23 Best Party Games for Teens (2025) – Fun Ideas for a GOAT Party

Looking for fun, easy party games for teens? This guide brings you 23 hand-picked favourites  that are perfect for birthdays, sleepovers or any get-together. In short, this list of games, peppered with useful tips and ideas, will help you plan a party that will go down as the GOAT!

Organising a party for teenagers isn’t always straightforward. With so many different personalities and interests, it’s easy to worry about how you’ll keep everyone having fun.

That’s why I’ve put together this collection of games that always work well with teens. They’re easy to set up, don’t need loads of equipment, and help everyone feel included—whether you’ve got a big crowd or just a few friends at home.

Inside, you’ll find clear instructions, quick supply lists, and creative twists for every game. You can try just a few or work through the whole list for a party that everyone will remember for the right reasons.

By the end, you’ll have new ideas, confidence and a ready-made plan to help your teen’s next party go off without a hitch.

Quick Jump To A Game

1. Junk in the Trunk
2. Red Cup Pong
3. Scavenger Hunt
4. ABC Expose You
5. Twister
6. Cookie Face Challenge
7. Balloon Blow
8. Spin a Dare
9. Wink Murder
10. Pictionary
11. Cheese Ball Face
12. Knees and Elbows
13. TP Mummy
14. Treasure Hunt
15. Escape Room at Home
16. What's in the Box?
17. This or That
18. Would You Rather
19. Two Truths and a Lie
20. Never Have I Ever
21. Who Am I?
22. Fortune Teller Game
23. Blindfold Makeup Artist

23 Games That Make A Teenage Party Super Fun

Pick and mix some games from the list to add to your party plan. 

1. Junk in the Trunk

Get everyone moving and laughing with this high-energy icebreaker. Players shake ping pong balls out of a tissue box strapped to their back—no hands allowed!

What You Need

• Empty tissue box for each player
• Eight ping pong balls per box
• Belt or ribbon
• Music and a timer

How to Play

1. Fasten the tissue box to a belt so it sits on the player’s lower back, opening facing out.
2. Fill each box with eight ping pong balls.
3. Players take turns. When the timer starts, they have one minute to jump, dance or shake until all the balls have fallen out. Hands can’t touch the box!
4. The player who empties their box the fastest wins.

Variation

Try this with glow sticks or mini plush toys for a themed party, or play in teams for a relay version.

See the game in action here... 

3. Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is perfect for getting everyone up and exploring. Teams race to find items or complete silly challenges before time runs out.

What You Need

• List of items or tasks to find/complete
• Paper bags or buckets
• Small prize for the winning team

How to Play

1. Hide items around your space or garden before the party. Make a list for each team.
2. Split into teams. Give each team a bag and a list.
3. Set a time limit and send everyone off. The team that finds the most items or finishes first wins.

Variation

Add photo challenges (“snap a selfie with the birthday cake”) or riddles as clues for a tougher hunt.

Make life easy on yourself with this Selfie Scavenger Hunt printable game in our Teen Games Bundle

4. ABC Expose You

A trending group game that gets everyone talking. Players ask and answer questions in alphabetical order—great for breaking the ice and sharing a laugh.

What You Need

• Let the party guests come up with their own questions starting from A.... 

How to Play

1. Sit in a circle. One player starts with “A” and asks someone a question starting with that letter.
2. The next player does “B”, and so on through the alphabet.
3. If someone can’t think of a question or answer, they’re out for the round.

Variation

Go backwards through the alphabet or set a timer for an extra challenge.

5. Twister

This classic game gets everyone moving and tangled up in fits of laughter. Twister is  perfect for breaking the ice at the start of a party and works with any group size.

What You Need

• Twister game set
  

How to Play

1. Lay out the mat on a flat surface.
2. The caller spins the spinner and calls out the move.
3. Players follow the instructions, putting hands and feet on the right colour spots.
4. If you fall or touch the mat with anything else, you’re out. Last player left wins.

Variation

Make it outdoors with chalk circles on the sidewalk, or play “blindfolded” for a challenge.

6. Cookie Face Challenge

This quick, silly game gets everyone laughing in seconds. Players race to move a cookie from their forehead to their mouth—no hands allowed.

What You Need

• A biscuit or cookie for each player

How to Play

1. Each player places a cookie on their forehead while tilting their head back.
2. Without using hands, they must move it down their face and into their mouth.
3. If the cookie drops, start again. First person to eat theirs wins.

Variation

Try with mini doughnuts or play in teams for a relay-style race.

Here's the Cookie Face Challenge being played...

