Planning a friend or family gathering and looking for the best games to keep your guests entertained? This post is all about games to play at a large gathering.
When coming together with a group of people – whether that be with friends or family or even people I don’t know – I think some of the best ways to break the ice is to play games!
I think there is something silly and lighthearted about playing games. You take down your walls of insecurity and laugh the night away.
Some of THE BEST memories I have ever had are times when there has been a gathering and we sat down to play some games together. Ahh, the joys.
I’ve gathered some of my favorite adult games that we have come to love or are super excited to try out. These are simple, but I guarantee they will be hilarious to play!
*Some tips before we begin: Most of these games are for several people, not just two or four people. Some of these games might have cards that are inappropriate for some groups. You may want to go through the cards beforehand or let your audience know.
This post is all about gathering games activites.
BEST ADULT GATHERING GAMES:
1. The Bowl Game
This game is one of the BEST games I turn to! It is an icebreaker game. It helps you learn something new about someone you may have never thought to ask. It exposes hilarious stories and true inside jokes for years to come!
Every time we play this game with a group, we laugh and laugh the night away! I cannot state any better how well this game will work for a bigger-sized group. We have played it with anywhere from 12 to 15 people – and I know you can play with many more people if you have the time. The time will fly and memories will be made!
It is famously known by Jordan Page. It is a wonderfully, simple game. You just have to have some paper around to cut into strips and some pencils/pens.
2. Never Have I Ever
“Never have I ever… licked the brownie bowl.” “Smelled my clothes to see if they were too dirty to wear again.”
I love how the video on the Never Have I Ever Family Edition (linked below) says in the video, “What better way to enjoy a night with each other than getting rewarded for the silliest things you’ve ever done.”
Fun to get to know people… and maybe have some stories that go along with what you’re confessing.
3. The Game Of Things…
*In the video on Amazon, it does say some things that are gross/inappropriate. It says it is recommended for kids 10 and older or definitely for a group of adults! The more people who play this game, the better!
The game comes with a bunch of topic cards. From the different topics/questions such as, “Things…. you can’t get away with” and “Things…. people do when no one is looking.” From this topic, you all write down your answers and one person guesses who wrote the answers.
So you can get to know people by playing this game because whatever answer comes to the person’s mind, may mean they have a funny insight or story about that answer they put.
Someone mentioned in the comments that they took it on a family vacation and everyone loved it. I think that would be a fun idea for something to do during those “pockets” of time you have during a trip that is more relaxed.
One complaint about this game is that if you are playing with others that know your handwriting it can give it away. So I looked into it a bit more and found that the creators of the game made an app! This is a more eco-friendly option and you won’t have the problem of knowing each other’s handwriting because you are simply typing your answers. You can also easily play this game over Zoom or FaceTime easily.
HERE is another version of the game.
4. Telestrations
This game is like the game, “Telephone.” It is one of my FAVORITE! I love it because of all of the miscommunication that happens. There have been times I may have or may have been super close to peeing my pants! HAHA! It’s even better if you’re with a group who aren’t the best artists… but even if you are, the thing that might make them have a harder time is the timer!
To play the game, you only have a few seconds to draw whatever the card in the game says to draw. After you draw it, you pass your paper to the next person on your left to decipher.
They try to figure out what you drew, and then – depending on which version you pay – they either write a word (or sentence) that describes what they see or they draw a picture of what they see too. You cover up the version the first person drew. Then, you keep on passing to the left, covering up the versions the previous people have done so that it is a mystery what the first person (and others in front of you in the line) drew. You keep on playing until it reaches the original person.
The laughter is contagious.
5. Codenames
This might be better for a smaller crowd. No more than 8 I would say?
We played it with some cousins, some of my sister’s friends, and mine from high school, and online during the pandemic with another couple.
It is a fantastic hit for an actual game where you don’t have to talk a lot if you don’t want to. The main thing you will be doing is problem-solving and brainstorming with your team!
6. Taboo
This is a classic game!
Divide into two teams. One person from the team picks a card and cannot say the word on the word or the words below it. They have to try to explain what the word is to their team. You cannot do any gestures or sounds. If you do and mess up, the other team can squeak you with the squeaky toy.
An easy, simple, classic game to play that’s been around for a while!
7. Chocolate Game
We played this game a bunch as teenagers! I feel like it would be a fun favorite with a group that isn’t too big, but definitely not too small. I would say 7-10 people would be perfect. You could have a few more people, but I feel that you wouldn’t want some people to feel out of the game if they don’t get to participate. This game is very similar to the Skittles game in the fact that you need to roll doubles with two dice in order to have your chance to unwrap the chocolate. And you only get to unwrap the chocolate after you get dressed up in the items that are allotted.
Games I’ve Played At Family Reunions that have been a hit:
8. Spoons
HERE are the rules to play The Spoons Game (Easy Wiki instructions). HERE is a video of how to play the game. (This was a cool website I found just now.)
It’s a fun game that requires some movement if you choose the play the ultimate spoons game where you hide or place the spoons around the room and then try to dash to get one once someone lays down all four of their cards that are the same.
9. Scum
This is a card game that we played with Rook cards. HERE are some Rook cards. The link attached below is for the game that is very similar but all of the cards are specifically designed for the game. The video attached to the Amazon game explains the game perfectly.
