30 Birthday Party Games for 2025
Planning a birthday party can be a lot of fun, especially when you have a list of exciting games to entertain your guests.
In this article, we’ll give you 30 fantastic birthday party game ideas that everyone will enjoy. Whether your party is for kids or adults, we’ve got something for everyone.
Let’s get started!
30 Birthday Party Games
1. Camera Hot Potato
The game involves passing a phone set on self-timer mode around the group. As each person holds the phone, they must pose quickly before passing it on.
The timer is usually set for 10 seconds, and when the photo is taken, the phone continues to be passed until everyone has had a turn.
At the end of the game, review the photos to enjoy some laughter over the candid and often silly poses captured.
2. Crossed, Uncrossed
The host sits in a circle with the players and announces they are hosting a party with certain criteria for inviting guests.
The twist is that the criteria are based on whether participants have their legs crossed or uncrossed, but this rule isn’t revealed upfront.
Players take turns suggesting items to bring to the party, and the host says who can come based on their posture.
The game continues until everyone figures out the pattern, providing lots of fun and confusion along the way.
3. Thumper
Thumper is an energetic game involving hand or leg motions and rhythmic clapping. Players sit or stand in a circle, each choosing a unique motion.After everyone demonstrates their motion, players start clapping or stomping in rhythm.
The starter does their motion followed by someone else’s, who then repeats their own motion and another’s, and so on.
The goal is to keep the rhythm and sequence without hesitation or mistakes. If someone errs, they are out, and the game continues until one player remains.
4. Straight Face
The objective of this game is to keep a straight face while reading or listening to outrageous phrases. Players write funny or shocking statements on slips of paper and put them in a hat.
One person draws a slip and reads the phrase aloud, trying to maintain a neutral expression. Others must also keep a straight face, and anyone who laughs or smiles is out.
The game continues until all phrases are read. This is perfect for testing composure and enjoying a good laugh, making it a favorite at many parties.
5. Medusa
In the Medusa game participants sit in a circle, heads down. On the count of three, everyone looks up and stares at someone else.
If two people make eye contact, they are both out. If you’re looking at someone who is looking at someone else, you’re safe.
The game repeats until only one person remains. Medusa is a great game for large groups and requires no materials.
6. Mr. Freeze
In the Mr. Freeze one person is designated as Mr. Freeze and can freeze at any time. When Mr. Freeze freezes, everyone else must freeze too.
The last person to freeze is out. This game can be played intermittently, adding a fun element of surprise to the party.
It keeps everyone on their toes and can lead to some humorous moments as guests try to catch each other off guard.
7. Musical Chairs
In this game you’ll need to arrange chairs in a circle, one less than the number of players. As music plays, participants walk around the chairs.
When the music stops, everyone must find a chair to sit in. The player left standing is out, and a chair is removed.
The game continues until only one person remains seated. This is great for all ages, easy to set up, and always brings out competitive spirit and laughter.
8. Charades
In Charades players act out words or phrases without speaking while their team guesses. Write down various prompts on slips of paper and place them in a bowl.
Players take turns drawing a prompt and acting it out within a time limit, usually one to two minutes.
Teams score points for correct guesses, and the game continues until all prompts are acted out.
9. Telephone
Telephone games demonstrate how messages can become distorted through repetition. Players sit in a circle, and one person whispers a phrase into the ear of the person next to them.
The phrase is passed around the circle by whispering, and the last person announces it aloud. Typically, the final phrase is hilariously different from the original.
10. 20 Questions
In this game one person thinks of an object, animal, or person, and others have up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is.
The chosen player answers each question until someone guesses correctly or the 20 questions are exhausted.
The guesser can then be the next to think of something. This game stimulates creativity and critical thinking while providing plenty of fun.
11. Saran Wrap Candy Ball
To prepare this game, you’ll need a variety of small prizes or candies and several rolls of plastic wrap. You should first wrap one prize in a ball of plastic wrap.
Add more prizes as you continue to wrap, creating a larger ball. During the game, participants take turns unwrapping the ball layer by layer.
The twist is that the person unwrapping must do so while the person next to them rolls dice, attempting to roll doubles.
Once doubles are rolled, the ball is passed to the next person. The game continues until all layers are unwrapped, and players get to keep any prizes they unwrap.
12. Treasure Hunt
Treasure Hunt involves hiding clues around the house or yard, leading participants on an adventurous search for a hidden treasure.
To set up, create a series of clues that guide players from one location to the next, with each clue providing a hint to find the next one.
The final clue leads to a treasure, which could be a box of goodies or a special prize. This game encourages teamwork and problem-solving as kids work together to decipher the clues.
13. Detective Games
Detective games involve solving puzzles and riddles to uncover a mystery. You can enhance the experience by using invisible ink to write clues, which adds an element of surprise and excitement.
You should set up a storyline where players must find hidden objects or solve a case. Provide them with tools like magnifying glasses and notepads.
Players write their answers with invisible ink, which can be revealed using a special method, such as applying heat or using a UV light.
14. Limbo
To play the Limbo game, you’ll need a long stick or broom and some lively music. Two people hold the stick at a certain height while players take turns leaning backward to pass under it without touching the stick or falling.
After each round, lower the stick slightly and repeat the process. The goal is to see who can go the lowest without falling or touching the stick.
Limbo is a fantastic way to get everyone moving and laughing, and it can be played both indoors and outdoors.
15. Nerf Battle
To organize a Nerf Battle, you’ll need Nerf guns for each player and plenty of foam darts. Divide the players into two teams and set up a battlefield with obstacles for cover.
