Games to Play at a Teenager's Party

Board Games

• Board games that are challenging and sophisticated will hold teenagers' interest. Scattergories, Clue, Trivial Pursuit, Cranium and Twister are good teen party games. Keep in mind some may need special requirements, like a large room for Twister, or a DVD player and TV set for Scene It! games or other DVD-based board games. Classics such as Monopoly, Life, Jenga and card games can also be a hit.

Treasure Hunts

• An old-fashioned treasure hunt game will provide excitement and plenty of challenge, if you make it difficult enough. A nighttime sleepover party would be a good time to hold a flashlight hunt outside, adding to the challenge.

  If there are many guests, divide them into teams, or pairs, if there are not as many teenagers. Give each a flashlight and the clues you prepared ahead of time, leading them on a quest to find the treasure. It could be candy, a DVD or even a gift card to a popular store.

  Adapt an Easter egg hunt by hiding small treasure chests at random locations for the teens to find with their flashlights.

Mystery Solving

• Plan your teen party around a murder mystery, and the activity not only keeps guests entertained, but also provides you with a theme for decorations, food and favors. Buy preplanned murder mystery games in stores or online, or make your own, perhaps based on a favorite mystery novel. Costumes, props and detailed instructions for the host are usually part of a murder mystery party, so plan ahead and be sure you have the supplies and time to pull this party game off (see Resources).

Dare Games

• In the classic Truth or Dare game, players sit in a circle and take turns either answering a question or performing a dare. This is only limited to the players' imagination, and works indoors or outdoors.

  Another game is Balloon Dares, which takes a little more preparation. Cut small strips of paper and write dares on them, then roll them up and slip them inside balloons. The balloons are blown up and can serve as decorations before the game is played. Each player eventually chooses a balloon and pops it, and then has to do the dare written on that paper.

Guessing Games

• Challenging teens' music, movie or celebrity knowledge makes a popular teenage party game. Play a pop version of "Name That Tune," with a few CDs or an MP3 player full of music that teens will be familiar with. Play just a snippet of a song, and let players score points for identifying it in the shortest time, or with the fewest hints.

  A similar game can be played with famous people, in Celebrity 20 Questions. One person picks a celebrity, and the others must guess who it is within 20 questions. Give prizes such as candy bars, costume jewelry for girls or key chains for boys.