37 Teen Party Games That Actually Get Them Playing

Looking for fun, easy party games for teens? This guide brings you a big list of tried and tested favourites that are perfect for birthdays, sleepovers or any get-together. So, if you want teen party games that actually get them playing, you’re in the right place.

Teen parties can be a mixed bag. Some kids want loud, active games. Others want something calmer that still feels fun and not babyish.

That’s why I’ve put together this collection of games that work well for teenagers. Most are simple to set up, don’t need loads of equipment and help everyone feel included.

Inside, you’ll find clear instructions, quick supply lists and easy variations so you can make each game fit your group and your space.

By the end, you’ll have a ready-made menu of teen party games you can pick from, mix and match and save for the next party too.

Quick Jump To A Game

1. Football
2. Dodgeball
3. Benchball
4. Circle Ball Game
5. Empires
6. Standing Long Jump Contest
7. Long Rope Skipping Challenge
8. Chinese Whispers
9. Getting To Know You Bingo
10. Wink Murder
11. Ibble Dibble
12. Poison
13. Pass It On
14. Musical Chairs
15. Pass The Parcel
16. Pin The Tail On The Donkey
17. Limbo
18. The Chocolate Game
19. Name That Tune
20. Beer Pong (Non-Alcoholic)
21. Mafia
22. Taskmaster Challenges
23. Pictionary Race
24. Paper Plate Drawing Game
25. After Eight Race
26. Coin Between The Knees Game
27. Balloon Volleyball
28. Balloon Knees Game
29. Loo Roll Mummy Game
30. Cereal Box Pick-Up Game
31. Human Knot Game
32. 3D Twister
33. Problem Solving Games
34. Newspaper Art Game
35. Treasure Hunt
36. Scavenger Hunt
37. Hidden Coin or Sweet Hunt

37 Games That Make A Teenage Party Super Fun

Pick and mix some games from the list to build your party plan. A good mix is a couple of active games, a couple of quick laugh games and one calmer group game for a reset.

1. Football

A relaxed kickabout that teens can jump into without much explaining. Perfect as a warm-up game while everyone arrives.

What You Need

• A football
• Space to play
• Something to mark goals (coats, cones or bags)

How to Play

1. Mark out two goals.
2. Split into teams.
3. Play a short match, then swap teams if you want to keep it fair.

Variation

Play a mini tournament with quick five-minute games.

2. Dodgeball

High-energy, fast-paced and always competitive. Best for outdoor parties with space to move.

What You Need

• Soft balls (foam works best)
• A clear playing area

How to Play

1. Split into two teams.
2. Players throw balls to tag opponents.
3. If a player is hit, they’re out for that round.
4. Last team standing wins.

Variation

Play short rounds so no one is sat out for long.

3. Benchball

A great team game that feels sporty without being too intense. It works well for mixed groups.

What You Need

• A ball
• A bench, step or sturdy low platform

How to Play

1. Split into teams.
2. One player from each team stands on the bench as the catcher.
3. Teams pass the ball and try to get it to their catcher.
4. First team to score a set number of points wins.

Variation

Rotate the catcher role so everyone gets a turn.

4. Circle Ball Game

A casual circle game that feels like football, but lower pressure. Great if you have a mixed sporty and non-sporty crowd.

What You Need

• A ball
• Space to stand in a circle

How to Play

1. Players stand in a circle with legs apart.
2. Kick or roll the ball, trying to score through someone’s legs or a gap (set your own rule).
3. Keep playing until you hit a time limit or score target.

Variation

Make it teams, or add a rule that the ball must be passed before a shot.

5. Empires

An outdoor chasing and territory game that’s brilliant for larger groups with lots of energy.

What You Need

• Outdoor space
• Cones or markers (optional)

How to Play

1. Split players into teams.
2. Mark out a base area for each team.
3. Teams try to tag players and capture territory, using simple rules you explain upfront.

Variation

Keep it simple with a single objective, like capturing a flag.

6. Standing Long Jump Contest

A quick challenge game that’s fun, competitive and easy to run without much prep.

What You Need

• Measuring tape or a way to mark distances
• A safe surface to jump on

How to Play

1. Mark a starting line.
2. Each player gets two jumps.
3. Measure the best jump for each player.
4. Longest jump wins.

Variation

Run it as a team total score challenge.

