111 Creative Party Ideas For Adults (Themes, Hacks, Recipes, and More)
Every list on the internet about the best party ideas, themes, hacks and recipes will leave you deeply unfulfilled…
…until now.
We’ve spent months combining our decades of experience as professional party practitioners to create the ultimate list of party ideas so unique, so brilliant, so utterly memorable, that your guests will want to live at your house in anticipation of your next great ode to Bacchus.
Whether you’re planning a small get together, or you want to go down in the annals of party history, this list has everything you need.
Party Themes
DRIVE OUT MOVIE
Get the gang together and drive out to some abandoned buildings in the middle of nowhere. Make sure to bring a sick projector (you can rent one for less than the cost of most parties).
Project a movie or two on the side of one of the abandoned buildings at night, and prepare to give your guests one of the most memorable experiences of their lives. Snacks are a must.
SILENT PARTY
A silent disco is basically where instead of having the music play throughout the venue, it’s synchronically broadcasted to headphones your guests can put on and take off whenever they want.
This is a perfect party idea for lots of different reasons.
First off, because the music can be played at the desired volume of each attendee through their headphones, you can have different music playing at a much lower volume throughout your house or the venue so that people can chill and talk to one another without having to scream into each other’s ears.
Secondly, if you have neighbors who are trying to sleep, or it’s a weekday, or they’re just quick to call in those noise complaints, you can keep the music bumping in everyone’s headphones without waking Ms. Daniels and her irritable chihuahua.
Our favorite way to do this is with the Pulse Social Radio app. It’s free so all your guests can just download the app and you can send them the link to your party’s station when you invite them.
What’s even cooler is that you can make it democratic so people at the party can vote right through the app for what song they want to play next. It’s like they’ll be DJ’ing themselves.
Dope.
murder mystery party
There’s only two kinds of people: people who love murder mystery parties, and people who haven’t been to one yet.
Most people don’t realize how easy it is to throw one of these things. There are tons of websites that offer murder mystery storylines and packages so you don’t even have to face the fact that you have no talent for telling a good story.
Each guest is sent a card in advance (it can be sent digitally through email) detailing their character. Everyone shows up and plays their roles, all while trying to get to the bottom of a whodunnit, and maybe a bottle of Jameson.
secret party
Those who seek shall find. It sounds crazy, but you can create a lot of the excitement for a party simply in the anticipation of it.
Set up a party where every aspect is kept a mystery until your guests arrive. This could be having them arrive at a secret location, or showing up for an event where they don’t know what they’re going to be doing until you tell them.
A good example would be renting out the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool at Disney World before hours to take surf lessons. Or having everyone come over in bathing suits, only to find out that you’ve constructed a giant slip-n-slide to accompany your barbecue.
The options are endless, just make sure you tell everyone what to wear for the occasion.
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS PARTY
Let’s be honest; they just knew how to party better back in the day. Or maybe that’s just Golden Age Thinking.
Either way, doing a 20s themed party has all the fun built right in. The music, fun, drinks and dancing do all the hard work for you.
And dressing up is half the fun, so make sure to announce in advance you’ll be awarding a prize for “Best Dressed”.
harry pARTY
No, you’re not going to be playing Quidditch (unless you want to).
Instead, team captains are drawn out of a hat (ahhh), and then the team captains take turns doing a draft picking the other players who will be on their team for a night of games, challenges and contests.
5 points to Gryffindor!
CAT PARTY
Reach out to your local humane shelter or animal adoption center and see if you can set up a cat party. Tell them you want to find new homes for as many of the cats as possible by hosting a pet adoption party for cats.
Invite all your friends who aren’t allergic and see if you can get those cute little devils a new place to live.
Cats are pretty chill too, so it’ll basically end up being like a regular, relaxed get-together… only you know, with cats.
blindfold party
This is so wild, but you’re gonna love it. There’s only one rule. Once inside the house, every guest must wear a blindfold at all times.
It’s like a masquerade, only with blindfolds instead of masks. Enjoying a party in which your other senses are so heightened will feel so surreal and will definitely make for a completely new experience.
Make sure your guests take photos and videos all night too. One of the funnest parts will be the next day when you have everyone upload the photos they took from the previous night to a custom hashtag for everyone who attended the party to see. #ashleysblindfoldparty
There might never be better party photos than when everyone, including the people taking the pictures, were blindfolded.
DRINK AND DESSERT CRAWL
It’s like a bar crawl, but for foodies.
Find a line of great restaurants that don’t require reservations, all within walking distance of one another. This is relatively easy to do in just about any town or city.
Start at the first one and have everyone in the group order just drinks and desserts.
That new restaurant in city center just opened up. Why not stop in for wine and dessert cups?
Then you can walk over to that vibey Japanese place and grab mochi and sake bombs.
Follow it up with whiskey and dark chocolate mousse from that hipster joint.
And then top it all off with some cheesecake and hot buttered rums at that jazzy place you like so much.
Dinner is overrated.
SCAVENGER hunt party
This one’s a classic. Ideal for bachelor and bachelorette parties, or any time you want to go out and do more than just dance or nurse drinks.
There are tons of killer scavenger hunt lists already available online, so just start with whichever one you find the most interesting and get out there and get it done.
bachelor vs. bachelorette party
Separate, together. The best way to cap off your single days is by proving you were better at it.
Have the bachelor and bachelorette parties compete in an all night, Hangover-style scavenger hunt to prove once and for all… who’s… better at scavenger hunts?
No.
