15 Fun New Year's Eve Games to Keep the Party Going 'Til Midnight
No one will want to stop playing until the ball drops!
With the New Year just around the corner, it's time to start planning your celebrations for December 31! If you and your family prefer to keep things cozy for New Year's Eve, an at-home game night will make staying in just as exciting as going out (and a lot more comfortable, too!). You can definitely stack your evening with all the usual board games, card games, and video games your kids know and love, but for a festive twist, why not add games inspired by the holiday to your lineup? We're talking trivia questions related to December 31, word searches and scrambles using holiday terms, scavenger hunts for party items, interactive games using New Year's Eve objects, and so much more.
Whether your family enjoys lively group activities, classic wordplay games, or something even more unique, this compilation of New Year's Eve games has something for everyone. From downloadable templates to holiday-worthy versions of your favorite games, these ideas will bring laughter, friendly competition, and plenty of joy to your New Year's Eve party. Each one is also super quick and easy to pull together, even on the day of! No matter which New Year's Eve games you decide to go with, these fun ideas for adults and kids are guaranteed to keep the momentum going through the ball drop. So, grab the party snacks, put on your best game face, and ring in the New Year with these family-friendly games.
Bring more fun to the festivities with these ideas:
New Year's Eve Goodie Bag Game
Since this New Year’s Eve game involves opening bags of goodies, you’ll have participation from the whole group! Every hour, on the hour, up until midnight, your kids will tear open the corresponding brown paper bag, each of which is filled with candy and other festive treats.
Get the tutorial at Somewhat Simple.
New Year's Eve I Spy Game
"I spy" is always a delight to play with the little ones, but to make the game worthy of a New Year's Eve celebration, download this printable template. It's filled with celebratory objects like balloons, confetti, and party hats that every player will search for. Whoever finds all the items first, wins!
Get the tutorial at Over the Big Moon.
New Year's Eve Mad Libs Game
For a New Year’s Eve game that’ll make everyone laugh until the clock strikes midnight, you’ll want to try this holiday-themed Mad Libs. This printable version is just like the original (players will choose a noun, verb, or adjective, depending on the instructions), yet the story focuses on the New Year.
Get the tutorial at Happiness Is Homemade.
New Year's Eve Marshmallow Toss
This New Year’s Eve, instead of setting up a traditional ball toss, use marshmallows and mugs for an unexpected twist. Set up a collection of mugs in a pyramid-like shape, stuff each one with confetti (the sparklier, the better!), and have the kiddos aim for the target. After the game, celebrate with hot chocolate, topped with marshmallows, of course!
Get the tutorial at Happiness Is Homemade.
New Year's Eve Most Likely To Game
How well do you really know your friends and family? Put your knowledge to the test where players decide who in the group is most likely to do something—whether it's winning the lottery or being afraid of the dark. Guess right, and you get to pick the next topic!
Get the tutorial at Skip to My Lou.
New Year's Eve Word Scramble
Everyone loves a good word game! This festive version asks players to unscramble 15 mixed-up holiday words for the perfect blend of fun and learning!
Get the tutorial at Happiness Is Homemade.
New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt
Great for guests of any age, but especially the kiddos, this free printable scavenger hunt focuses on spotting things that will most likely appear at your New Year's Eve party, like balloons, confetti, and party horns.
Get the tutorial at Toddler Approved.
New Year's Eve Let's Mingle Game
If you have a lot of people at the party who don't know each other well, this game is a fun icebreaker! It will challenge people to small talk over simple questions and get the conversation flowing.
Get the tutorial at Skip to My Lou.
New Year's Eve Toss the Bubbly Game
It’s just like that ball toss game at the county fair, only this time, there’s a champagne twist! See who can get the most ping pong balls into the jumbo glass during this game of “Toss the Bubbly.”
Get the tutorial at Crafterward.
New Year’s Eve Word Search
If word searches are a thing in your family, then you’ll definitely need to print these for your New Year’s Eve festivities. Use glitter pens to channel the celebrations even further!
Get the tutorial at Happiness is Homemade.
New Year’s Eve Memories Game
New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to share your memories from the past year, something that you can do with the help of this printable game.
Get the tutorial at Alice & Lois.
New Year’s Eve Scattergories
This is a fun game to play as a couple on New Year’s Eve. It works just like the classic Scattergories game, except this one is New Year’s-themed.
Get the tutorial at Play Party Plan.
New Year’s Eve Pom Pom Toss
Here’s a game that the littlest members of your family will love! The player will try to toss in as many pom poms as they can into a hat, either over a partner’s head or by simply facing one another.
Get the tutorial at Days with Grey.
New Year’s Eve Bingo
Turn New Year’s Eve into bingo night! The added bonus of this game? You get to play with Hershey’s Kisses and eat them, too!
Get the tutorial at Pretty Providence.
Would You Rather Game
We bet your kids will really have to ponder these questions during this Would You Rather game—with a New Year’s twist. Use black-eyed peas to track points in a festive way!
Get the tutorial at Play Party Plan.
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