New Year's Party Games 2025: Keep Your Celebration Lively and Engaging

When you’ve got a big crowd, Telestrations 12 Player Party Pack is a slam dunk—12 sketch books and 2,000+ prompts keep everyone engaged, and the short rounds fit perfectly between midnight countdown snacks. In our testing, the telephone-style reveals land every time, especially with mixed ages. The included dry-erase markers can be hit-or-miss, so we suggest bringing extras. It can get loud and chaotic at full capacity; our experience shows splitting into two tables or appointing a pace-setter keeps things smooth.

This 10th Anniversary TABLE Topics set is a low-stress way to spark conversation as midnight approaches. With 135 question cards in a tidy acrylic box, it’s easy to pass around the room and keep on a coffee table for spontaneous prompts. Our experience shows some themes repeat or feel rephrased, and the cards and packaging aren’t the most durable for heavy rotation. Still, for mixed-age groups and quick icebreakers, it reliably gets guests chatting without rules, setup, or any awkward silence.

Codenames 2.0 remains a go-to word party game, and the revised word list and streamlined rulebook made it even easier to teach in our testing. The new insert keeps cards tidy for fast setup and cleanup, which helps when rotating teams near midnight. Longtime fans might miss the original art style, and some feel the new edition plays a touch differently. Also consider price: retail can be higher than used or older printings, so budget-minded hosts may prefer a previous version.

Hues and Cues shines as a quick, creative icebreaker where players describe colors and guess on a massive spectrum board. We found the rules easy to teach and rounds wrapped in about 20–30 minutes, which is perfect between playlists or to warm up the room. That said, some card swatches don’t perfectly match the printed board, and the foldable board can feel fragile over time. Clue-giving can also stump certain players, so keep prompts lighthearted to maintain the party pace.

Pictionary Air 2 brings a fun twist to charades-style drawing, and in our testing the upgraded light pen’s clear-screen and point-award buttons made hosting smoother. The downloadable clue packs add fresh themes, so it stays lively across multiple rounds. Be aware you’ll need two smart devices and a solid connection; we did encounter occasional app hiccups with multiple devices. To keep guesses legible, our experience shows bigger gestures and slower strokes help a lot—great for family groups that don’t mind some tech setup.

Jenga Giant JS7 turns into a five-foot spectator sport, and during our review the precision-crafted hardwood blocks delivered that satisfying clack and towering drama guests flock to. It comes with a heavy-duty carry bag, but the set is oversized and fairly heavy, so clear space and recruit a helper when moving it. Some buyers report inconsistent finish on individual blocks, which can affect pulls. If you’re weighing the premium price against off-brand sets, our experience shows JS7 shines in durability and presentation for big parties.

If you’re building a quick photo corner, this Big Dot of Happiness kit looks polished thanks to thick cardstock and no-mess printed glitter. We liked that you get 20 props with sticks and adhesive included, though during our review assembly took a few minutes before guests arrived. Cardstock can bend or tear with heavy handling or outdoor humidity, so keep extras or store gently between shots. Also note small parts aren’t suitable for kids under three, so supervise little partygoers.

If you’re running raffles or mini-challenges, this 18-inch WinSpin wheel is easy to customize thanks to its dry-erase acrylic face. In our testing, water-based markers wiped clean quickly, and the dual bearings provided smooth, long spins that build suspense. The base detaches and the unit is lightweight, so it’s simple to transport between party zones, though the low-profile stand can feel wobbly on crowded or uneven tables. Also note the clicker is audible while spinning, which can be loud in quieter rooms.

These 17-inch mylar countdown clock balloons are a fun, affordable way to theme your space and get guests involved. During our review, we liked the included clock-hand stickers for a DIY countdown activity, and the six-pack makes it easy to dress multiple tables or build a festive cluster. Just plan for a little assembly time, and remember thin plastic/mylar won’t hold helium as long as heavier foil. Styles and quantities are fixed, so customization is limited if you want different designs or supersized decor.