More fun.
Yeah, that’s it.
Make a dare out of it. The losers have to ______ __ ___ ____ _____. You get it.
Pictures for proof.
LAND SAILING
Who says you need to take your boat out on the water?
I’m kidding. We know you don’t have a boat. But we know you probably know someone who does.
Have everyone come in bathing suits, boating clothes, or you can even wear that captain’s hat you’ve been waiting to wear.
If you really want to get crazy, you can trailer the boat around a parking lot and “wakeboard” by tethering people behind it on skateboards or rollerblades (at your own risk).
Simulate all the fun of boating, minus all the work and cost (just filling up a boat with gas is expensive). Plus, you can drink as much as you want safely without ever leaving the dock.
THE MOLE
A twist on the murder mystery party. This is perfect for when you don’t want to go all out, and you can play this throughout a regular party without too much disruption.
One person is THE MOLE. Whoever can uncover that person’s identity first wins. If no one uncovers that person’s identity, THE MOLE wins.
Put one playing card for each person into a hat (or any modern vessel of your choice).
Make sure to mark one of the cards clearly with the word “MOLE” in large writing.
Each player takes a turn drawing a card out of the hat.
Once the last player has drawn their card, players can start making accusations about who they think THE MOLE is.
If a player makes an accusation, the accused player must show any card in their possession to the player who made the accusation.
If the card shown does not say “MOLE”, the accuser must give one of their cards to the accused.
If a player has no more cards, they are out of the game and are unable to make anymore accusations.
If the card shown says “MOLE”, that accuser wins. If THE MOLE survives until the end of the night (or set game time), THE MOLE wins.
Putting a prize on the line makes this game especially fun.
frozen party
Turn the temperature in your house or venue way down and tell people to dress warm and prepare for a faux, frozen wonderland.
Get an ice luge as your centerpiece, cover the floor and ceiling in white balloons, and serve shots in these ice shot glasses.
If you really want to get crazy and blow your guests’ minds, you can even order fake snow!
Have a ball… and make a fucking mess.
singles party
Everyone who’s invited is single. No exceptions.
You’re definitely going to want to encourage lots of intermingling by playing games that help people get to know one another.
We recommend The Question Game (see ‘The Question Game’ below under ‘Party Games’), Prestige and of course, Chickenshit.
You can even run your own version of The Dating Game (or Singled Out if you’re an 80s baby).
Just put up a partition to divide the bachelor or bachelorette from their 3 potential suitors.
Use some of these questions or copy some from the original show, and your guests are guaranteed to have an amazing time.
It’s a fun, low risk way of actually meeting people before you swipe them away forever.
monte carlo night
You may be poor, but you can forget that for one evening by having a Monte Carlo night.
Make the dress code black tie and get out all your finest glasses for champagne and cocktails.
Have tables set up for all the classic casino games: Texas hold’em, blackjack, craps, you can even act like you know how to play baccarat.
The easiest way to make this party feel legit is by setting the tone with the right music. Start with “Jaan Pehechan Ho” and build your playlist from there.
By the end of they night you’ll be having so much fun you’ll forget gambling is illegal *ahem*.
THE SUPER SLEEPOVER
You’re not ready for this. INVITE ALL YOUR ADULT FRIENDS OVER FOR A SLEEPOVER. Yes. You’re welcome.
If you’re bold enough, and your friends are cool enough, this will be one of the most memorable nights of their entire lives, and they’ll be begging you to throw another one soon.
The goal here is to take everything back to the nostalgia of your school days. The dress code is pajamas.
Have everyone bring sheets and blankets to build the elaborate sheet tents you all dreamt of as children, but only now are unapologetically able to pull off.
Watch childhood classics like The Goonies or Sandlot. Snack food only. Make alcoholic hot chocolate. Play Truth or Dare, Spin the Bottle or Seven Minutes in Heaven. Tell scary stories. Take it all back. Way back.
CABIN PARTY
Rent out a cabin on Airbnb and partake in all the fun of camping, minus all the things that suck about camping.
Some cabins have insane amenities for crazy cheap like lakes you can boat or kayak on, jet skis, hot tubs, etc. And just about every cabin is perfect for setting up a fire, making smores, and drinking.
FITLYMPICS
Are you so into fitness that even your alcohol is paleo? Enter the Fitlympics.
Pick a beautiful day and meet out in an open field or park where you can split everyone into two teams.
Have a series of events like relay races, tug of war, and even team games like ultimate frisbee (more fun than it sounds) or prisonball (exactly as fun as it sounds). Just make sure to break up the fun with a barbecue and a few cold beers.
Whichever team wins the best of five events gets crowned the reigning champs, but everyone will have so much fun, both teams will be back for a rematch.
FOOD BATTLE
When you’re throwing a party that’s more in the vein of a get-together, and less in full-blown party territory, one of the most fun, memorable things you can do is host a food battle.
Have all your guests throw their names into a hat (or any modern vessel). Draw out four names. The first two are on team ‘A’. The second two are on team ‘B’.
Now draw out three more names. These are the judges.
Each team has one hour to cook a dish using whatever items are available in the host’s kitchen (the same dish can never be cooked again in battle). When time is up, each team has to stop (ready or not) and serve the dish they prepared to the judges.
Judges then vote on what they thought was the best dish. The team with the most votes wins.
Next time you do a food battle, leave out the names of the people who have already competed. Once everyone has gone, you can continue tournament style where previous winning teams face one another in single-elimination battles until one team is crowned as the reigning champs!