7. Long Rope Skipping Challenge

A brilliant teamwork game that gets teens cheering for each other.

What You Need

• A long skipping rope
• Space to jump

How to Play

1. Two people turn the rope.
2. Players jump one at a time or as a group.
3. Count how many jumps the team can do before someone trips.

Variation

Try a jump-in relay where each new player has to join without stopping the rope.

8. Chinese Whispers

A quick laugh game that needs zero equipment and works well as a filler between bigger games.

What You Need

• No supplies needed

How to Play

1. Players sit in a line or circle.
2. One player whispers a phrase to the next person.
3. Keep going until it reaches the last person.
4. The last person says it out loud. Compare it to the original.

Variation

Make the phrases teen-relevant, like movie titles or song lyrics.

9. Getting To Know You Bingo

This one is perfect when the group is a mix of friends and not everyone knows each other well yet.

What You Need

• Bingo cards with personal prompts
• Pens

How to Play

1. Give everyone a bingo card.
2. Players walk around and find someone who matches each square.
3. First to get a full line wins.

Variation

Do a quick “best fact learned” share at the end.

10. Wink Murder

A classic circle game with mystery and drama. Teens love the performance element.

What You Need

• Slips of paper
• A pen

How to Play

1. Write “murderer” on one slip and leave the rest blank.
2. Everyone takes a slip and sits in a circle.
3. The murderer winks to eliminate players. Those players wait five seconds then dramatically “die”.
4. Players guess who the murderer is. If guessed correctly, the round ends.

Variation

Add a “detective” slip for an extra twist.

11. Ibble Dibble

A memory game that starts easy and gets chaotic quickly. Great for teens who love trying to stay focused while everyone laughs.

What You Need

• No supplies needed

How to Play

1. Players sit in a circle and agree on a simple repeated phrase and rhythm.
2. Players take turns repeating it and adding the next part in sequence.
3. If someone messes up, they’re out for that round.

Variation

Keep it short at first, then ramp it up once they’re hooked.

12. Poison

A quick reaction game that’s perfect when you need a two-minute reset between bigger games.

What You Need

• A small object (coin, scrunchie or keyring)

How to Play

1. Players sit in a circle with hands behind their backs.
2. Pass the object behind backs while someone counts.
3. When the counter says stop, the player holding the object is out.

Variation

Use music instead of counting, and stop it at random.

13. Pass It On

A simple passing game that’s easy to scale for big groups and works indoors or outside.

What You Need

• One or more small objects to pass
• Music (optional)

How to Play

1. Players stand or sit in a line or circle.
2. Pass the object along as quickly as possible.
3. If it drops, that player is out or the round restarts.

Variation

Pass two objects at once for instant chaos.

14. Musical Chairs

Old-school, loud and competitive. It works best with good music and quick rounds.

What You Need

• Chairs
• Music

How to Play

1. Set chairs in a circle with one fewer chair than players.
2. Play music while players walk around the chairs.
3. Stop the music. Everyone sits. Anyone without a chair is out.
4. Remove a chair and repeat until one player wins.

Variation

Swap chairs for cushions if you’re indoors and want it quieter.

15. Pass The Parcel

This one is only “babyish” if you make it babyish. Teens get competitive fast if the prizes are fun.

What You Need

• A small prize
• Wrapping paper
• Music

How to Play

1. Wrap the prize in multiple layers.
2. Players sit in a circle and pass it while music plays.
3. Stop the music randomly. The person holding it unwraps one layer.
4. Whoever unwraps the final layer wins.

Variation

Add mini challenges between layers for extra laughs.

16. Pin The Tail On The Donkey

A throwback game that’s genuinely fun if you swap the donkey for something teen-friendly.

What You Need

• A large poster (theme it to your party)
• Blindfold
• Sticky notes or cut-outs

How to Play

1. Put the poster on a wall.
2. Blindfold a player and spin them gently.
3. They try to place the cut-out in the right spot.
4. Closest wins.

Variation

Try “Pin the Sunglasses on the Celebrity” or “Pin the Mic on the Pop Star”.

17. Limbo

Simple, active and always fun to watch. It’s a great party game when you want everyone up and moving.

What You Need

• A limbo stick or broom handle
• Music

How to Play

1. Two people hold the stick.
2. Players take turns leaning back to go under it.
3. Lower the stick each round.
4. If a player touches the stick or falls, they’re out.

