New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to gather with your loved ones, reflect on the past year, and look forward to the exciting adventures ahead. But after the festive dinner, how do you keep the energy high and the fun flowing? The answer: games! Whether you’re hosting a cozy family gathering or a larger celebration, there’s nothing like a game to bring everyone together and create unforgettable memories.
So, what kind of games can you play to make the night even more memorable? Here are 20 creative and exciting New Year’s Eve games that are perfect for families. They’re designed to keep both kids and adults engaged, laughing, and celebrating all the way into the New Year. Let’s dive into the fun!
1. New Year’s Eve Charades
Charades is a classic game that works for almost any occasion, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. How do you play? It’s simple! One person acts out a word or phrase without speaking, while the rest of the group guesses. To make it more festive, you can create a New Year’s Eve-themed list, such as things like “ball drop,” “fireworks,” or even “New Year’s resolution.”
Want to raise the stakes? Add a time limit and give extra points for particularly creative performances. You’ll find everyone laughing in no time, and it’s a fantastic way to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
2. New Year’s Eve Bingo
Bingo is an easy game to set up, and it’s especially fun when you create a custom bingo card with New Year’s Eve-related words. Think of things like “countdown,” “champagne,” “party hat,” and “midnight kiss.” As you play, check off the words you hear during the night. The first to complete a line of five wins!
This game is perfect for people of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents. Plus, you can get creative with the prizes, offering festive goodies like noisemakers or party hats.
3. Guess the Resolution
Everyone has their own way of ringing in the New Year, but have you ever wondered what everyone’s resolutions are? In this game, each person writes down their New Year’s resolution on a piece of paper and folds it up. Then, someone reads each one aloud, and everyone has to guess whose resolution it is.
It’s a fun way to learn more about your family’s goals and aspirations for the year ahead. Plus, it’s sure to bring plenty of laughs as people try to guess who wants to learn to play the guitar or quit eating junk food.
4. Midnight Scavenger Hunt
What better way to ring in the New Year than with a scavenger hunt? Prepare a list of items related to New Year’s Eve, such as a party horn, confetti, a champagne glass, or a sparkler. Hide the items around your home or yard, and then send your family off to find them. The first person or team to gather all the items wins the game.
This game is perfect if you have a mix of kids and adults. It adds a sense of adventure and excitement to the night as everyone races against the clock to find the items before midnight.
5. Balloon Pop Countdown
Here’s a fun twist on the traditional countdown to the New Year. Before the night begins, fill 12 balloons with little slips of paper, each containing a different activity or challenge. These can range from “sing a New Year’s song” to “do a silly dance” or “tell a funny story.”
As the clock nears midnight, pop one balloon every hour or every 10 minutes leading up to the big moment. Not only does this keep everyone on their toes, but it’s a fantastic way to break the ice and get people laughing and moving.
6. New Year’s Eve Pictionary
Pictionary is another great game for all ages, and it’s simple to set up. You only need a whiteboard or some paper, and everyone can take turns drawing clues based on New Year’s Eve themes. You could have categories like “New Year’s traditions,” “celebrations,” or “things that happen at midnight.”
The game gets even more exciting when people start getting creative with their drawings, leading to some funny interpretations. As the night goes on, the drawings get wilder and more ridiculous, ensuring everyone has a blast.
7. New Year’s Eve Trivia
How much do you really know about New Year’s Eve? Time to test your knowledge with a round of trivia! Create questions based on New Year’s history, famous celebrations around the world, and even traditions that families enjoy during the holidays. The person who answers the most questions correctly wins a prize.
If you want to make things more exciting, divide everyone into teams and have a trivia showdown. This adds a competitive edge and will definitely spark some fun debates!
8. New Year’s Eve Kiss and Tell
This game is especially fun for families with younger kids. In this activity, each person is given a piece of paper with a “kiss” mark drawn on it. Everyone then writes down something funny or memorable from the past year. At midnight, share your papers aloud as a group. The goal is to see how many laughs you can get by recalling funny or unexpected moments.
It’s a great way to reminisce about the previous year and start the new one on a joyful note. Plus, it gives everyone an opportunity to laugh at each other’s unique experiences.