Party Hacks and Tips
CONFESSIONALS
Bring back those Real World: Las Vegas vibes by setting up a confessional in your house!
All you need is one GoPro, a walk-in closet and a big memory card.
Just hook your GoPro up to external power so it can record non-stop without the battery dying and station it in your walk-in closet.
Then clear out the closet and string up some christmas lights for vibe and decoration (plus a little extra lighting for the camera).
Put a large clear sign on the door that says “Confession Booth” or “Confessional”, and announce it at the beginning of the party. Hit record, and capture pure gold on camera.
Instant fun.
For bonus points, edit together the best bits and play it at your next party.
LAWN SEATING
Lawn chairs are for schmucks. If you really wanna get luxurious (we’re talkin’ Cleopatra style), air mattresses are where it’s at.
Borrow air mattresses and blankets from everyone you know who has some. Set them up outside and layer sheets, blankets and pillows on top so your guests will have casual outdoor seating that’s actually comfortable.
It’’ll be hard not to kick back with a drink and gaze up at the stars.
Don’t have air mattresses? Blow-up kiddie pools work great too. Just stack those blankets in there.
CROWN A PARTY CHAMP
You need people to help you get the party started (and keep it going).
No better way to incentivize good party starting behavior than by announcing you’ll be awarding a prize to the best partier!
The better the prize, the better the party.
MASON JAR CANDLE HOLDERS
Place your lit candles inside mason jars and litter your entire outdoor setting with them. It’ll look cooler, and the jars will protect the tiny flames from the wind.
BLACK BALLOONS
You suck at decorating. That’s okay. When in doubt… more balloons.
Fill tons of black balloons with helium and cover the ceiling of your sub-par party location in them to give off the illusion that you know what you’re doing.
Also, hang balloons without helium from the ceiling at staggered heights to add depth.
Balloons are also one of those weird things that seem like they wouldn’t make a big difference, but you’ll notice just about every person in your party playing with them at some point throughout the night.
THE SOUND SPLIT
Some people want to dance. Some people want to talk. Some people want to do both.
Split your party into at least two main areas. One quiet area where people can talk, and one area with loud music where people can dance or listen to a band, artist or DJ play live.
This gives everyone at the party a reprieve from just one type of environment, while still catering to what almost everyone finds fun.
Or go all the way and make a silent disco (see ‘Silent Party’ above).
parting gifts
Just about no one is going to expect this, but if you drop some surprise parting gifts on people as they leave the party, the memory will be seared onto the surface of their brains.
Don’t go expensive either. A couple condoms or gag gifts wrapped up with some Costco candy packs you bought in bulk and dumped into a cheap mason jar will do wonders.
BLOW-UP POOL
Throwing a pool party? Air mattresses double as awesome floats. Just make sure you’re not using electric air mattresses because, you probably don’t want to die.
You can even use inflatable pools, in the pool. Mix it up.
LIGHT IT UP
Attach Christmas lights to anything and everything. Use vibey lighting anywhere regular lights would be too bright. Try to stay away from candles in enclosed spaces where people are drinking though.
contests
If you’re hosting a party, one of the easiest and most memorable things you can do is put on contests.
Handstand contests. Twerk competition. Who can put a condom on a banana the fastest using only their mouths?
Have prizes for the winners. Again, they can be cheap. Starbucks gift cards or a bottle of anything alcoholic will do the trick.
outsource
No one ever thinks of hiring a face painter for an adult party. Even better, a body painter.
A lot of what people think of as being a good party is just perceived value.
If you have a buddy who DJs on the side and doesn’t suck, put him up to it. Hire a bartender for a couple hours. Pay some Instagram models to come and make it look like you have attractive friends.
You can literally outsource anything nowadays. Take advantage.
photo booths
Having a photo booth at your party will definitely draw a ton of attention. Plus, you can give all those Instagram boyfriends’ arms a rest.
You can actually rent out real photo booths, but why drop the bands when you can make your own for free?
Simplebooth is our favorite way to do it, but there are lots of awesome options out there.
ON-SITE BABYSITTER
Kids are an adorable nuisance. Let your guests pawn them off on a stranger so they can enjoy a night out without having to worry about finding someone to watch those cute little freeloaders.
Hire an on-site babysitter, and no one will have an excuse to miss out on your amazing party.
CLASS UP THE KEG
Kegs don’t have to be relegated to college frat parties. You can easily appear more worldly by reaching out to local liquor stores and seeing what kinds of non-traditional imports they have in keg form.
If you’re putting together an event, you may also be able to get the event sponsored by a local brewery who might hook you up with a keg or two for free (or at an extremely discounted rate).
PARTY HASHTAG
Make everyone who didn’t show up regret it by creating your own party hashtag. #twerknomenon
Have all your guests use it whenever they post throughout the night.
You can even give away a small prize for best photo.
FOG IT UP
Fog machines are just cool. You can pick up a cheap one on Amazon and add instant ambiance to any party.
swing a bit
Not that kind of swinging. I mean… we don’t judge.
Tie two long pieces of rope with a double running bowline knot from a high, sufficiently sturdy tree branch or supporting beam. It’s easier than it sounds.
Take a thick plank of wood as the seat, and bore two wide holes on either end, just wide enough for the ends of the rope to fit through.
Level the seat of the swing a few feet up from the ground and run the ends of the rope through the holes in the seat.
Knot off the rope so that the ends can’t be pulled back through the holes know matter how much pressure is applied.