Variation

Do a “best limbo style” prize as well as the winner.

18. The Chocolate Game

This is a proper classic and teens love the chaos once the timer starts.

What You Need

• A chocolate bar
• Knife and fork
• Gloves
• A dice

How to Play

1. Players sit in a circle with the items in the middle.
2. Players take turns rolling the dice.
3. When someone rolls a six, they put on gloves and try to cut and eat the chocolate with the knife and fork.
4. Keep going until another player rolls a six and takes over.

Variation

Swap chocolate for a wrapped sweet bundle for a bigger prize.

19. Name That Tune

A brilliant teen party game that’s easy to run and instantly gets competitive.

What You Need

• A phone and speaker
• A playlist
• Paper for scorekeeping (optional)

How to Play

1. Play a short clip of a song.
2. Players guess the song title or artist.
3. Award points for correct answers.
4. Highest score wins.

Variation

Do themed rounds like TikTok hits, throwbacks or movie soundtracks.

20. Soda Pop Pong

This teen-friendly twist on the classic always gets competitive. It’s easy to make it party-friendly with water or soda.

What You Need

• Plastic cups
• Ping pong balls
• A table
• Soda pop (optional)

How to Play

1. Arrange cups in triangles at each end of the table.
2. Split into two teams.
3. Teams take turns tossing balls into cups.
4. If a ball lands in a cup, remove it.
5. First team to clear the other side wins.

Variation

Add a few “challenge cups” that trigger a funny task.

Also read: 17 Fun Sleepover Games for Teens – Easy Ideas for a Great Night

21. Mafia

A social deduction game that works brilliantly for older teens. It’s chatty, strategic and keeps everyone hooked.

What You Need

• Role cards or slips of paper
• A group willing to play along

How to Play

1. Assign roles secretly (mafia and townspeople).
2. Play rounds where the mafia eliminates someone and the town tries to guess who the mafia is.
3. Keep going until one side wins.

Variation

Add extra roles like detective or medic for more drama.

22. Taskmaster Challenges

Teens love this because it feels like a show. It also works well when the group has different personalities.

What You Need

• A list of tasks
• Basic props (paper, cups, balloons)
• A timer

How to Play

1. Choose a series of short tasks.
2. Players or teams complete them within a time limit.
3. Award points for creativity, speed or funniest result.

Variation

Let the birthday teen be the judge for maximum fun.

23. Pictionary Race

Fast, loud and easy to run. No artistic talent needed, which is half the fun.

What You Need

• Paper and pens or a whiteboard
• A timer
• A list of prompts

How to Play

1. Split into teams.
2. One player draws while their team guesses.
3. Set a time limit per turn.
4. Most correct answers wins.

Variation

Use themed prompts like movies, celebs or viral trends.

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

24. Paper Plate Drawing Game

This one gets laughs instantly because everyone’s drawings come out wild.

What You Need

• Paper plates
• Pens or markers

How to Play

1. Players hold a plate on their head.
2. Call out what they need to draw.
3. Everyone reveals their picture at the end.

Variation

Make it themed, like “draw your dream celebrity dinner guest”.

25. After Eight Race

A quick, silly challenge that works especially well as a two-minute filler game.

What You Need

• After Eight mints or similar (After Eight Mints are hugely popular in the UK, a good US alternative would be York Peppermint Patties). 

How to Play

1. Each player puts a mint on their forehead.
2. They race to get it into their mouth without using hands.
3. First to eat it wins.

Variation

Try it with mini cookies if you want a bigger challenge.

26. Coin Between The Knees Game

Ridiculously simple and surprisingly competitive.

What You Need

• A coin or small object per player
• A start and finish line

How to Play

1. Players hold the coin between their knees.
2. Race to the finish without dropping it.
3. If it drops, return to the start.

Variation

Play as a relay race in teams.

27. Balloon Volleyball

Easy setup, lots of laughter and it works indoors without breaking anything.

What You Need

• Balloons
• A string or tape line (optional)

How to Play

1. Split into two teams.
2. Bat the balloon back and forth.
3. If it hits the floor, the other team scores a point.

Variation

Add a rule that each side must touch it twice before sending it back.

28. Balloon Knees Game

A simple race that gets chaotic fast, in the best way.

What You Need

• Balloons
• A start and finish line

How to Play

1. Players hold a balloon between their knees.
2. Race to the finish without dropping or popping it.
3. First across wins.

