27 Best Party Games for Adults to Let Loose in 2024
You have a gathering coming up and you need to come up with some great party games for adults that will keep your guests occupied. Do you know what kind of games to play at an adult party? Don’t overthink it. Remember, games are fun!
We’ve come up with a great list of indoor party games for adults, outdoor party games for adults and more so you’ll have a game for every social gathering. Whether you're a party-throwing expert or wondering how to host your first dinner party, read on for our favorite fun party games to play with friends.
Jump to Section
- Dinner Party Games for Adults
- Online Party Games for Adults
- Indoor Party Games for Adults
- Outdoor Party Games for Adults
- Funny Party Games for Adults
- DIY Party Games for Adults
Dinner Party Games for Adults
1. Cooking Competition
This is a fun dinner party game because it adds a twist to an old-fashioned potluck. Have everyone make their food competition style. Take inspiration from popular cooking competition shows like Chopped.
If you want a leg up on the competition, take some cooking classes near you. Make great pasta in cooking classes in Chicago, amazing appetizers in cooking classes in Atlanta or crowd-pleasing pizza in cooking classes in Boston.
If you’re trying to cram in a recipe right before the party, online cooking classes may be the best option for you.
2. Murder Mystery Dinner Party
Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery dinner party game? You could DIY your murder mystery party game for adults, or you could get one of the fantastic pre-made murder mystery games from Masters of Mystery.
Have fun playing a wild “whodunnit” game over a meal with your pals! Check out our Masters of Mystery review before buying your own.
3. Two Truths and a Lie
This is one of the most classic ice breaker games, making it perfect for dinner parties in which not everyone knows each other yet. It’s a great way to lead into other games later in the night.
Two truths and a lie requires no materials except your imagination, so you can play it while eating. Each party member simply comes up with three statements about themself, two of which are true. The rest of the party tries to guess what’s false.
4. Strange Food Taste Test
How do you keep adults entertained at a party? Food and games, of course. Combine the two with a strange food taste test or challenge.
Lay out a variety of unique foods and have each party guest taste it and try to identify it. To add an extra challenge, eating the strange foods can be the punishment for losing the other party games for adults.
Online Party Games for Adults
5. Virtual Game Nights
There are plenty of party games for adults online. If you need group activities for adults who don’t live near each other, virtual game nights are perfect for you.
Play online trivia games, virtual escape rooms and more. As a matter of fact, the National Library of Medicine published a study claiming that virtual games and video games can be great for bonding and team-building. What a perfect party activity.
6. Social Deduction Games
There are many of these, so they get their own number on the list. These games pit one person against the group, but no one gets to know who the “enemy” really is!
You can make your own DIY version of Werewolf or Mafia in which one person is the “bad guy” or you can make it easy by playing a pre-made game like Among Us. This game of deception is always a blast.
7. Pictionary
This is one of the most classic birthday party activities and you can easily do it online. Everyone needs a webcam and something to draw on (or you can use a pre-made version, like Skribbl.io).
You’ll take turns, as teams, trying to guess what another person is drawing. This game can get silly fast.
8. Where Are We?
This is a great game you can play competitively or collaboratively as long as people can share their screens.
You pick a random spot on Google Maps, turn on Street View, and try to figure out where on Earth you are. You can also use Geoguessr for a pre-made version that’s easy to start playing.
9. Heads Up or Virtual Charades
Heads Up is a fun game played via mobile app. One player holds the phone to their forehead, unable to see the word. The other players act out the word and the player holding the phone has to guess the word based on the other players' actions.
For charades, you can easily move this popular party game for adults online as long as you have a webcam. Take turns acting out prompts and having your team members (or the whole group) guess. You can even use props you have at home to create a more convincing charade.
Indoor Party Games for Adults
10. Truth or Dare
What are some fun indoor games for adults? Start with the classics. When it comes to birthday party games for adults, you can’t get much more classic than Truth or Dare.
Everyone takes turns coming up with fun questions and prompts for those who pick “truth” or hilarious challenges for people who pick “dare.” This game isn’t just for teens! There’s a reason that it’s one of the most popular adult birthday party ideas even today.
11. Finish That Tune
Play short snippets of songs. Guests compete to identify the song title and artist. You can create themed playlists or have a mix of different music genres. To make this game even funnier, have guests continue the song by singing or humming it.
12. The Newlywed Game
This is a fun and revealing game where couples (or friends) answer questions about each other. It's a great way for friends or couples to test how well they know each other. It’s helpful to have several notepads or whiteboards to play this game.