To be honest, I can’t remember how we set up the Rook cards to play the game with the Wild card (can match any numbered when played at the same time, and when played alone, it will match the number higher than the person’s previous card in the discard pile), Crown card (which wins the round), “Rank up” card (increasing the player’s value of the card or cards by one), and I don’t think we used a “Rank down” card.
This game is definitely one that takes a few rounds and is great for a long time game night with a big group. When we played when I was an older teen at family reunions, we would play with groups of up to 20+ people. We had several picnic tables lined up. The children were all asleep while we had an “adults” game night at night. It was fantastic. So many fun memories and laughs – especially when you play with those who are competitive. It’s a great time to chat with those nearby you too. And then when it’s your turn you can play.
10. Lier/Bluff
HERE is Wiki with the instructions and a video at the end with how to play with a group. HERE is a video with a couple that does a great job on how to play the game as well.
When we were older/mid-teen age, my cousins and I would sit around a picnic table and play this game at any of the family reunions we had over the summer. It was a great hit and an easy go-to game for us.
Some of my cousins were really good at math and would make probability statements and get all into math. It made for some great laughs and was fun to watch.
11. Backward Charades
Usually on charades, one person has a word and they look at it, and then they act it out in front of everyone.
But with backward charades, the people at the party are divided into two teams. On team A (for example), everyone but one person knows the word on the card and acts it out. The one person that doesn’t know the word tries to guess what everyone is acting out.
The other team (team B) waits while this is all happening and gets to watch a funny show, which makes great entertainment!
With the two teams, you get to compete against each other for the most amount of wins you get as a team!
*Attached in the link below is the regular game of party charades. HERE is a speed version of Charades if you want to try it out. (Amazon’s Choice, great for all ages)
12. Smurf
This is a verb or “an action” word game.
You think of a verb while someone is out of the room, then they come in and ask questions like, “Would you Smurf in front of people?” And if the secret word was “wave” you would say “yes” but if it was brushing your teeth you might giggle and say no.
For this game, I looked up, “Action Verb Games” on Amazon to see what results would pop up. One is attached below. HERE is another option.
Also, HERE is a microphone if you want to speak loudly in front of a larger gathering or small crowd.
13. Water Cup
This would be a game to play during the summer or when it’s hot outside.
Each sits in a line of chairs. They each have a bucket in their hand. (Everyone can be blindfolded too if you want to add an extra level of adventure.). The first person dumps his bucket of water into a big water bucket filled with lots of water. Or already has it filled up with water if you choose to have everyone blindfolded. As everyone is sitting in the chairs, the first person bumps his bucket of water over his head. The person sitting directly behind him tries to catch the most water they can and then pass the water over their head to the next person.
You can line up with two teams of people sitting in chairs so that you can see who actually gets the most water successfully in the last bucket. (You can have the last person in the line dump their bucket of whatever amount is left in their bucket.) (Whatever amount has been left from each person pouring the water over their heads into each others’ buckets. Haha!).
Attached, are some collapsable buckets that I feel would be perfect if you like to play this game! It would take little space and you can use the buckets for other activities.
14. Werewolf
Each person has a role and they try to find out who is the werewolf in the group…3-10 people… or more if you want to play with more “villagers.”
Such a great hidden gem many haven’t heard of and in its own way is a classic I believe. The newer version puts an even more fun twist than the original because there are more parts and characters for people to play.
15. Suck up the Skittles
We used to play this game a lot in my teen years at parties! It was truly a classic – and a super fun one. It doesn’t require talking or chit-chatting. You just need to have a group that wants to have a good time and loves having a challenge! It is crazy funny to see how competitive some people get with this game. There will be sure to be some laughs as you are all racing to get the most Skittles sucked up before the next person rolls doubles with the dice.
HERE are some plastic straws and attached in the link are the Skittles.
16. Scattegories
I feel like this is a tried and true go-to for baby showers! I think this would be a good game to go to if you make it creative for your group. You can tailor the categories to something you all are about or a theme!
HERE are some instructions on how to play scattegories. Essentially, you make any sort of list or go by any sort of theme. You have everyone write down all of the words they can think about that correlate with that list/theme you thought of. The players have to hurry fast to write down as many words that come to their mind as possible! There is a timer. After the timer goes off, the team goes around in a circle and says out loud which words they chose. Everyone has to cross off whatever words someone else already thought of. Whoever has the most words leftover that no one else said, is the winner! This makes you think more creatively in the little time you have! Enjoy!
I found lots of options on the web! HERE is a bunch of free printables. Also, HERE are some more.
17. What Do You Meme
This is a PERFECT game for close families. I have found it great to share stories and be silly. Recalling silly memories is a big-time hit for us. HERE is also a version of What Do You Meme – Family Edition.
*Tip*: The game What Do You Meme is not the best game to play if you are playing with a group whom you don’t know as well or don’t have as many “inside jokes” together.
Large Group Games I don’t particularly like that are popular:
- The Voting Game. Despite the practically 5 stars with 2867+ reviews so far, I don’t particularly like this type of game. I don’t think it’s the nicest to call people out for their weaknesses. No matter if it’s a joke or just poking around for fun. It would not be my personal go-to game or a game I would have in my house.
- Cards Against Humanity. It seems too dirty for me. It’s like apples to apples but with language on the cards that is more sexual or for adults. Obviously, many people like it according to all of the five-star reviews alone on Amazon (and there are currently 131,308 reviews total).
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