This will be a huge hit with guests, and the higher up the branch or beam the swing is tied to, the more impressive it will look.
ADULT PIñATAS
Fill a regular piñata with blush-worthy items like condoms, airplane shots, and anything else your depraved mind can think of.
Your guests will thank you.
LIGHT UP COOLER
If you’re partying at night and you don’t have a fancy cooler, just throw some glow sticks or LEDs in there so people can see while they’re trying to grab a drink. This is perfect for bonfires.
ELEVATE YOUR ICE
Regular ice is boring. It’s just water pretending to be something else.
Spice it up by putting slices of fruit in your ice tray before freezing it. Strawberries, kiwi and pineapple will make you seem much more sophisticated than you actually are.
USE YOUR TUB
This one’s a given. Fill the tub up with ice and put all the drinks in there that can’t fit in your fridge.
This will save you a ton of fridge space and keep everything cool, just make sure you do this in a bathroom people aren’t gonna blow up.
NIGHT SPORTS
Want to get a night game in but it’s too dark? Use Christmas lights and glow sticks.
If you want to get a game of volleyball in, just string up Christmas lights all over the net and connect them via extension cord or by using a portable generator. The same works with soccer goals or really anything else.
Pro Tip - If you get a portable generator you can also use it to charge people’s phones and power speakers for music.
Use glow sticks around the rim of a basketball hoop and/or backboard if the court’s not lit. You can use the same trick to outline the edges of tables (especially for beer pong).
LEAVE A MARK
Paint a single wall or surface with chalkboard paint. Leave out some chalk and have your guests sign it or leave a special message.
PARTY WINDOWS
If you have a TV in your party location, you can create what we call a party window.
Basically, you just hook up a GoPro anywhere in the party where things will get the most wild (not the bathroom).
If you made a confession booth you can kill two birds with one stone (see ‘Confessionals’ above).
Livestream from the GoPro to a TV in a different part of the party. Not only will people get crazy for the cameras, but the guests in other parts of the party wherever it’s being livestreamed will be entertained too.
Just make sure to tell everyone as soon as they arrive so they don’t feel violated.
GET LIT
Hang Christmas lights, LEDs or glow sticks under every horizontal surface. This is a crazy cheap way to add an extra dimension to your party and give it an awesome aesthetic.
Try to keep the same lighting style throughout the party by sticking to just one color for all the lighting.
KEEP YOUR DRINK
Dip the bottom of wine glasses or champagne flutes in chalkboard paint. Leave out some chalk near the glasses during your next get together and people will be able to write their names on their glasses to avoid mix-ups.
POLAROID WALL
Leave some Instax cameras around the party for people to take photos with and pin up on a designated photo wall. Tell people in advance you’ll award a prize for best photo.
HANGING DRINK SEATING
Partying outside without enough tables for people to put their drinks down on?
Run a string between two trees (or posts) and hang up a few beer sleeves so people can set their drinks down to play games or hop in the pool.
Party Games
PRESTIGE
Prestige is quite possibly the best party game ever devised.
The host gets four equal prizes, e.g. bottles of liquor, gift cards, motorcycles (depending on how baller you are). These will go to the winners.
Each guest gets a single playing card at random from a deck when they first enter the party.
Players can trade cards with the goal of having one of the aces at the end of the night.
To make a trade, lower card players must throw in something additional to sweeten the deal in order to trade up to a higher card.
The best part is, each card comes with special powers. For instance, if you’re holding the Queen, you can make anyone get you a drink or fetch you food.
Yes… true power.
Here are the full Prestige rules and card authority.
You’re welcome.
chickenshit
This game is perfect for big parties where you don’t know most of the people present.
Draw a card. If it’s a challenge, you have 3 minutes to get a stranger to help you complete it!
For added difficulty, play on Legendary Mode where you can’t tell your targets you’re playing a game.
You can get Chickenshit here.
BLIND MARIO KART
This actually works with any racing game, but Mario Kart is the best. Break into teams of two. One person is THE DRIVER, The other person is THE NAVIGATOR.
THE DRIVER gets blindfolded and holds the controller. THE NAVIGATOR has to act as THE DRIVER’s guide by talking them through the course.
If you feel so inclined, add stakes by having the losers take a shot.
The only safe way to drink and drive.
DDR
Don’t even trip. You can totally buy a couple Dance Dance Revolution pads for your PlayStation for under $50.
No amount of DDR will teach you how to actually dance though.
PEG A FRIEND
Get a plastic clothespin, or anything fairly lightweight you can clip onto someone's clothes.
The PEGGER with the clip must secretly attach it to someones's outfit or hair without them noticing.
The PEGGER then moves away from the “PEGGY?” (person who the clip was attached to) and starts counting very loudly down from ten.
Everyone else at the party must join in on the counting while frantically checking to see if they were the one to be pegged. No players can help any other players.
If the count reaches zero and someone still has the peg attached, they have to take a shot and become the new PEGGER.
If the peg is detected and detached before the count reaches zero, the PEGGER will have to keep trying until they get someone.
(Take as long as you like between attempts though. It only adds suspense to the game.)
BEER PONG
A classic is a classic is a classic.
Beer pong is perfect because it’s great for both participants, and spectators.
Unfortunately it’s developed a somewhat unfair (yet partially deserved) reputation for being relegated to frat parties, but in all actuality, it’s great for all ages (*ahem* 21 and over of course).
We can personally attest to it’s greatness as we’ve seen many a grandmother turn up at the beer pong table.
