Halloween Party Games that will be a big hit with your group of friends! All you need is paper, pens, and a pair of scissors!
If there is something I know well, it’s how to get an instant game together for a group. Whether it is a big family gathering, a bunch of friends hanging out, or an official party. Nothing makes those times together better than a game.
Here are my top 5 Instant Games to Play with a Halloween Twist
No need to buy anything for these games. But if you want to skip coming up with Halloween words and phrases for any of these games. You can grab my 3-page list for only a dollar!
Halloween Celebrity Name Game
This game is best to play with between 7-20 people.
To Begin:
Cut a piece of paper into strips. Hand out a piece of paper and a pen to each player. Have them write a name on the paper associated with Halloween. It could be anything, it’s up to them (Harry Potter, Freddy Kruger, Black Cat, Pumpkin, Johnny Depp. . . Literally Anything)
A person is designated the reader/Intermediary (Some people feel like that person should control the game, and not play. Others feel like they can still play. It’s up to you).
The intermediary gathers up all of the pieces of papers, and reads them out loud slowly one by one. Then will re-read them a second time, and put the papers to the side. They are not allowed to be looked at again for the rest of the game. And the intermediary cannot read or remind anyone of the names other than those two original times.
How To Play
Starting with the youngest person there, then going counter-clockwise, the youngest person picks someone else in the group and asks the question “_____ are you _____?” For instance “John, are you Harry Potter?” If John IS Harry Potter, he’ll say yes, and join the youngest’s team (walking over and sitting by the youngest). Together, they ask someone else a question. If they are right, they keep playing, if they are wrong, then it is the next person’s turn.
If a person guesses the team leader’s name, that whole team is absorbed into the person who guessed it.
How To Win
Eventually you will have two big groups. This is usually the fun part when there are two names that almost everyone has forgotten had been said.
They’ll figure it out eventually, and one team will be crowned the victor.
- This game works best if people can choose their own names. It helps with the guessing.
- This game can also be played with really little kids who are helped by their parents. So it is a fun family game for everyone.
But if you’d like name ideas. You can Click Here and buy my list of printable names. Ready and waiting to be cut and distributed. P.S. This list also works for the other Halloween Group Games as well.
Halloween Pictionary
What you’ll need:
- Pen
- paper
- scissors
- something to draw on – chalkboard, whiteboard, giant paper, or even regular paper with people gathered round.
Either assign everyone to write down 5-10 Halloween themed things onto pieces of paper and gather them and put them in a bowl. Or Buy and Download these premade Halloween words (it’s only a dollar).
To Play this instant Halloween game:
Split into 2 (or more) groups.
Set a timer for 60 seconds, and one player draw what is on the paper, and everyone on his team has to guess what it is. When the guess right, he can go on to another paper. See how many they can guess in one minute.
Each correct guess is one point.
Set that paper aside.
Now it is the next person’s turn.
Continue doing this till the papers run out.
The team with the most points wins!
Halloween Charades
You play this instant Halloween game exactly how you play the Halloween Charades game above, except that you silently act out the clues instead of draw them.
Team with the most points wins!
Poor Man’s Spooky Cranium
This game has been called a few things in different groups that I have been in. But I first heard it as poor man’s cranium, so that it what I’m calling it here.
Poor Man’s Spooky Cranium is a combination of a couple of games. It has 3 rounds.
First, set up is the same as above. Everyone writes down 5 halloween-related things (people, movies, books, sayings, items, doesn’t matter). And it is all put into a bowl.
Split into 2 teams.
First team gets 60 seconds to guess as many as they can.
First round: One person stands up and picks a paper out of the bowl and using words, tries to give you clues as to what the word is (“it’s a mammal and it flies at night” “bat!”). Then the person picks up another and another until the time runs out.
Then it’s the next teams’ turn. They repeat the process.
The teams go back and forth, having a new player on their team giving the clues each time.
Once the papers run out, immediately pause the timer. (count all the points for each team) Put the papers back in. And press play on the timer. Now the person has to finish his turn with the second round’s rules
Second Round: The person who is giving the clues can only say 1 word. (“Mammal” “bat!”) Because the team knows all the words on the papers, they should remember what that one word refers to. if they can’t guess it. The person just has to sit there silently till the time runs out.
Same rules apply for the second round.
Third and final Round: Now the person can only give clues using gestures (so this is the charades round). No words or sounds.
Once all of the papers are guessed, tally up the score for each round.
Most points win!
Couples Costume Party
Ok this instant Halloween Game comes with a backstory.
You have met an incredible person online. You really hit it off and decide it was time to meet in person. It was around Halloween time, and you decided to meet at a mutual friend’s Halloween costume party. It would be easy to recognize the other person because they will be dressed like you. But at the last minute, the party was changed to a loud club where costumes were not permitted. Not having time to change your plans. You decide to go and find the person anyways. The club is so loud you can’t even shout and hear your own voice.
How are you going to figure out who your online friend is?
Then you get a great idea! You will ACT like the costume character you were planning on being.
Weirdly enough, you are not the only one here who has a blind meet-up from the same party. Now there is a huge group of you silently acting like the characters and trying to find your match.
When you find (or think you find) your match. You grab hands with them and sink onto the floor away from the crowds
Last one to find their match loses.
How To Play:
Pick a “Halloween Character/costume” for each 2 people playing (8 people – 4 costumes) write 2 of each costumes on seperate pieces of paper, mix them up. then give a paper to each person. Now silently, they have to find their match by acting like the character. Once they find them, grab their hand and drop to the floor. The mediator decides who is the last couple to drop. That couple is out. take their characters and put them aside, gather the character papers again, and repeat the process till there are only 4 people left
How To Win The Game
With 4 people, You personally have to have 3 wins. so if persons 1 and 2 win the first round, they both get a point. Next round if person 2 and 4 wins, person 2 now has 2 points, and person 4 has 1. Go until till someone has 3 points.
This is a very fast game. You can play multiple rounds that night. And it is also a blast once you get out, to watch the players who are still in trying to win.
Suggestions for characters: Pirates (a hooked hand), Vampires (pointed teeth), Werewolves (look like you are howling), Superheroes (superman pose).
You can buy this whole set of games, instructions and already written and waiting to be cut printable for only a dollar at my etsy shop!
