Party GamesParty games for a medium group (9 to 20 people)
Nine to twenty is the ideal number for party games, and most games were made for it. Two or three teams give everyone a side to cheer for, and elimination games finish before those who are out lose interest. Where equipment is limited, play four at a time while the others cheer, and keep each heat to about a minute.
Quiet and seated games 14
- Chidiya Ud"Chidiya ud" means "bird, fly".3 to 15 players · 5 to 10 min · quiet
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Active games 14
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
How to choose from this list
Start with one quiet game while guests arrive, then alternate: an active game, a seated one, another active one. Plan one game for every fifteen minutes and keep a spare. The time on each card is for one game with a typical group; with more players, allow longer or play in heats. Open a game for what you need, the steps, and a safety note.
Ready-made party plans
- Birthday party, ages 4 to 6
- Birthday party, ages 7 to 10
- Teenagers' party
- Family get-together, all ages
- Kitty party
- All party plans
Other lists
ChildrenTeenagersAdultsEldersAll ages togetherLadies' partiesCouplesOfficeSmall group (4 to 8)Large group (over 20)
New to hosting? Read how to host party games.