The objective is to tag players on the opposing team by hitting them with Nerf darts. You can also set up targets around the yard and have teams score points by hitting them.
This game promotes physical activity and teamwork, as players strategize and work together to win.
16. Water Balloon Battle
You should first prepare the game by filling numerous water balloons and placing them in buckets around the yard. Players can either engage in a free-for-all water fight or be divided into teams.
The objective is simple: soak your opponents by throwing water balloons at them. To add more excitement, you can set up targets for players to hit with the balloons.
Ensure you have a cleanup session afterward to pick up the balloon pieces. This game is a great way to cool off and have fun.
17. Tug of War
In this game all you need is a sturdy rope and a marked area to designate the middle line. Divide the players into two teams, ensuring they are balanced in strength and size.
Each team grabs one end of the rope and, on the signal, pulls as hard as they can to bring the other team across the center line.
The team that succeeds in pulling the other across the line wins. This game is excellent for encouraging teamwork and physical activity.
18. Water Squirter Battle
To play this, you’ll need to provide each player with a water squirter or water gun and set up buckets of water around the yard for easy refilling.
Players engage in a water fight, trying to soak each other as much as possible. This game is perfect for hot days and keeps the kids active and entertained.
Ensure everyone knows the rules, such as avoiding aiming at faces, to keep the game safe and enjoyable.
19. Capture the Flag
You’ll need a spacious area and two flags or bandanas to represent each team’s flag. Divide players into two teams, each with a designated home base where their flag is placed.
The objective is to capture the opposing team’s flag and return it to your base without being tagged.
If a player is tagged in enemy territory, they must go to “jail” and wait to be freed by a teammate.
20. Red Rover
In the Red Rover players are divided into two teams and form lines by holding hands. Each team takes turns calling a player from the opposing team by saying, “Red Rover, Red Rover, let [player’s name] come over.”
The chosen player runs and tries to break through the linked hands of the opposing team. If successful, they return to their team with one of the two players whose hands they broke through.
If they fail, they join the opposing team. This game promotes teamwork and physical endurance.
21. What’s The Time Mr. Wolf?
One player, designated as Mr. Wolf stands at one end of the playing area with their back to the other players, who line up at the opposite end.
The players call out, “What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?” and Mr. Wolf responds with a time, such as “It’s three o’clock,” prompting the players to take that many steps forward.
When Mr. Wolf shouts “Dinner time!” instead of a time, he turns around and chases the players back to the starting line. Anyone caught becomes the new Mr. Wolf.
22. Duck Duck Goose
In this game players sit in a circle, and one child, the “Goose,” walks around the outside, gently tapping each seated player on the head while saying “duck.” When they decide, they tap someone and say “goose.”
The chosen “Goose” must jump up and chase the tapper around the circle, trying to tag them before they can sit in the vacant spot.
If tagged, the tapper remains the Goose for another round. If not, the new Goose continues the game.
23. Junk in the Trunk
To play this game, players attach an empty tissue box, filled with eight ping pong balls, to their waist with the opening facing outward.
When the timer starts, they must shake, twist, and jump to get all the balls out of the box as quickly as possible.
The first person to empty their box wins. This game requires no special skills, just enthusiasm and a sense of humor, making it perfect for all ages.
24. Two Truths and a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie is excellent for getting to know each other better, ideal for both new acquaintances and close friends. Each player takes a turn to state three facts about themselves—two true and one false.
The rest of the group must guess which statement is the lie. This game encourages players to share interesting and sometimes surprising details about themselves.
25. Spoons
In Spoons players sit in a circle with a spoon in the center for each player minus one. Cards are dealt so everyone has four.
The dealer starts by picking up a card from the deck, keeping it or passing it on, aiming to collect four of a kind.
Once a player has four of a kind, they quietly grab a spoon. This signals everyone else to grab a spoon as fast as they can.
The player left without a spoon is out, and the game continues until only one player remains.
26. Mafia
Players are assigned roles such as Mafia, Villager, Doctor, or Detective. The game is divided into “night” and “day” phases.
During the night, the Mafia secretly decides who to eliminate, while the Doctor saves someone, and the Detective investigates a player’s identity.
During the day, players discuss and vote on who they suspect the Mafia is, aiming to eliminate them. The game continues until either the Mafia is eliminated or they outnumber the villagers.
27. Mystery Word
Before the event, the host selects a secret word related to the party’s theme and writes it down. During the party, guests try to guess the word by subtly working it into their conversations.
The host listens carefully, and when someone uses the mystery word, they win a prize. The catch is that guests can’t directly ask if a word is the mystery word.
28. Psych
Psych is a fun app-based game where players answer trivia questions with fake answers to trick their friends. Each round, the app provides a question, and players submit a plausible yet fake answer.
All answers are then shown, and players must guess the correct one. Points are awarded for guessing correctly and for tricking others with your fake answer.
29. Name That Tune
The host plays a few seconds of a song, and players must guess the title and artist as quickly as possible. Points are awarded for correct guesses, and the person with the most points at the end wins.
This game can be tailored to any musical preference, from oldies to current hits, and can include bonus rounds with specific themes or decades.
30. Laser Maze
Laser Maze is an exciting physical challenge where players navigate a “laser” obstacle course made of string or crepe paper without touching the “beams.”
The course can be set up indoors or outdoors, with varying levels of difficulty depending on the age and skill level of the players.
Each player takes turns trying to get through the maze as quickly as possible without setting off any alarms (touching the strings).