7. Balloon Blow

Fast-paced and a little chaotic, Balloon Blow gets everyone working together. Teams compete to blow up and tie as many balloons as possible in a set time.

What You Need

• Bags of balloons
• Space to play

How to Play

1. Split into teams. Each team has a blower and a tyer.
2. Set a timer for two minutes.
3. The blower inflates, the tyer ties. No hands allowed for tying—try only using elbows or mouths!
4. The team with the most balloons at the end wins.

Variation

Make it a “balloon animal” contest or award a prize for the biggest balloon.

8. Spin a Dare

A party favourite, Spin a Dare adds suspense and plenty of laughs. Players spin a bottle and complete random dares drawn from a bowl.

What You Need

• Bottle for spinning
• Slips of paper with dares
• Bowl

How to Play

1. Sit in a circle. Place the bottle in the centre.
2. One person spins. Whoever it points to picks a dare from the bowl and must do it.
3. Keep going until everyone’s had a turn or the dares run out.

Variation

Add “truth” slips for a mix of truth-or-dare, or theme your dares for birthdays or holidays.

9. Wink Murder

A classic game of mystery and drama. One player is secretly the “murderer”, trying to wink at others without being caught.

What You Need

• Slips of paper
• Pen

How to Play

1. Write “murderer” on one slip, the rest blank. Everyone takes one.
2. Sit in a circle. The murderer “kills” others by winking at them. Victims count to five, then dramatically fall.
3. Detectives try to identify the murderer before too many are out.

Variation

Play with two murderers for a big group, or add a detective role for extra challenge.

10. Pictionary

Pictionary is easy to set up and a great way to get everyone involved, no artistic talent required. Teams race to guess what’s being drawn before time runs out.

What You Need

• Pictionary set or paper and pens
• Timer

How to Play

1. Split into teams. One player draws, the others guess.
2. Pick a word or phrase, set the timer for a minute.
3. Drawer can’t use letters or numbers. Team with the most correct answers wins.

Variation

Make your own themed cards (movies, food, TV shows) or play “opposite hand” for extra laughs.

Take the easy route... there's a set of Pictionary prompts in the Teen Games Bundle. 

11. Cheese Ball Face

Messy but hilarious, Cheese Ball Face is always a hit. One player covers their face with cream, others throw cheese balls to see how many will stick.

What You Need

• Cheese balls or Cheetos
• Shaving cream or whipped cream

How to Play

1. One player covers their face in cream.
2. Others throw cheese balls for one minute, trying to stick as many as possible.
3. The player with the most stuck wins.

Variation

Try a “team face-off” or use marshmallows for a less messy version.

Here's some 'grown ups' (ahem) playing the game... 

12. Knees and Elbows

This relay game is a great icebreaker for bigger groups. Players pass a balloon or soft ball using only their knees and elbows—no hands!

What You Need

• Balloon or soft ball

How to Play

1. Stand in a circle. Hold the object between knees.
2. Pass it around using only knees and elbows. If it drops, start again.
3. First group to get it all the way round wins.

Variation

Add music and reverse direction when the beat changes.

13. TP Mummy

A quick, silly game that’s perfect for a crowd. Teams race to wrap a “mummy” in toilet paper from head to toe.

What You Need

• Toilet paper rolls (one per team)

How to Play

1. Split into teams. Each picks a “mummy”.
2. Set a timer. Teams have to wrap their mummy as neatly (or as fast) as possible.
3. The neatest or quickest mummy wins a prize.

Variation

Add a “mummy pose-off” or challenge teams to decorate their mummy with party props.

Here's a game in action...

14. Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt always gets everyone racing around and thinking on their feet. Teams solve clues to find a hidden prize.

What You Need

• Pre-made clues
• Hidden prize

How to Play

1. Hide clues around the house or garden, each leading to the next.
2. Split into teams and give each their first clue.
3. First team to solve all clues and find the prize wins.

Variation

Theme your clues for birthdays, holidays or pop culture. Add detours or challenges at certain clues.

Grab our Teen Treasure Hunt printable game in the shop. 

15. Escape Room at Home

Bring the thrill of an escape room to your own home with a set of puzzles and clues. Great for teens who love a challenge and teamwork.

What You Need

• Escape room kit (printable or purchased)
• Puzzles or clues

How to Play

1. Set up clues and puzzles in different rooms.
2. Split into teams and set a time limit.
3. Teams must solve all puzzles and “escape” before time runs out.

Variation

Write your own clues for a themed party, or add a “sabotage” rule where teams can swap clues.

16. What's in the Box?

This mystery game is full of surprises. Players reach into a box and try to guess the mystery items by touch alone.

