17 Fun New Year’s Eve Party Games That Will Make Your Party Unforgettable

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. See the full details here.

New Year’s Eve parties are the perfect time to ring in the new year with joy and laughter alongside friends and family! And what better way to make your gathering unforgettable than with a lineup of exciting New Year’s party games? I’ve got a collection of New Year’s Eve games for family and friends that are not only fun to play but also super easy to set up.

 

new years eve party games

Whether you’re planning a cozy get-together or a festive bash, these games will bring everyone together, spark laughter, and create extraordinary memories as you welcome the new year. Let’s take a look at some of my absolute favorites!

 

Anagram Race

I remember last New Year’s when we played the Anagram Race—it was such a crowd-pleaser! This game is an excellent icebreaker where everyone races against the clock to rearrange letters and form as many festive words as possible. It’s fast-paced and hilarious, perfect for kicking off the night.

The best part? Each person comes up with different words, making the game feel fresh every time. We thought it would be easy, but once that timer was set, it became much more intense—and fun!

Get your New Year’s Anagram Race here!

 

A to Z New Year’s Race

Another lively game we love is the A to Z New Year’s Race. Guests are challenged to come up with New Year’ s-related words for each letter of the alphabet. It’s super simple and perfect for any age group!

Last year, it was a riot seeing the creative (and often funny) words people came up with. The ticking timer definitely added pressure and laughs.

Grab your A to Z New Year’s Race now!

 

Answer Fast

Get ready to think on your feet with Answer Fast: New Year’s Edition! The goal is to come up with three answers in each holiday-themed category as quickly as possible.

We played this at our family New Year’s party, and everyone was in stitches seeing what people shouted out under pressure. It’s fast, silly, and full of laughter!

You can print and play this game in no time.

Ready, set, answer!

 

New Year’s Around the World

New Year’s Around the World mixes a little bit of learning with festive fun. In this game, players try to guess the correct translation of popular New Year’s phrases in different languages. It’s surprisingly tricky and always brings a few giggles!

We loved playing this with a group of friends from different cultural backgrounds—it made the game even more meaningful.

Download New Year’s Around the World here!

 

Candy Dice

Who doesn’t love a sweet treat during the festivities? The Candy Dice game combines candy with a little bit of luck. It’s all about rolling dice and gaining, passing, or stealing candy. Perfect for family gatherings, and no one leaves empty-handed!

Get your Candy Dice game here!

 

New Year’s Charades

You can’t go wrong with a classic game of Charades, especially with a New Year’s twist! Whether you’re acting out resolutions, famous New Year’s songs, or countdown activities, it’s guaranteed to get everyone moving and laughing.

We played this at our last office New Year’s party, and people really got into it—lots of big gestures and belly laughs.

Download your New Year’s Charades here!

 

Selfie Scavenger Hunt: New Year’s Edition

Let your guests take the fun digital with the Selfie Scavenger Hunt!

Have them race to complete a list of festive photo prompts—like snapping a pic with a party hat or capturing a group countdown moment.

It’s a modern twist that’ll keep the party going (and your camera roll full)!

Download the Selfie Scavenger Hunt game now.

 

Easy New Year’s Word Search

Need a quieter moment or something for the younger crowd? The Easy New Year’s Word Search is filled with festive words that are fun and relaxing to find. It’s perfect for a calm break amidst the excitement.

 

Tricky New Year’s Word Search

For the puzzle pros, the Tricky New Year’s Word Search steps up the challenge with words hidden in every direction. Teens and adults love this one!

 

Ever or Never

Get to know your guests better with Ever or Never: New Year’s Edition. Prompts like “Ever stayed up all night on New Year’s Eve?” or “Never made a resolution?” will spark fun conversations and maybe even a few confessions!

We played this at our annual New Year’s family gathering once a few years back, and it was so interesting to hear everyone’s stories.

Such a fun way to connect!

Grab yours here.

 

Find the Guest

Find the Guest is the ultimate icebreaker! Guests mingle to find others who match the descriptions on their sheets—like “born in January” or “has traveled abroad for New Year’s.”

This game always gets people up and moving right away, making it perfect for the start of any party.