13. Who Am I?
This is a similar adult party game to the Famous Pairs game, and it would be a great addition to a birthday party, a holiday work party or any other gathering.
Write the names of famous people or fictional characters on sticky notes and place one on each guest's forehead. They have to guess who they are by asking yes or no questions. The questions can’t be too obvious, so they often end up being pretty funny.
14. Famous Pairs Game
Next on our list of indoor games for adults is the Famous Pairs game. Create a list of famous couples, either real or fictional. Put names on tape or post-it notes and put them on each guest’s back.
Guests have to ask each other questions to figure out who they are, and then find their match! This is one of the best team building games.
Outdoor Party Games for Adults
15. Scavenger Hunt
There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned scavenger hunt. While this is on our list of outdoor party games for adults, if you’re looking for winter activities you can modify it to be an indoor game.
Make a list of objects or sights that your group can find around your home or neighborhood. Have them pair off and take pictures of each item on the list. The one who gets them all first wins.
16. Human Knot
You could do this one indoors, but it’s best to have as much room as possible. Have guests stand in a circle and extend their hands to the center. Each person then grabs the hand of someone across the circle, creating a "human knot."
The goal is to work together to untangle the knot without letting go of each other's hands. This game gets silly fast (especially if alcohol is involved).
17. Cornhole
When it comes to outdoor party games for adults, we can’t forget Cornhole. Cornhole is a classic lawn game where players take turns tossing bean bags into a hole on an inclined board.
It's easy to set up and provides hours of entertainment. It’s great for outdoor barbecues, tailgate games and pool parties and the rules are simple.
18. Obstacle Course
Obstacle courses make excellent outdoor DIY adult party games. Create an obstacle course with different challenges like jumping over hurdles, crawling under ropes and running through cones.
You can use anything at your disposal to create obstacles. Get creative. Time participants and see who can complete it the fastest.
19. Giant Jenga
Jenga isn’t just an indoor game! You can play Jenga with oversized wooden blocks and bring the game outside. The tower gets taller as you remove and stack blocks, adding an element of suspense when it eventually collapses.
For extra fun, write little dares or challenges on each block that players have to complete.
Funny Party Games for Adults
20. Never Have I Ever
What is an adult party game that doesn’t require anything? Never Have I Ever is a good one! It’s often on lists of 21st birthday party ideas because it’s usually paired with alcohol, but that’s not necessary.
It’s a revealing and funny game where participants take turns sharing something they've never done. If someone else at the party has done that thing, they take a drink or perform a dare.
21. Cards Against Humanity
This is a party game for adults that’s a perfect addition to any girls night ideas, slumber party plans or birthday party festivities. Players fill in the blanks in a sentence with humorous or outrageous phrases.
It's great for groups with a good sense of humor, but note that the game can get dark. There are many different versions of Cards Against Humanity, though, including a family-friendly edition!
22. Reverse Charades
In this twist on traditional charades, one person guesses while a group of people act out a word or phrase. It takes charades to a whole new level. Hilarity ensues when multiple people try to convey the same message simultaneously all in different ways.
23. Blindfolded Makeover
This party game for adults is a blast for any beauty lovers out there, but anyone can enjoy it. Pair up guests and provide one half of the pair with a blindfold and makeup.
The blindfolded person attempts to apply makeup to their partner, often leading to silly results. As a group, decide on the “winner” of each round.
DIY Party Games for Adults
24. DIY Escape Room
This is a challenging activity to set up, but it’s worth it for a totally unique birthday party game for adults. Create your own escape room-style puzzles and riddles for your guests to solve. Set up multiple rooms with clues leading to the ultimate escape (and, of course, a fun prize).
25. At-Home Mini Golf
If you’re inventive, an at-home mini golf course is a great DIY party game for adults. Set up a mini golf course in your home using household items as obstacles. Create a scorecard and compete for the lowest score. Setting up the course is half of the fun!
26. Minute to Win It
Do you love TV game shows? Get your friends together and make your own. Adapt popular TV show challenges into quick and amusing one-minute games.
Use household items for the challenges. Guests can work in teams or on their own. Whoever wins the most games at the end of the night wins.
27. DIY Craft Challenge
Are you and your friends crafty? Get creative with a craft night where everyone works on craft projects together. Have everyone bring in one type of craft supply and then choose a theme (such as carving pumpkins, making gingerbread houses, creating masks or anything else).
Everyone spends a set amount of time on their craft and then you all vote on a winner.
Which of these fun party games for adults are you going to try at your next party? There are so many ways to have fun with your friends if you’re willing to get creative. Don’t settle for a drab event — liven up the party with these exciting games.
For even more fun party ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
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