Hosting a party and looking to spice things up with some engaging games? Whether it's a family gathering, a game night with friends, or a big celebration, party games are a great way to break the ice and get everyone laughing. From quick rounds to all-night games, here’s a list of the best party games for 2024 that are sure to entertain any group.
1. Codenames
Players: 4-8+
Playtime: 15-30 minutes
Best For: Word lovers, strategy fans
Codenames is an award-winning word game that keeps everyone on their toes. The group is divided into two teams, and each team’s “spymaster” gives one-word clues to help their teammates guess the words on the board. But beware of the assassin word—if a team picks it, they lose instantly!
This game is perfect for parties because it combines strategic thinking with fast-paced guessing, making it ideal for groups of all sizes.
Why It's Great for Parties:
- Quick rounds mean no one waits too long to play.
- Accessible rules but deep strategy keeps things interesting.
Codenames
Two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their codenames — single-word labels like "disease", "Germany", and "carrot". Yes, carrot. It's a legitimate codename. Each spymaster wants their team to identify their agents first...without uncovering the assassin by mistake.
2. Telestrations
Players: 4-8 (more with expansions)
Playtime: 20-30 minutes
Best For: Drawing fans, casual players
Telestrations is the ultimate “telephone” game in drawing form. Players draw a word, pass their sketch to the next player, and that player has to guess what it is. The results often turn hilarious as the original word transforms into something completely unexpected.
This game is guaranteed to bring laughs, whether or not your drawing skills are up to par. In fact, the worse you are at drawing, the funnier the results!
Why It's Great for Parties:
- Hilarious results every round.
- Easy to pick up, and no artistic skills required!
Telestrations
From the publisher's press release:
3. Exploding Kittens
Players: 2-5
Playtime: 15 minutes
Best For: Fast-paced, quirky game lovers
Exploding Kittens is a quick-play card game full of humor and a bit of luck. Players take turns drawing cards, trying to avoid the Exploding Kitten cards that end the game for them—unless they have a defuse card. The ridiculous artwork and quirky mechanics make this a fun and lighthearted party game.
There’s also an adult version if you want to spice things up a bit more!
Why It's Great for Parties:
- Simple and fast-paced, perfect for shorter rounds.
- The humor and random events keep everyone laughing.
Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens is a kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette. Players take turns drawing cards until someone draws an exploding kitten and loses the game. The deck is made up of cards that let you avoid exploding by peeking at cards before you draw, forcing your opponent to draw multiple cards, or shuffling the deck.
The game gets more and more intense with each card you draw because fewer cards left in the deck means a greater chance of drawing the kitten and exploding in a fiery ball of feline hyperbole.
4. Just One
Players: 3-7
Playtime: 20 minutes
Best For: Cooperative players, word game enthusiasts
Just One is a cooperative party game where players give one-word clues to help a teammate guess a secret word. The catch? If multiple players give the same clue, it gets erased! Players must think outside the box to give creative clues while avoiding duplicates.
Just One is perfect for parties because of its simplicity and quick rounds. The cooperative nature also makes it feel less competitive, ideal for groups looking to relax and have fun together.
Why It's Great for Parties:
- Quick setup and easy-to-learn rules.
- Cooperative play keeps the mood friendly and fun.
Just One
Just One is a cooperative party game in which you play together to discover as many mystery words as possible. Find the best clue to help your teammate. Be unique, as all identical clues will be cancelled!
A complete game is played over 13 cards. The goal is to get a score as close to 13 as possible. In case of a right answer, the players score 1 point. In case of wrong answer, they lose the current card as well as the top card of the deck. Thus losing 2 points. In case of lack of answer, the players only lose the current card, and therefore only 1 point.
5. The Resistance
Players: 5-10
Playtime: 30-45 minutes
Best For: Fans of deception, bluffing
If your group enjoys deception and deduction games, The Resistance is a must. Players are either members of the Resistance or spies working to sabotage them. The game revolves around discussion, bluffing, and trying to figure out who’s on which side. The tension builds with each mission, creating exciting moments of mistrust and revelation.
The Resistance works best with larger groups, making it a fantastic option for bigger parties where people love bluffing games.
Why It's Great for Parties:
- Exciting social deduction game that thrives with larger groups.
- Perfect for players who love deception and outsmarting their friends.
