Home >> Games & Cards >> Party Games

Fun Games to Do With Guests

Games are a great way to break the ice at a party. Games will break down inhibitions and help people to get to know each other. Generally, good party games are inclusive and encourage group participation. It's important to read the feeling of the group, ensure that everyone feels like playing a game and pick one that seems suitable for the assembled guests.

Charades
- Charades is a classic game that suits almost any party. Players assemble into two opposing teams and decide which team will go first. That team selects a player to come to the front and select a card with a thing, concept or action printed on it. That player has to wordlessly act out the message while his team attempts to guess the message. Usually, a time limit will dictate when each team has to stop guessing. The team with the most correct guesses wins. There are many variations on this popular game, but most operate on this same basic format.
Pictionary
- Like charades, this is a classic game that your guests will likely be familiar with. There is an official board game version of this game, but it is not necessary. Prepare a number of cards with words printed on them, and then a player from one of the two opposing teams attempts to draw the word while her team tries to correctly interpret the image.
Wedding Bells
- This game can take many forms, but is a good way to introduce guests to one another. To prepare for this game you will need to print out pictures of famous celebrity couples. They can be real people like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt or characters such as Homer and Marge Simpson, but should be easily identifiable and well known. Tape one photo on the back of each guest, but don't let guests see their own pictures. Guests have to go around the party in search of their partner. Guests have to determine who they are and what person they belong with. Players are not allowed to ask explicitly who they are, but instead rely on intuition based on the way people treat them. Winning pairs are the ones who successfully find their match.
Board Games
- For smaller gatherings, board games are a good way to bring guests together. From popular games such as Trivial Pursuit where guests circle the board trying to successfully answer trivia questions, to less-well-known games such as Apples to Apples where players have to try creatively fit words into categories. A trip to your local game or toy store should turn up several options. Check the maximum number of players and age suggestions before purchasing a game. Board Game Central (see Resources) also has a list of suitable games.

Party Games