or team outing
- All 12 plans
How to use this site
- Count your guests and their ages, then use the finder above. Group size matters more than anything else; see games by group size.
- Or start from a plan. The party plans are complete running orders with timings for a birthday, a kitty party, a sangeet, an office party and more.
- Open each game for what you need, numbered steps, ways to make it easier or harder, and the safety note.
- On the day, use the timer, the chit maker and the scoreboard from your phone.
Games people already know, explained properly
Many of these games are part of Indian childhood: Raja Mantri Chor Sipahi, Chidiya Ud, Poshampa, Kokla Chhapaki. Others are the one-minute challenges of fetes and kitty parties, played with straws, cups and biscuits. All are traditional or widely played and belong to everyone. Each description, with its tips and fixes for the usual problems, was written for this site.
Every game is clean and kind
Nothing here needs alcohol, money or a forfeit that embarrasses. Each page carries a note on safety and on including guests who would prefer to watch. New to hosting? Read how to host party games and prizes and return gifts.
Looking for something else?
Antakshari, dumb charades, musical chairs, passing the parcel, Tambola and games for WhatsApp groups are on our neighbour site Group Games. Board games such as ludo, carrom and chess are on Board Games, and ready quiz rounds on Quiz.