Here are the full beer pong rules if you’ve been living in a closet in a basement under a rock.
DRUNK JENGA
It’s Jenga, except each block gives you something to do when you remove it from the stack. There’s a bunch of versions but this one’s pretty good.
THE QUESTION GAME
This one’s simple and super useful. Players take turn asking the group a question and everyone gives their answer along with any accompanying story to explain their answer. There’s only three rules.
1 . No boring questions.
2. You can’t ask any questions that have already been asked.
3. You have to answer truthfully.
It’s not quite a game since there’s no objective other than to have fun, but it’s perfect for chill get-togethers, singles nights or any time people are sitting around with drinks during a party and want something fun to do.
MATCHES
This one is a singles game you can play any time you want to take shots as a group.
Get shot glasses for everyone who wants to play. Place an ‘X’ under two of the glasses with a dry erase marker (or anything you have on hand).
Everyone takes the shots together and then looks under their glasses.
The two people with the ‘X’s under their shots have to kiss or take another shot as punishment for their insolence.
DRINK DRANK DRUNK
Drink Drank Drunk is fun in a box. Just grab a deck and start playing.
There are five different card types: Action, Special, Rule, Weakness and Power.
There’s also a bunch of different built-in game modes for you to try to keep your guests on their toes.
THE POOL DIVE
The perfect start to any pool party. Throw random items at the bottom of a swimming pool before your guests arrive.
Put a number in a hat (or any modern vessel) for each guest, then have them draw them out one at a time to determine the play order.
Each guest gets one dive to come up with a single item. They can stay down as long as they want, but whatever they have when they come up for air (even if it’s nothing) is what they get.
Make some of the items prizes, and the rest of them duds. For instance, you can throw three cards in the pool as items.
One of them can be a gift card, and the other two can be cards that just say “You bring shame upon your family,” or whatever you want.
PROTECT THAT EGG
Every guest gets an egg upon entering the party. Whoever’s egg remains unbroken by the end of the party gets a prize. People will likely be drinking. Do the math.
This game is fun because they’ll likely name their eggs and start treating them like actual people. You can even leave out some markers so people can draw faces on their eggs and dress them up.
GRAPE TOSS
This is the perfect outdoor game. Break everyone into teams of two. A CATCHER and a TOSSER.
Start each team 5 feet apart. The TOSSERS have to throw a grape into the mouth of the CATCHER.
TOSSERS must remain behind the starting line, but CATCHERS can move from the starting position only after the grape has been thrown into the air.
Each team gets three tosses at that distance to make one catch. Once all the teams have done their three tosses or made a catch, the ones who missed all three are eliminated, and the remaining teams separate from each other another five feet.
This continues until all but one team (the winners) have been eliminated.
If there’s a tie because more than one team misses all three tosses at the same distance, each team gets one additional toss until the tie is broken. If the next toss distance is made by more than one team, the remaining teams still move back five feet and continue with another set of three tosses at that distance.
A FOOSBALL PARTY
This is an awesome party game created by Outscord.
Set up two tables. Put identical large bowls at one end of each of the tables, right beneath the edge on a stool or chair.
You may have to put a few books or magazines underneath the bowls to get them at the right height. You want the lip of the bowl to be resting right beneath the edge of the table.
You can even create goal posts with two 2-liter soda bottles on the table marking where the edges of the bowl are.
Two players each get party blowers (or party horns) and crouch down behind the table opposite the bowls. Give each player a supply of ping pong balls.
When they game starts, players set the ping pong balls on the table in front of them and try to hit the ping pong balls across the table between the “goal posts” and get the balls to land in the bowl at the other end.
The first player to get five balls in the bowl wins, just make sure someone’s watching and keeping count so they can announce when someone’s won since players may not be able to see.
You can do it relay style as well with two or more players on a team, and if you want, you can make it so losers take a shot.
FLIP CUP
Another classic drinking game.
Two teams of an equal number of players stand on opposite sides of a table facing one another.
Each person is given a plastic Solo cup filled up with the same set amount of beer.
When the game begins, the first person in the line on each team has to drink the contents of their cup and then place it right-side up on the table hanging a bit off the edge (to give them room to flip it).
Then, using just one hand (no blowing) the players have to try to flip the cup over 180 degrees in a single motion until it lands upside down.
After each failed attempt, the cup must be reset to starting position right-side up, but players can make as many attempts as they need to get it.
Once a player successfully flips their cup upside down, the next person in the line can begin drinking and flipping their cup relay style.
The first team to get the last person in their line to successfully drink and flip their cup wins.
THIS BLOWS
Players must blow up a balloon, and then use the air it exerts to blow down a series of cups lined up along the edge of a table before their opponent. This video by Outscord shows you how it’s done.
MEDUSA RULES
This is another perfect game for starting a party off or pre-gaming.
Everyone sits around a circular table littered with shot glasses containing various spirits (liquor, not souls).
Everyone counts to three and then looks up at someone. If the person you're looking at isn't looking back at you, you're safe.
If the person you're looking at is looking back at you, you must both shout out, "Medusa!" while maintaining eye contact and taking one of the shots from the table.
The game ends when all the shots on the table are gone.
THE POCKY GAME
It’s like that scene from Lady and the Tramp, only with a Japanese treat you’ve only ever eaten if you watch anime.
First you need Pocky. You can get it in the “Asian” aisle of almost any grocery store.
Two players both start simultaneously nibbling away at either end of a stick of Pocky. Whoever pulls away first loses and has to take a shot.