Spot It! 123 is a great pick for families with preschoolers who want something fast and educational between countdown snacks. The compact tin travels easily, and in our testing the simple, multiple mini-games kept kids engaged while reinforcing numbers and shapes. Cards and tin are on the small side, which can be fiddly for tiny hands or seniors, and the challenge tapers off for older kids and adults. Also note some editions include fewer cards, so variety can dip in longer sessions.

Throw Throw from Exploding Kittens is chaotic in the best way for quick party rotations, and those squishy foam burritos are surprisingly satisfying to fling. In our testing it took minutes to learn, and both kids and adults jumped in without hand-holding. You do need open space to avoid knocking over drinks, and two-player sessions felt less balanced and less fun. With only two burritos in the bundle, larger-group battles may need extra sets if everyone wants in simultaneously.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is the kind of pick-up-and-play chaos we love for a New Year’s crowd, with a massive selection of boards and minigames that kept our group laughing for hours. In our testing, the local multiplayer shines and the core party modes deliver big-time replayability. Just note that some side modes feel tacked on, and online connectivity can be spotty in certain modes. If you’re on Switch 2, the visual/performance bump only applies in Jamboree TV mode, so plan accordingly for living-room play.

For frantic co-op that gets everyone shouting in the best way, Overcooked! All You Can Eat is a steal, bundling both games plus all DLC for hundreds of kitchens. In our testing, cross-platform online made it easy to pull in friends on different systems, and the accessibility/assist options are excellent for mixed skill levels. Performance can wobble on some versions—expect occasional frame dips, latency, bugs, or long loads. It’s less fun solo, so plan on two to four cooks for peak party chaos.

For an instant living-room dance floor, Just Dance 2026 Edition nails the party vibe with its new Party Mode and 40 fresh tracks spanning current hits and throwbacks. We found the phone-based camera controller handy for guests who don’t want to hold remotes, making drop-in play easy. Be aware that some marquee songs live behind the Just Dance+ subscription, and motion detection can feel inconsistent for competitive players. Streaming videos also occasionally jittered during our review, so a stable connection helps keep the energy up.

If you want instant variety without piles of components, The Jackbox Party Pack delivers with multiple mini-games that cater to different group sizes and play styles. During our review, setup was a breeze since everyone uses a phone or tablet as a controller—great for mixed groups and guests who arrive late. Not every game is a home run, and a few rules explanations can feel confusing the first time. Our tip: curate two or three favorites and give a quick primer to keep momentum high.

Want classic disco sparkle without overwhelming a living room? The ADJ M-1212’s compact 12-inch size throws hundreds of glinting reflections when paired with a pinspot, which in our testing instantly lifted the vibe for small venues and home dance floors. Note you’ll need a separate mirror ball motor and light, and some buyers report quality and safety-hanging concerns for pro installs. It’s also listed as discontinued, so grab it while available if you want a budget-friendly, retro centerpiece for New Year’s countdowns.

Beat That! is our go-to when we want everyone off the couch—easy rules, fast rounds, and 160 challenge cards keep the energy high for mixed-age groups. In our testing, the variety of components sparks hilarious competitions, though a few tasks can feel unrealistic for some players. We found the included timer a bit flimsy, so a phone timer works better. To avoid repetition across multiple sessions, rotate house rules or add an expansion pack, and the laughs keep coming well past midnight.

For instant party keepsakes, the Instax Mini 12 is wonderfully simple—just point, click, and pass around prints that feel special. In our experience, the parallax-corrected close-up mode makes selfies and table shots easier to frame, and the camera’s light weight suits all-night mingling. The fixed flash can’t be turned off and tends to overfire in bright scenes, very dim rooms can underexpose, and some users report occasional blur indoors at certain distances. We found results improve by stepping back a bit, using window light or lamps, and avoiding extremes.