The Resistance
The Empire must fall. Our mission must succeed. By destroying their key bases, we will shatter Imperial strength and liberate our people. Yet spies have infiltrated our ranks, ready for sabotage. We must unmask them. In five nights we reshape destiny or die trying. We are the Resistance!
6. Werewolf
Players: 8-20+
Playtime: 30-90 minutes
Best For: Large groups, fans of deduction games
A party game classic, Werewolf is perfect for large groups. Players are secretly assigned roles such as villagers, werewolves, or other special characters. The game is played over several rounds, where the villagers must figure out who the werewolves are before they eliminate everyone.
Werewolf thrives in big group settings, and the more players, the better! The suspense of each round, along with the ability to lie and deceive your friends, makes this a hit at parties.
Why It's Great for Parties:
- Scales incredibly well for large groups.
- The mix of hidden roles and deception creates excitement and suspense.
Werewolf
Werewolf (also known as Mafia) takes place in a small town where a minority of the townsfolk hold a dangerous secret.
Each player is secretly assigned a role - Werewolf, Villager, or Seer (a special Villager). There is also a Moderator who controls the flow of the game.
7. Taboo
Players: 4-10
Playtime: 20-40 minutes
Best For: Quick thinkers, word lovers
Taboo is a word-guessing game where players have to describe a word without using certain “taboo” words. It's fast-paced, challenging, and hilarious, especially when players struggle to find creative ways to give clues without breaking the rules.
It’s perfect for parties because of its speed and accessibility. The quick rounds make sure no one stays out of the game for too long, and the frantic nature of trying to avoid the “taboo” words adds to the fun.
Why It's Great for Parties:
- Fast-paced, high-energy fun.
- Encourages creative thinking and communication.
Taboo
In the party game Taboo, you're trying to give clues to your teammates so that they'll guess a particular word, but you can't say just anything you like. Some clues are off limits!
When you're the active player, hold the deck of cards so that you and the opposing team can see the top card. At the top of the card is the word your teammate must say to score the card, and you can anything you want to help them figure out what to guess other than the word itself (duh!) or the five words/phrases listed on the bottom of the card.
8. Monikers
Players: 4-16
Playtime: 30-60 minutes
Best For: Fans of charades, fast-paced games
Monikers is a team-based game that’s essentially a hilarious take on charades. Over three rounds, players give clues to their teammates to guess the name on a card, using different constraints like one word, acting it out, or even silence. The absurd and funny names on the cards make the game even more enjoyable.
It’s a great choice for people who love charades or games that get the group laughing and involved.
Why It's Great for Parties:
- Easy to pick up and guaranteed to make people laugh.
- Perfect for teams and large groups.
Monikers
Monikers is a party game based on the public domain game Celebrities, where players take turns attempting to get their teammates to guess names by describing or imitating well-known people.
In the first round, clue givers can say anything they want, except for the name itself. For the second round, clue givers can only say one word. And in the final round, clue givers can’t say anything at all: they can only use gestures and charades.
9. Wavelength
Players: 2-12
Playtime: 30-45 minutes
Best For: Abstract thinkers, discussion lovers
In Wavelength, teams take turns trying to guess where a hidden target is on a spectrum between two extremes (like "hot" and "cold"). The "psychic" gives a clue that corresponds to the target’s position, and the team must discuss and interpret it to find the correct spot.
The discussions and interpretations that arise make this game both fun and thought-provoking. It’s great for party groups that love a mix of discussion, abstract thinking, and teamwork.
Why It's Great for Parties:
- Promotes engaging discussions.
- Great for a mix of serious and casual players.
Wavelength
Wavelength is a social guessing game in which two teams compete to read each other's minds. Teams take turns rotating a dial to where they think a hidden bullseye is located on a spectrum. One of the players on your team — the Psychic — knows exactly where the bullseye is, and draws a card with a pair of binaries on it (such as: Job - Career, Rough - Smooth, Fantasy - Sci-Fi, Sad Song - Happy Song, etc). The Psychic must then provide a clue that is *conceptually* where the bullseye is located between those two binaries.
Final Thoughts
No matter what kind of party you’re hosting, there’s a game on this list to fit your group. From hilarious drawing challenges to intense deception games, the right party game can make your gathering an unforgettable event. So grab one of these best party games and let the fun begin!
Need More Party Game Ideas?
If you’re still not sure which game to pick, check out our full collection of party games or use our Party Game Recommendation Tool to find the perfect match for your group!