Here’s our version of the Pocky Game with the best rules.
FREEZE OR DRINK
This game is perfect to keep as a running theme throughout a party.
One person is designated Ms. or Mr. Freeze. At any point throughout the party that person can, well… freeze.
Everyone must follow suit. The last person to catch on has to take a shot or chug a bottle of beer.
MODIFIED FLIP SIP OR STRIP
This is an updated version of a classic party game by The Best Drinking Games.
Get in a circle and have the first player flip a coin. Have the person to the left of them guess what the coin flip is.
If they get it right, they get the coin and flip for the person to their left.
If they get it wrong, flip the coin again and have them guess again.
Keep doing this until they get it right, or they get it wrong three times in a row.
If the person guessing gets it right on the first try, they get the coin and have no consequences.
If the person guessing gets it right on the second try, the person flipping gets to ask any question that the guesser has to answer truthfully before receiving the coin.
If the person guessing gets it right on the third try, they have to take a shot before receiving the coin.
But if the person gets it wrong all three times, they have to remove an article of clothing before receiving the coin to flip for the next person.
NEVER HAVE I EVER
This classic is as easy as they come. Perfect for when you’re huddled around a fire, or when you have a small group gathered together at the end of a night.
Clockwise, one at a time, participants say, “Never have I ever…” and then finish it with a statement of something they’ve never done. For example, “Never have I ever had sex in a car.”
All the people who have had sex in a car must take a drink. Pause for good, relevant stories or when further explanation is required. And if you’re playing right, further explanation will be required.
RING OF FIRE/KING’S CUP
Ring of Fire, also known as King’s Cup or Kings, is a great game to lead off the night and get everyone loosened up.
A large cup is put in the center of a table everyone is gathered around.
Each player takes turn drawing a card and then following the instructions corresponding to each card.
An example of a card would be 'raise your hand to heaven' if you draw a '7'. The last person to do so takes a drink.
Here are the full Ring of Fire/Kings rules if you’re trying to get crazy.
MOST LIKELY
Sit in a circle. Clockwise, players get to ask questions that begins with the phrase “Most likely…”
For instance, “Most likely to do cocaine.”
On the count of three, everyone points at the person they think would be most likely to do cocaine.
The person with the most fingers pointing at them has to take a drink (not a shot) for each person that selected them.
Creative Drink Ideas
BOMB SHOT BAR
Make it easy on yourself and set up a simple bomb shot bar.
A bomb shot (also known as a depth charge) is a beer (or other drink) with a shot of liquor dropped in before the entire thing is chugged.
Think, Irish car bomb, or sake bomb, or anything with bomb in it.
Have all your guests bring their favorite beer or alcohol and set up a little bar in the party where people can make their own bomb shots and see who can come up with the best combination.
Sapporo and sake is pretty good. So is whiskey and, any beer really (these are known boilermakers).
If your beer is an IPA or stout, you might want to go sweet with the liquor. If your beer is on the sweet side, you know the drill.
EGG NOG disaronNO
If you’re trying to get your holiday party game on, there’s few things better than Disaronno and egg nog.
Plus, it’s ridiculously easy to make. Just fill a tumbler glass halfway with egg nog and add Disaronno to taste.
Top with a bit of cinnamon, and don’t say we never did anything for you.
COTTON CANDY PINK CHAMPAGNE
Put cotton candy in champagne flutes. Pour some vodka over it in front of your guests and watch it instantly dissolve.
Then add pink champagne (make sure to leave a little space at the top).
Then rest a piece of cotton candy on the top of the glass like a little pink cloud. Take care not to let it fall into the deliciously sweet, alcoholic mixture below until the drinks have been served.
Check this video out by Tipsy Bartender if you want to see it in action.
CROUCHING TIGER
Put one part lychee liqueur and one part silver tequila in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake well and strain into a shot glass.
Be careful for these. They’re almost too delicious.
SWAMP WATER PUNCH
Tipsy Bartender comes through again. Party punch doesn’t have to be boring.
Drop fruits like strawberries, lemon, lime and apple slices into the base of your container.
Then pour 25 oz. each of tequila, sour apple pucker, melon liqueur, and 64 oz. each of sweet and sour mix and lemon lime soda on top.
Add the blue curaçao in and stir again, then avert your eyes away from the green deliciousness that lies before you.
MIMOSA BAR
Get a ton of different juices and put them in decanters, and get a ton of different champagnes and pop all the bottles. Put out a few garnishes liked sliced fruit and cotton candy, and let everyone go crazy.
THE NACHO LIBRE SHOT
Add equal parts tequila, Bailey’s and Disaronno in a shot glass. Nachooooooo!!!!
TRASH MARGARITAS
Mix a can of frozen lemonade concentrate, one bottle of Corona, and some Bacardi Limon in a blender. Serve in margarita glasses with half salted, half sugared rims.
KAHLUA FLOATS
Put a few scoops of chocolate ice cream in a glass and top with Kahlua. Then drizzle chocolate syrup on top and fill with your favorite root beer, cream or club soda.
PINK BIKINI
Mix up raspberry lemonade, coconut rum and amaretto liqueur in a pitcher. Halve a coconut with your barehands (use your kung fu), then fill both halves with the mixture from the pitcher.
Throw in some straws, umbrellas and any other garnishes you want to sauce it up. Perfect for pool, tiki or beach parties.
blood lust
Fill a glass with champagne, Sprite and a splash of grenadine. Throw in a few strawberry slices or raspberries and garnish with a slice of fruit on the rim.