9. Time Capsule
Create a time capsule that your family will open on the next New Year’s Eve. Everyone writes a letter to their future selves, sharing their hopes, dreams, and predictions for the upcoming year. Include small keepsakes, such as a current newspaper or a photo from the evening, and seal everything up in a box.
Next year, you’ll have the fun and heartwarming experience of reading what everyone predicted and reflecting on how much has changed.
10. Pin the Hat on the New Year’s Baby
Take a twist on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” with this fun New Year’s Eve game. Instead of a donkey, use a large poster of a baby wearing a party hat. Blindfold the players and have them attempt to pin a party hat on the baby. Whoever gets the closest wins a prize!
This game is simple, silly, and perfect for all ages. It’s great for breaking the ice and getting everyone into the party spirit.
11. New Year’s Eve Bingo with a Twist
This version of Bingo adds a little more excitement to the game. Create a bingo board filled with events that are likely to happen during your New Year’s Eve celebration, such as “someone sings a song,” “the clock strikes midnight,” or “someone spills their drink.” As these events happen throughout the night, players mark them off their boards.
The first player to get a line or full card wins! This twist keeps the game relevant to the festivities while still bringing in that competitive element everyone loves.
12. Party Hat Relay Race
In this game, you’ll need some party hats and a little creativity! Divide the group into two teams. Each team must race to place a party hat on every member, one by one. The twist? The hats must be placed in a particular order: on heads, on knees, on feet—whatever creative rules you want to add.
This game is sure to have everyone laughing as they race to finish. It’s a great way to get the energy moving before the midnight toast.
13. 2023 Memory Lane
Take a moment to reflect on the year gone by. Everyone shares their favorite memory from the past year, and then the group can vote on which memory was the most touching or funny. This is a great bonding activity and a lovely way to appreciate all the good moments before the clock strikes midnight.
14. Spin the Bottle New Year’s Edition
This game puts a fun New Year’s twist on a classic. Instead of the typical kissing game, use the bottle to choose a person who will perform a fun task, like singing a song or telling a joke. It’s lighthearted and guarantees lots of giggles.
15. New Year’s Eve Musical Chairs
Put on your favorite New Year’s Eve playlist and play a round of musical chairs. Everyone walks around the chairs while the music plays, and when it stops, they must quickly find a seat. The last person standing wins the game!
16. New Year’s Eve Word Search
Create a New Year’s Eve-themed word search, with terms like “fireworks,” “midnight,” and “countdown.” It’s a relaxing and fun activity that can be done at the table while you enjoy your snacks and drinks. You can even race to see who finishes their word search first.
17. New Year’s Eve Would You Rather?
This is a great game to spark conversation and get people thinking. Create a list of fun and quirky “Would You Rather” questions, such as “Would you rather have a New Year’s party with no music or no food?” or “Would you rather wear a tuxedo every day or pajamas every day?” Everyone answers, and you’ll learn some surprising facts about each other!
18. New Year’s Eve Karaoke
What’s a celebration without some music? Set up a karaoke machine (or use a karaoke app) and let everyone take turns singing their favorite songs. You can even make it a competition with a prize for the best performance. Whether you’re a professional or just in it for fun, this game is sure to get everyone involved.
19. New Year’s Eve Photo Challenge
Grab your cameras or smartphones and set up a New Year’s Eve photo challenge. Create a list of photo tasks, such as “take a silly selfie,” “capture a funny dance move,” or “get a picture of someone
in a party hat.” The person with the most creative or funniest photos wins!
20. Countdown Ticker-Tape Toss
As you count down to the New Year, make the final moments exciting by tossing ticker tape or confetti into the air. Each person has a handful, and when the countdown hits zero, everyone throws it at the same time. The result? A colorful explosion of fun and a memory you’ll all cherish for years to come.
Conclusion
New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to reflect, have fun, and look ahead to a bright new year. These 20 family-friendly games are designed to keep everyone entertained, from little kids to grandparents. Whether you’re playing charades, singing karaoke, or racing in a party hat relay, these games will make your celebration even more special. So gather your family, start the countdown, and get ready for a night full of laughter, fun, and memories. Happy New Year!