 

Find the Guest BINGO

Find the Guest BINGO combines the social aspect of mingling with the fun of a classic BINGO game. It’s a perfect way to get people talking and sharing laughs as they fill in their cards with matching guest traits.

 

Finish the Phrase

Finish the Phrase is always a surprise! Start a festive phrase, and guests have to finish it. The answers? As unpredictable as you can imagine! We played this last New Year’s, and the responses were so creative (and sometimes downright hilarious).

 

Pass the Prize

Pass the Prize is perfect for gift exchanges! Read a funny New Year’s poem aloud, with “RIGHT” and “LEFT” woven into the story. As each word is spoken, guests pass the gift accordingly. It’s a lively, heartwarming way to give out prizes or gifts.

This game is such a hit at any age—perfect for family parties or office celebrations!

 

Roll & Share

With Roll & Share, each roll of the dice gives players a question or prompt to answer about their favorite memories or goals for the upcoming year.

It’s a simple but sweet way to share stories and bond with your guests.

Check it out here.

 

Scattergories

Give Scattergories a festive spin!

Think fast and come up with answers that match the letter for New Year’s categories like “Resolutions” or “Party Foods.”

It’s a hilarious game that gets everyone thinking outside the box.

 

This or That (Would You Rather?)

In This or That, players choose between two festive options. Would you rather “watch the ball drop in Times Square” or “have a cozy night in with friends”? It’s perfect for sparking laughs and friendly debates!

 

New Year’s Trivia

Put your guests’ knowledge to the test with New Year’s Trivia! From facts about global celebrations to fun customs, it’s a fantastic way to engage the whole crowd.

 

True or False

True or False is perfect for seeing how much your guests know about New Year’s traditions and legends. Players guess whether each statement is fact or fiction—it’s always fun to see who knows their stuff!

 

What’s On Your Phone?

Bring out the tech with What’s On Your Phone? Guests search their phones for New Year’s-themed items—like a picture of fireworks or a party playlist—to score points. It’s perfect for tech-savvy crowds!

 

Try Not To Say

In Try Not to Say, saying the ‘magic word’ could cost you! Throughout the event, guests try to avoid saying a specific word, like “resolution” or “midnight.” It’s a fun and sneaky game that keeps everyone on their toes!

 

Guess Who

Guess Who is all about figuring out which guest is most likely to do something—like “most likely to make a bold resolution” or “most likely to fall asleep before midnight.” It’s hilarious and gets everyone involved!

 

Bucket List

Encourage your guests to think about the year ahead with a Bucket List activity. Provide worksheets with prompts like “Learn,” “Explore,” “Create,” and have guests write down their aspirations.

 

New Year’s Eve Resolutions

Similar to the bucket list, this New Year’s Resolution activity focuses on setting resolutions. It’s a meaningful way to reflect and share goals with friends and family.

 

Year in Review

Have guests reflect on the past year—their highlights, what they’ve learned, and what they’re grateful for. This heartfelt Year In Review activity brings everyone closer.

Each of these games brings fun, connection, and a whole lot of laughter to your New Year’s Eve party. They’re quick to set up and fit perfectly with any party size, whether you’re hosting games for big groups or an intimate family gathering.

Don’t wait—download your favorites now and get ready for a New Year’s party everyone will be talking about!

 

Oh, and by the way…

Why stress over planning just one or two games when you can grab the ultimate New Year’s Eve MEGA-bundle of 29 games?

This pack has all the New Year’s party games you need to throw the most amazing bash ever—stress-free!

Grab this bundle now and make party planning a breeze.

Have fun at your event!

Author

  • Hi, I'm Alex!

    Hi, I’m Alex, and I’m obsessed with making creative and fun activities and games for parties and events! When I’m not making memories with my little boy, you can find me practicing yoga tricks, cooking delicious meals, or curled up with a good book!

    View all posts
Alex
Alex

Hi, I’m Alex, and I’m obsessed with making creative and fun activities and games for parties and events! When I’m not making memories with my little boy, you can find me practicing yoga tricks, cooking delicious meals, or curled up with a good book!