FLATHEADS
It’s like a screwdriver but even lower brow.
Pour out a third of a bunch of Sunny D’s into a large pitcher (make punch with this later) and fill the empty space in the juice bottles up with half vodka, half grenadine.
Recap them and shake well. Serve outside on a sunny day.
Ohhhhhhhhh… Sunny D.
Just got that.
COCONUT RUM PUNCH LEMONADE
Spike store-bought strawberry lemonade with rum and throw it inside emptied coconuts. Decorate with straws, cocktail umbrellas and fruit.
WALK THE PLANK SHOTS
Combine one part each of coconut rum, spiced rum, Kahlua, rum cream and Bacardi 151 and shake well. Pour the mixture into shot glasses and top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Take ‘em to the head.
BARCARDI LIMONA CORONAS
Pop open some Coronas and fill up the neck with Bacardi Limon. Stick a lime slice in the top and salt the rim.
When you hand them out, have people push in the lime wedge, but their thumb over the opening and flip over the beer so that things mix up a bit.
Drink and enjoy.
APPLE CIDER MIMOSAS
This is a bomb recipe from the folk over at Delish.
Mix two tablespoons of sugar for every tablespoon of cinnamon on a plate. Dip the champagne flutes in water to wet the rims and then dip them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Fill 1/4th of the champagne flutes with apple cider and then top off the rest with champagne.
Garnish with a thin apple slice if you’re trying to get crazy.
WATERMELON MARGARITA PUNCH BOWL
We love this amazing margarita recipe by Minimalist Baker served with our little twist.
Get a big, beautiful watermelon and cut it in half, lengthwise. Flatten the bottom of both halves by trimming down the rind so the watermelon halves can rest open face up without rolling.
Make sure when you flatten the bottoms you don’t cut all the way down through the rinds to the fruit.
Scoop out the watermelon, cube it. Put the cubed watermelon in a large blender and blend until it’s a juice.
Add 1 1/4 cups of watermelon juice, 2 1/2 tablespoons of lime juice, 5 tablespoons of silver tequila and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously.
Pour the mixture into the empty watermelon half. Adjust the amounts to fit the amount of juice you have and repeat until the watermelon halves are mostly full like a punch bowl.
Let people self serve with ladles into margarita glasses with salted rims.
SPIKED STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKES
Mix a bunch of strawberry ice cream, strawberries and brandy to taste (and strength) in a blender.
Pour the mixture into party glasses and add a swirl of whip on top of each.
Garnish the glasses with a strawberry pressed onto the rim and throw some milkshake straws in there.
OATMEAL COOKIE SHOTS
This popular shooter has taken on many different forms.
Our favorite is with equal parts Bailey’s and butterscotch schnapps, a splash of Jaegermeister and a splash of cinnamon schnapps to get that real, oatmeal cookie taste.
Combine in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well before straining into shot glasses. Top with cinnamon and serve.
THE CAPTAIN VS. THE KRAKEN
Fill a pint glass halfway with lemon lime soda (Sprite or 7UP) and a splash of blue curaçao. This is the ocean.
Then, separately, fill one shot glass with Captain Morgan, and another shot with Kraken rum.
Rest the two shot glasses inside the top of the pint glass so they’re holding each other up.
To take the drink, remove “The Captain” (the shot of Captain Morgan). This will send “The Kraken” plummeting down into the depths below.
Take the shot of Captain and then immediately down the pint glass.
Creative Food Ideas
HOT DOGADILLAS
These sound gross, we know, but this incredible combination of two classics will blow your mind when you try it.
Heat up a layer of shredded cheese on an open-faced flour tortilla.
Wrap the hot dog with your cheesy tortilla like a tightly wound burrito and tuck it as such.
Fry the whole thing in oil one side at a time until it’s flat on four sides.
Cut ‘em in half with a slight angle, and serve with Stubb’s Sweet Heat Bar-B-Q Sauce for dipping.
You can stack a large plate with these for cheap, and they’ll definitely fill your guests up.
Credit to Christopher Carson for inventing this party food masterpiece.
VEGETARIAN CHORIZO BREAKFAST TACOS
Vegetarian chorizo is one of the only imitation meats that’s, dare we say better, than the real thing. I know, it’s hard to believe. But make these street tacos for your guests and I’m sure they’ll agree.
Buy little street taco tortillas and slightly crisp them in a pan with oil while flipping them with a spatula so they don’t burn. You want them soft, moist and slightly crispy.
Once your tortillas are done, fry your vegetarian chorizo in the same pan and then throw a few eggs in there and mix it all up until the eggs are cooked in with the chorizo.
Put some Mexican style shredded cheese on top just before it’s finished cooking and mix it all together. Spoon the chorizo into the tortillas and then top with more shredded cheese before serving.
BAKED MAC AND CHEESE BREAD BOWLS
Make your most fire baked mac and cheese, but instead of serving it on plates or in regular bowls, scoop out the center of a roll and use the outside of the bread as the bowl.
Butter the insides of the rolls you removed earlier, warm them up and serve them separately.
GUMMY KEBABS
Get a large assortment of different gummy candies and some skewers. Perfect for summer parties or anything outdoors.
CRUNCH AND MUNCH TROUGH
Get some Costco sized boxes of Crunch and Munch (in a bunch of different flavors) and fill a large trough type dish with them.
Leave out some disposable cups or paper cones for people to scoop with. Way better than popcorn.
