Want to liven up a small gathering with friends or family? Party games are always good for getting everyone engaged in the fun.
In this post, I’ll share 20 ideas for fun party games tailored to small groups. These games require minimal supplies, so you can easily put them together. They also encourage laughter, conversation, and connection in a close setting.
Active Games
Active games get your guests moving, mingling, and injecting some silly fun. They liven up the party by getting people active and out of their seats.
1. Scavenger Hunt
Break into teams of 2-3 people. Give each team a list of silly, random objects to hunt for and collect around the party area – things like “something yellow,” “a stuffed animal,” “a shoe,” etc. Set a fun timer for 5-10 minutes. The team who successfully finds the most items on the list within the time limit wins!
2. Twister
Bring out the iconic Twister mat and get tangled up in this classic body-bending game! Players contort themselves around the mat, aiming to keep balance and stay up as more hands and feet are added. Last player standing wins, but realistically, expect lots of giggles as everyone collapses together in a pile of twisted limbs and laughter.
Word Games
Word games encourage wit, banter, and friendly competition without needing much energy. They work well when your group needs a breather between active games.
3. Articulate!
This fast-paced description game really gets the brain working! Players take turns naming items on a card before time runs out, but no gestures or saying the item itself allowed. Most named items at the buzzer wins!
4. Story Time
Get in a circle, with each person saying just one word at a time to collectively build a story. No discussion allowed – the story takes funny and absurd twists and turns as people randomly say whatever word pops into their heads next. It often starts sensibly, then quickly escalates into hilarious chaos!
5. Rhyme Time
Quick wits are key in this rhyming challenge. Players go around the circle, with each person rhyming their word with the one said before it. For example: Cat – Hat – Mat – Sat – Lat, etc. Get creative! Players who can’t think of a rhyme quickly enough lose their turn. The last one still rhyming wins.
6. What Do You Meme?
This modern spin on caption contests will have your group in stitches! Players match hilariously snarky caption cards to image cards for absurd, meme-worthy combinations. The player who earns the most laughs and points from their meme creations wins – but realistically, nonstop chuckles are the real reward!
Guessing Games
Guessing games require sharp attention, clever questioning, and quick thinking as players try figuring out answers. They spark lively discussion and debate.
7. Two Truths and a Lie
Have each person share 3 surprising or interesting statements about themselves – 2 are true facts and 1 is a total lie. The rest of the group votes on which one they think is the lie. Reveal whether the group guessed correctly!
8. Who Am I?
Start by discreetly taping a celebrity name onto each player’s back without them knowing who they are. Players then take turns asking yes or no questions to the group, aiming to figure out their secret identity. The first player to correctly guess their celebrity wins!
9. Never Have I Ever
Players hold up 5 or 10 fingers. Take turns saying “Never have I ever…” followed by something you’ve never done. All other players who HAVE done that thing must lower one finger. Keep playing until only one person has fingers remaining – they win! Get ready for revealing insights and hilarious admissions!
10. Charades
Break into teams. Players take turns randomly selecting a charade phrase or word from a hat, then have 1 minute to silently act it out. No sounds allowed – just exaggerated gestures and expressions! Their team guesses as many as possible. The team with the most correct guesses after everyone takes a turn wins.
11. Twenty Questions
One player thinks of a person, place or thing. The rest of the group asks up to 20 total yes or no questions, trying to guess what the mystery item is. If the group doesn’t get it right within 20 questions, the “thinker” wins that round!
Trivia Games
Trivia games encourage friendly competition while testing everyone’s knowledge. Make sure to include categories your group will know well!
12. Pop Culture Trivia
Write up fun trivia questions about pop culture topics like movies, music, viral memes, celebrities, TV shows, etc. Split into teams and have players take turns answering questions. The team with the most correct answers at the end wins bragging rights!
13. Movie Quotes
Compile a list of iconic movie quotes, but don’t reveal the titles. Take turns reading quotes aloud and have players guess the movie title and character. Examples: “There’s no crying in baseball!” (A League of Their Own – Jimmy Dugan) or “I’ll be back.” (The Terminator – The Terminator). The player with the most correct answers wins the round.
14. Finish the Lyrics
Don’t just name that tune – finish singing the lyrics! Read just the first few words of hit songs, then players must buzz in and sing the next line. Award points for speed and accuracy. The player with the most lyric knowledge wins!
15. Facts About Each Other
Have everyone secretly write down 5 little-known facts about themselves on slips of paper and put them in a hat. Take turns drawing out facts, reading them aloud, and guessing which person they belong to. The player with the most right guesses wins!
Group Games
The whole gang gets involved in these cooperative and creative group games. Focus is on silly, fun interaction rather than competition.
16. Sound Effects Story
One creative player starts telling a story, while the others interject hilarious sound effects at appropriate moments. Don’t plan or discuss anything – just let the silly soundscape unfold in the moment! The organically evolving storyline will be random and hilarious.
Other Favorites
Round out your selection with these popular classics, perfect for 6-12 players:
17. Cards Against Humanity
This notoriously raunchy fill-in-the-blank game never fails to generate shocking laughs. Players match funny and risqué answer cards to prompt cards for outrageously messed up – yet hilarious – results. Definitely an adults-only affair!
18. Pictionary
Small groups get engrossed in this classic draw-and-guess challenge. Teams take turns sending one player to creatively draw a word or phrase while their teammates try guessing what it is. Minimal supplies needed, just sketchpads and pens!
19. Truth or Dare
Take turns choosing to answer a juicy truth or accept a silly dare. Great for getting to know people!
20. Jenga
Players take turns pulling blocks from a tower without it collapsing. Steady hands and luck win this block-stacking game!
Conclusion
Add a few of these lively games into your next small gathering to spark engagement, connection and laughter! Pick party games suited for your intimate group’s size and interests to get everyone interacting, competing and cooperating in a lighthearted way. With the right options, games can turn any small get-together into big, unforgettable fun!
Leave a Reply