What You Need

• Large box with a hand hole
• Mystery items

How to Play

1. Place a secret item in the box, no peeking.
2. Players take turns reaching in and guessing what it is by touch.
3. Correct guesses win a point or a prize.

Variation

Use themed items or “gross” textures (cooked spaghetti, peeled grapes) for extra laughs.

17. This or That

A quick, light-hearted game that gets everyone sharing opinions. Players choose between two options—no overthinking allowed.

What You Need

• List of ‘This or That’ questions

How to Play

1. One player asks a ‘this or that’ question (“chips or pretzels?” “TV or movies?”).
2. Everyone gives their answer—no explanations unless you want to!
3. Keep going rapid-fire for quick laughs.

Variation

Let everyone write their own questions or make it themed for the party.

Our mini bundle of teen games (six games) has a ready-to-go This Or That game. 

18. Would You Rather

Would You Rather always sparks debate and works for any group. Ask silly, tricky or thoughtful questions and see where the conversation goes.

What You Need

• List of Would You Rather questions (print or write your own)

How to Play

1. Take turns asking “Would you rather…” questions.
2. Everyone answers, and you can discuss choices if you like.

Variation

Turn it into a moving game—stand on one side of the room for each answer, or play elimination style.

I've put together a huge list of Would You Rather questions for teens and divided them up into categories, so go fish amongst the questions to put together the perfect selection. 

19. Two Truths and a Lie

A classic icebreaker that always brings out surprises. Players share two true facts and one lie, and the group guesses which is which.

What You Need

• It's quite handy to have paper and pens to hands so players can work out their truths and lies. 

How to Play

1. Each person shares three statements about themselves—two true, one a lie.
2. The group guesses which is the lie.
3. Take turns until everyone has played.

Variation

Award a point for every lie that fools the group, or play in teams for a big group.

20. Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever is a revealing and often hilarious group game. Players find out surprising things about each other in a light-hearted way.

What You Need

• None

How to Play

1. Sit in a circle. Each player starts with ten fingers up.
2. Take turns saying “Never have I ever…” followed by something you’ve never done.
3. Anyone who has done it puts a finger down. Last one with fingers up wins.

Variation

Use sweets or tokens instead of fingers for a party-friendly spin.

21. Who Am I?

A fun guessing game that gets everyone talking. Players try to work out which celebrity or character is stuck to their forehead.

What You Need

• Sticky notes
• Pen

How to Play

1. Write a celebrity or character on a sticky note for each player. Stick it to their forehead (no peeking).
2. Players take turns asking yes/no questions to work out who they are.
3. First to guess their identity wins.

Variation

Stick to a theme (movies, music, sports) or let everyone pick their own for a wild mix.

22. Fortune Teller Game

A silly, quick-fire game that’s all about random and funny fortunes. Perfect for winding down or filling a gap between bigger games.

What You Need

• Squares of paper to make the fortune tellers
• Pens
  

How to Play

1. Each guest takes it in turn to have their fortune told by the person working the fortune teller
2. The guest first chooses a colour, then a number, which in turn reveals their fortune
   

23. Blindfold Makeup Artist

A creative, hilarious game that’s perfect for sleepovers or parties with outgoing guests. Teams compete to create the best (or silliest) makeover—blindfolded!

What You Need

• Makeup supplies (nothing expensive)
• Two blindfolds

How to Play

1. Split into pairs. One is the blindfolded “artist”, the other is the “model”.
2. Teammates give instructions as the artist applies makeup, all while blindfolded.
3. Best, most creative, or funniest look wins.

Variation

Do a “before and after” photo contest, or add a time limit for each makeover.

Here's the Merrell Twins doing the challenge...

Well that's a wrap on the games, now here are some ideas and tips to help you plan the party... 

Good To Know...

How many party games should I plan for a teen party?

Aim for four to six games to keep the party moving, with a mix of active and quieter options. It’s always helpful to have a few backup ideas.

What games work best for big groups of teens?

Scavenger Hunt, Balloon Blow, Red Cup Pong and Twister are great for larger groups. Team games and relays help everyone get involved.

Can these games be played outside?

Most of these games work indoors or outdoors. Just make sure you have enough space and check the weather if you’re planning to play outside.

What if I need a game with no equipment?

Try Would You Rather, Two Truths and a Lie, Never Have I Ever or This or That—they only need people and a bit of imagination.

How do I keep teens engaged throughout the party?

Mix up your games, keep things moving, and offer small prizes or treats for the winners. Let the group help choose the next game to keep everyone interested.

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