Variation

Play in teams as a relay.

29. Loo Roll Mummy Game

Classic party chaos that works for teens too, especially in teams.

What You Need

• Toilet paper rolls
• A timer

How to Play

1. Split into teams and pick a “mummy”.
2. Set a timer for two minutes.
3. Teams wrap their mummy as fast as they can.
4. Pick a winner for neatest or funniest mummy.

Variation

Do a quick mummy catwalk at the end.

30. Cereal Box Pick-Up Game

A hilarious challenge where everyone looks ridiculous, which is exactly why it works.

What You Need

• An empty cereal box
• Scissors (optional)

How to Play

1. Put the cereal box on the floor.
2. Players must pick it up with their mouth only, hands behind their back.
3. After each round, cut a strip off the box to make it lower.

Variation

Play knock-out style, last player still managing wins.

31. Human Knot Game

A great teamwork game that gets everyone laughing and problem-solving at the same time.

What You Need

• No supplies needed

How to Play

1. Players stand in a circle and grab two random hands.
2. Work together to untangle without letting go.
3. Finish when the group forms a circle again.

Variation

Time each team and see who untangles fastest.

32. 3D Twister

A twist on Twister that makes it more challenging and more chaotic.

What You Need

• A Twister-style setup (mat, chalk circles or taped spots)
• Extra markers or levels if you want it truly 3D

How to Play

1. Set up coloured spots on the floor and optional extra levels.
2. Call moves as you would in Twister.
3. Players follow instructions until someone falls or can’t move.

Variation

Use chalk circles outdoors for a quick DIY version.

33. Problem Solving Games

These are perfect for teens who love puzzles and working things out together.

What You Need

• A set of puzzles, clues or mini challenges
• Paper and pens

How to Play

1. Split into teams.
2. Give each team the same challenge or clue set.
3. First team to solve it wins.

Variation

Do three quick mini puzzles instead of one long one.

34. Newspaper Art Game

A creative team game that works brilliantly when you want something different from running around.

What You Need

• Newspapers
• Tape
• Scissors (optional)

How to Play

1. Split into teams.
2. Set a time limit.
3. Create an outfit, sculpture or object using only newspaper and tape.
4. Vote for the funniest or most impressive creation.

Variation

Theme it, like “red carpet look” or “superhero costume”.

35. Treasure Hunt

A treasure hunt gets teens moving, thinking and laughing, especially if your clues are fun.

What You Need

• Clues (written out in advance)
• A small prize
• Places to hide clues

How to Play

1. Hide clues around your home or garden.
2. Split into teams and give each team the first clue.
3. Teams race to solve clues and find the final prize.

Variation

Add one “challenge clue” where the team must complete a quick task before they get the next clue.

Make life easy on yourself with this Teen Treasure Hunt printable game in the shop.

36. Scavenger Hunt

This is one of the best teen party games for mixed groups because it keeps everyone busy and involved.

What You Need

• A scavenger hunt list
• Bags or baskets
• A small prize (optional)

How to Play

1. Create a list of items to find or tasks to complete.
2. Split into teams and set a time limit.
3. Teams race to collect items or tick off tasks.
4. Most completed wins.

Variation

Add photo challenges like “take a selfie doing your best shocked face”.

Want a ready-made version? There’s a Selfie Scavenger Hunt printable game inside our Teen Games Bundle.

37. Hidden Coin or Sweet Hunt

A simple hunt game that works well when you want something low-effort that still feels exciting.

What You Need

• Wrapped sweets or coins
• Places to hide them

How to Play

1. Hide the items before the party.
2. Set a time limit and let the teens search.
3. Whoever finds the most wins.

Variation

Hide a few “golden” items worth extra points.

Good To Know...

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

Aim for four to six games, with a mix of active and calmer ones. It’s smart to keep a couple of quick games in your back pocket too.

What games work best for big groups of teens?

Dodgeball, Scavenger Hunt, Musical Chairs and Taskmaster-style challenges work well because they keep the group moving and involved.

What if I need teen party games with no equipment?

Try Chinese Whispers, Wink Murder, Ibble Dibble and the Human Knot. They’re fun, quick and don’t need supplies.

If you want your teen party games planned and sorted in minutes, take a look at the Teen Games Bundle. It’s packed with ready-to-print games that are fun, modern and actually work for this age group.

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