The 1980s delivered some of the most iconic pop culture of all time. From big hair and neon clothing to synth pop and classic coming-of-age movies, the 80s were a vibrant, fun decade and make a perfect theme for a party.
Planning an 80s party is tons of fun and no party is complete without games to keep your guests entertained. Here are 25 party games people played in the era and some new ones with an 80s twist!
1. 80s Trivia
Get into the groove of the 80s by testing your guests’ knowledge of the decade. Make a trivia quiz covering 80s music, movies, TV shows, news events, toys, fashion and pop culture. Award silly 80s-style prizes like mood rings, slap bracelets and neon shoelaces to the winners.
2. 80s Movie Quotes Challenge
“Surely you can’t be serious.” – “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.” See if your party peeps can guess which tubular 80s movie this famous quote is from. Print out quotes from classics like The Breakfast Club, Top Gun, Back to the Future and more.
3. 80s Music Video Karaoke
Channel your inner pop star with some bodacious 80s karaoke. Make a playlist of cheesy hits and hand out some mic stand props. Perfect your falsetto for Total Eclipse of the Heart. Strike a pose during Madonna’s Vogue. Grab the hairspray mic for some inspired vocal performance.
4. Dress Up Relay Race
A relay race will bring back memories of playing dress up. Split guests into teams and set up boxes of funky 80s clothes like neon shirts with shoulder pads, acid washed jeans, leg warmers and colorful wigs. Teams must run to their box, dress a teammate in 80s garb, then race back before tagging the next player. Most stylin’ 80s look wins!
5. Big Hair competition
Channel some serious mall bangs with an 80s big hair contest. Provide loads of hair spray, scrunchies, crimpers and teasing combs. Give guests 10 minutes to create the largest, craziest 80s ‘dos they can muster. Award prizes for categories like Most Hair Spray Used and Tallest Hair and more!
6. 80s Slang Challenge
The 80s produced some totally awesome lingo that was all the rage. Like, see if your friends can decode some grody 80s slang flashcards into modern words. Include classics like psyched, wack, gnarly, gag me with a spoon, I’m sure, tubular, rad and more.
7. Retro Selfies
Strike a pose! Set up an 80s themed photo booth with props like flashy sunglasses, neon wigs, instant cameras, boom boxes and old brick cell phones. Provide retro backdrops like lockers or wood panels. Guests can snap silly snaps rocking their 80s swagger.
8. 80s Makeovers
Unleash your inner crimper, mascara wand and blue eyeshadow! Break into teams and give each other 80s makeovers complete with messy bangs, colorful shadow, bold blush and power lipstick. No look is over the top. Snap pics to decide which squad rocked the most bodacious makeovers.
9. 80s Name That Tune
Get Footloose with an 80s music mix up! Play 5-10 second clips of popular 80s tunes and see if guests can guess the song title and artist. Make it even harder by using instrumental versions, bizarre remixes or humming. Award neon temporary tattoos to the winners.
10. Mocktail Pong
Amp up the fun with a round of Mocktail Pong! Set the game up and fill plastic cups with rad drink recipes like Blue Lagoons, Fuzzy Navels and electric Kool-Aid.
11. Retro Board Games
Get nostalgic with classic 80s board games. Break out classics like Hungry Hungry Hippos, KerPlunk, Connect Four, Twister, Jenga, Candy Land and Operation. For bonus laughs, require players to wear neon fingerless gloves.
12. Pop Culture Charades
Test your acting chops with some 80s charades. Guests have to act out major moments from 80s TV shows, movies, music videos and celebrities. Moonwalk like MJ or do the prep. Recreate the flying bike scene from E.T. or rock out on Bill n Ted’s air guitar.
13. 80s Dance Off
Bring back retro dance moves like The Robot with 80s dance battle! Form a dance floor and encourage guests to flaunt their best moves. Appoint some cheerful judges to award prizes like 80s candy to the dynamite dancers with the sickest moves.
14. 80s Movie Scene Reenactments
“Wax on, wax off.” Relive your favorite movie moments with DIY 80s movie reenactments. Guests get 10 minutes to put together costumes and props, then act out an iconic scene. Laugh along to amateurs trying to pull off some classic 80s scenes.
15. 80s Video Game Tournament
Game on! Set up old school 80s video game stations with mini consoles for a nostalgic gaming tourney. Play classics from Atari, Nintendo, Sega Genesis and Game Boy. Play rad games like Pac Man, Super Mario Bros, Duck Hunt and Tetris. May the bit be with you!
16. Scavenger Hunt
Like, totally send your guests on a scavenger hunt around your party zone! Split into teams and equip them with items like boomboxes, neon hair ties and pacifiers to take pics with during their hunt for items. Most excellent throwback pics win!
17. Giant Twister
Get twisted with an epic game of giant Twister! Use painter’s tape to make a mega Twister board and spinner. Crank up “Walking on Sunshine” as guests tie themselves in literal knots maneuvering their hands and feet across the board. Last one standing wins radical 80s prizes.
18. Rubik’s Cube Relay
It’s time to cube it up 80s style! Grab loads of Rubik’s cubes and divide guests into teams. Players race against the clock to unscramble their cube before passing it to the next teammate. First colorfully cubed team wins some totally awesome 80s swag!
19. Like, Best Valley Girl Accent
Frankly, this vocal challenge is sure to be totally tubular! See who can maintain the best valley girl accent while reading cue cards of 80s lingo. Guests have to nail phrases like “Gag me with a spoon!”, “For sure!”, “Let’s go to the mall!” and “That’s so gnarly.” Best vocal fry wins!
20. Whip It Dance Competition
Whip it good! Play Devo’s “Whip It” and have guests grab scarves, towels or rubber chickens to creatively whip around in a dance competition. Costumes encouraged! Award sashes for categories like Most Enthusiastic, Funniest and Best Props. Don’t worry, no literal whipping here! Just rad, safe fun.
21. Lip Sync Battle
Bring the noise for an epic 80s lip sync battle! Play out classics tunes like “Maniac” or “Take On Me” and have guests lip sync their hearts out. Performers can go solo or duke it out in teams.
22. Piñata Party
Get totally awesome piñatas shaped like cassette tapes, boom boxes, hair spray cans and neon sunglasses. Fill them with 80s candy classics like Pop Rocks, Nerds, Bottle Caps and Curly Wurly. Crank up the New Kids on the Block and take turns bopping those piñatas to score sweet treats!
23. 80s Fashion Show
Strut your stuff on an 80s catwalk! Have guests create 80s inspired outfits from a hall of rad clothes, accessories and props. Think big bows, neon, crimped hair, spandex and mullets! Crank up some retro tunes while contestants rock their looks down the runway. Best dressed wins!
24. Air Guitar Contest
Shred the air like a rock star! Hand out inflatable electric guitars and crazy wigs. Cue up 80s hair metal songs songs like “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and let guests rock their hearts out with killer air guitar solos. Award hairband-style trophies for categories like Best Stage Presence and Epic Windmills.
25. 80s Music Video Challenge
Divide your guests into teams and play clips from iconic 80s music videos, like Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ and Dire Straits ‘Money For Nothing’ and see if your guests can guess them from the short clips. Team with the most points wins some 80s swag!
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