I love hosting weekend game parties. The whole group is invited to bring their families along for an extended day of gaming.
These events are wholesome and fun ways to catch up with everyone and their families. Gaming is light and there is plenty of laughter and socializing.
Here are ten of my favorite party games that would be great for your next game party. They are light and short, emphasizing the social aspect of gaming instead of strategy. Some of these games need a bit of room to spread out and can be loud, but that just adds to the fun!
Party Games
Snow Tails (Racing Game) Can you steer your dog sled to win the race? This racing game uses an interesting mechanic to keep your sled balanced as you race around the track, avoiding obstacles.
Celestia (Press Your Luck) We believe in you, Captain! Let’s all climb aboard the airship and see how far we fly. Wait too long to jump off and you might end up with no points if the ship crashes.
Betrayal at House on the Hill (Cooperative/Hidden Traitor) We start out exploring the haunted house together. Suddenly one of us TURNS against the rest! The scenario book with hundreds of plot twists and the nicely painted miniatures add to the experience.
Werewolf (Social Deduction) There are werewolves hiding amongst us in this sleepy village. Can we find and lynch them before they eat us all?! You can try out this game using a regular deck of cards. (Face cards for werewolves, number cards for villagers.)
Cash ‘n Guns (Bluffing Game) Who gets the most loot after the bank heist? Get greedy and someone might shoot you with their foam pretend gun. But is it a bullet or a blank?
Fireball Island (Action/Movement) Enjoy collecting treasure on scenic Fireball Island. But be wary! The volcano may spew lava marbles at your miniature, knocking you off track. Fun to play or just to watch.
PitchCar (Dexterity) Flick your car around the track to see who the winner is. Combining multiple sets can let you create some huge, epic racetracks.
Codenames (Word Guessing) Each team tries to guess their cards based on one-word hints given by their leader. But guess the wrong card and the bomb may go off!
The Red Dragon Inn (Elimination) You look thirsty, my friend – have a drink! The dungeon was cleared of monsters and the heroes are celebrating at the tavern. Pass drink cards to the other heroes, so you end up the last one standing.
Dixit (Judging) See if you can guess which picture corresponds to the vague clue given by the current clue giver. The beautiful but bizarre artwork on the cards in this game sets it apart. Many expansions are available to mix things up.
Click here to see all of the games I recommend for your board game collection.
Bitzy the Bard
“Life is an adventure story and you are the star. Choose to play a hero!”