FRUIT BOWLS
No, I don’t think you got it. Fruit bowls. Use fruit peels as containers for appetizers and desserts.
Cut an orange in half, scoop out the fruit and make ice cubes with it (see “Elevate Your Ice” above). Then serve ice cream or sorbet in the peels.
HOT DOG BAR
Instead of just doing the traditional barbecue things, just make a bunch of hot dog variations.
Set up a bar of every possible hot dog topping so people can make their own traditional hot dogs, Chicago dogs, chili dogs, brats, etc.
CORN TORTILLA QUESADILLA
Once you try this quesadilla, it’ll be hard to go back.
Put some canola oil in a pan and place a corn tortilla in it. Evenly layer shredded cheese on one side and fold the tortilla in half. Any kind of cheese works but Mexican style is the usually the best.
Fry the little quesadilla until it’s golden brown and slightly crispy on both sides. Buy salsa (or make your own) for people to dip and serve these how you would serve food at a barbecue, fresh.
The average person will eat about 5-10 of these (because they’re so good), but a big pack of corn tortillas costs like $0.
FRITO PIES
We’re not really fans of corn chips over here. In fact, some would go so far as to say that they’re irredeemable… with the exception of course of that magnificent smorgasbord of flavors known lovingly as the Frito pie.
For some strange reason, this particular concoction not only tastes amazing, but also makes for the perfect party food.
Mix your favorite chili, shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, scallions and jalapeños in with the bag of corn chips and serve.
BACON WRAPPED TATER TOTS
Make tater tots. Make bacon. Wrap the former in the latter.
Tostada BOWLS
Get enough tostada bowl shells for everyone at the party and make a huge vat of ground beef.
Put the beef in the tostada bowl shells and let people dress them just how they like them by putting out a topping bar.
Put out some avocado slices, pico de gallo, jalapeños, lettuce, guac, salsa and tons of shredded cheese.
DESSERT KABOBS
Skewer pieces of donuts, strawberries, pound cake, brownies, marshmallows, donut holes, churros… whatever will stay on. Then drizzle everything in chocolate.
SAVAGE SLIDERS
Get a bunch of slider buns and mold some ground beef into little burgers about two inches across.
Cook them or grill them medium rare and put some cheese on top to melt about a minute before the burgers are done.
Butter and lightly toast the buns so they’re still soft but golden brown.
To make the sauce just mix together mayo, ketchup and mustard to taste. Put together the sliders then drizzle the sauce on top of the burger before you put the buns on top.
Cheap, easy and ridiculously good.
PICNIC BURGERS
Grill up some regular bacon cheeseburgers, but instead of regular buns, use King’s Hawaiian Sweet Hamburger Buns.
Put the burger together, but top it off with a healthy heaping of cold macaroni salad before you place on the top bun.
The tangy, cool sweetness of the pasta salad gives you that refreshing kick that’s so fitting, you’ll wonder why you’ve never tried this before.
So good you won’t even need condiments.
BAGEL BAR
Set up a bagel bar with a variety of bagels, butters, jams, cream cheeses and lox.
Have a toaster handy (you can even borrow one or two extras from friends).
Put out some knives and paper plates and let everyone create their own combinations of carbs to soak up all that alcohol.
vegetarian chorizo party NACHOS
Nachos are crazy easy to make, and these are no exception.
Layer tortilla chips across a baking pan. Top with cooked vegetarian chorizo, shredded cheese and jalapeños.
Repeat by adding another layer of chips, chorizo, tons of shredded cheese, jalapeños, and this time top with Cholula drizzle.
Bake until all the cheese is melted and top with a scoop each of guac, salsa and sour cream.
CHICKEN AND WAFFLE SLIDERS
Make a big batch of chicken tenders.
If you have a waffle maker, you’ll obviously want to make your waffles with that. But if worse comes to worst, just buy some frozen waffles and make them in your toaster.
Each waffle will make two sliders. Just cut the waffles into fourths and sandwich a piece of fried chicken between two waffle pieces.
Lock the stack in place with toothpicks and serve with maple syrup on the side.
DESSERT CUPS
Layer different desserts inside small mason jars so your guests can just pick up one that appeals to them, grab a spoon and go to town.
Layer them however you like, but alternate textures for the best experience.
Here’s some layers that always seem to go over (in no particular order): brownie, ice cream, cake, whip cream, strawberries, pudding… you get it.
Endless flavors. Endless combinations.
FAJITA BITES
Make some bomb fajita, but instead of serving it on plates with rice and beans or in tacos, make them into grab and go apps.
Melt some cheese on top of them and cut them into bite sized pieces. Then pierce grilled or roasted yellow bell pepper to the top of each piece of cheesy fajita with a toothpick.
ICE CREAM SANDWICH BAR
When humans are finally welcomed into an interspecies intergalactic civilization, they’ll probably credit ice cream sandwiches as our greatest creation.
Have everyone bring or bake their favorite cookies (see ‘Outsourcing’ above). Get a bunch of different ice cream flavors and let people go to town making their own ice cream sandwiches.
Put out a little chocolate chip tray too so people can roll some onto the sides of their ice cream sandwiches.
Pro Tip - Warm up the ice cream scooper in hot water (NOT in the microwave) before scooping. It’ll glide through the ice cream like MJ in traffic.
Chickenshit
If you want to make any party or outing instantly fun without any work, get Chickenshit, the social game you play with strangers.
You’ll never be bored again.
Be safe. We don't encourage over-drinking. Know your limits and drink responsibly.
