New Year's Eve Party Games 2025: Fun Activities for Festive Guests

Table Topics’ Holiday pack is a stress-free way to spark festive chatter across Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, with 120 family‑friendly prompts in a compact box. In our testing, it worked well for 2–12 players and slotted nicely into 10–60 minute windows between party games, though some questions can feel repetitive if you draw widely. For multi‑generational groups 6+ who prefer conversation over competition, it’s an easy set‑and‑forget addition to the coffee table.

For a quieter moment before midnight, We're Not Really Strangers creates meaningful conversations fast. During our review, the compact deck and 15–30 minute rounds made it easy to rotate pairs or small groups of 2–6 players. Our experience shows some prompts can feel repetitive on repeat plays, and personal questions may be too intimate for mixed company—setting skip rules helps. If your crowd skews 15+ and you want connection over competition, this deck is a thoughtful pick.

Planning a sing-along countdown? Hitster: Guilty Pleasures shines with 300 music cards and multiple modes that worked for both casual guests and competitive friends during our review. We loved how 30‑minute sessions for 2–10 players kept the energy high, but note it leans on Spotify for full functionality, which can be limiting if your Wi‑Fi hiccups or not everyone has an account. For 16+ groups, it’s a hilarious way to turn your NYE playlist into a party game.

Movie buffs will love Blockbuster’s team-based showdowns, which in our testing delivered fast 30‑minute rounds and plenty of nostalgic quotables for 4–10 players. It’s a great New Year’s icebreaker for ages 12+, but the time pressure can stress casual players and the card prompts rely on broad movie knowledge—some groups may see repeats or stall on obscure titles. If your crowd speaks fluent cinema, this keeps banter lively between countdown snacks and champagne toasts.

Looking for a nostalgia-fueled icebreaker? Trivial Pursuit: Decades 2010–2020 delivered tons of 'remember when' moments in our testing, thanks to 300 cards and 1,800 pop-culture questions. With 2–6 players and 30–90 minute sessions, we found it works well for small groups or team play during New Year's countdowns. Do note the recommended age of 16+, plus some small printed text and occasional misprints; good lighting and quick card swaps help keep the game moving.

Linkee brings big-group trivia energy to New Year’s Eve, handling anywhere from 2 to 30 players with light rules that newcomers grasp in minutes. In our testing, the 30-minute rounds kept momentum high, though question difficulty jumps around and a few clue sets felt region-specific, which can trip up mixed or non‑US crowds. If you want a party game for ages 12+ that scales up and lets latecomers jump in easily, this fits the bill—just expect a little inconsistency in challenge.

Monikers is our go-to for late‑night NYE groups because it’s simple to teach and snowballs into laughter as teams build inside jokes across its three escalating rounds. During our review, 30–60 minute games with 4–16 players moved fast, though a few references felt dated for younger guests and the card stock isn’t as premium as pricier party decks. If your crowd is 17+ and loves charades‑style antics, this delivers big replay value despite the occasional throwback card.

Telestrations 12 Player Party Pack never fails to spark laughter in our testing, especially with larger groups. The set includes 12 erasable sketchbooks and cleanup cloths, so you can run quick 15–20 minute rounds back-to-back without burning through paper. It can get noisy and chaotic—great for a lively countdown, less ideal if your gathering is low-key—and some markers arrive dry, so we recommend grabbing a spare pack. With support for 4–12 players and a casual learning curve, anyone can jump in.

Compared with classic Pictionary, Pictionary Air 2 got big laughs in our testing thanks to the upgraded light pen that lets you add points and clear the screen, plus two device stands that make setup smoother. Digital clue packs kept mixed‑age groups (8+) engaged over 30–60 minute sessions for 3–12 players, but the app can be finicky—expect occasional disconnects and jagged or ghost lines if the camera alignment isn’t perfect. You’ll also need two smart devices and a compatible TV or streamer for the full experience.

Beat That! turns your living room into a mini carnival with 160 goofy dexterity challenges that had our testers laughing through ten quick rounds. We found it works well for mixed‑age groups 8+ and scales from 2–8 players, but some tasks require coordination that may frustrate very young kids, and you’ll need a clear table or floor space. Plan for 30–90 minute sessions and lots of movement—perfect for shaking off the midnight lull on New Year’s Eve.

If your New Year’s crew ranges from 2 to 8 players, Sushi Go Party! keeps everyone engaged with 20‑minute drafting rounds and a customizable menu that dials complexity up or down. During our review, replayability was excellent, though the bigger box is less portable than the original tin and you’ll shuffle a lot between rounds—flimsier cards don’t love heavy wear. For families 8+ who want quick, flavorful strategy without rules overhead, this is an easy crowd favorite.

Just One is a crowd-pleaser in our testing: rules teach in under a minute, the small box packs easily, and 20‑minute co‑op rounds suit 3–7 players perfectly. Our experience shows it plays best with a larger table, and the included markers/easels can show wear or write faintly after a few sessions, with some word cards repeating for seasoned groups. For mixed‑age parties 8+ looking for teamwork over competition, it’s a reliable icebreaker to slot between longer games.

For a cozy New Year’s countdown, The Hygge Game turns any gathering into warm conversation with 300+ prompts and easy rules that get 2+ players talking in minutes. In our experience, 15–45 minute sessions work well between other party games, but it’s meant for ages 14+ and isn’t ideal for younger kids; plus, prompts can feel repetitive with the same group over time. If you’re after low‑key connection over scoring, the compact box travels beautifully and stores neatly.

If you're crafting DIY party props or trophy tokens for your New Year's games, the Easy PLA CMYK Set is a handy starter palette. In our testing, the tight 1.75 mm ±0.02 mm tolerance delivered consistent extrusion, and the vacuum-sealed 0.5 kg spools stayed dry in storage. Some printers showed under-extrusion or feeding issues with rougher sections, so we slowed speeds and bumped temps to dial it in. Just note the smaller spools aren't ideal for oversized decorations.

Jackbox Party Pack is our go-to for big New Year's groups because anyone can join with a phone—no extra controllers needed. During our review, the quick 15–30 minute games kept energy high, and some titles even support audiences up to 100 players for interactive mayhem. Content skews teen/adult (13+), so family filters or moderation help, and not every minigame is a hit. You'll also need a shared screen and internet-connected devices, which can complicate remote play setups.

For a video-game spin on party night, Super Mario Party Jamboree piles on variety with 110+ minigames. In our testing, it's fantastic for online matchups up to 20 players, but local sessions cap at four on a single system, so bigger living-room groups will need multiple consoles. Some minigames feel luck-heavy or repetitive, and the menus can be a bit bloated, which slows setup. Still, the casual difficulty and quick modes make it easy for mixed ages to jump in.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a party staple for a reason: 5–10 minute races and revamped Battle Mode keep the room buzzing. In our testing, the massive track roster—especially when paired with the Booster Course Pass—means you can run endless cups without repeats, locally or online with up to 12 players. Rubber-banding and AI balancing can irk competitive drivers, and online options lack some fine-tuning. Still, it's one of the easiest all-ages picks to get everyone playing fast.