Planning a party for teens requires a strategy to ensure it goes smoothly. They want a fun party that isn’t awkward, and party games for teens can make or break it. Games for middle school and high school teens are fun at all kinds of parties, from birthdays, sleepovers, or just a Friday night get-together. When the right games are chosen, they can turn a potentially awkward party into a relaxed, memorable time.
Parties often involve mixed friend groups, where some people may not know everyone very well. Helping everyone relax and become comfortable with one another can make it memorable in a good way, and it can help strengthen friendships and create new ones. Think connection and laughter without anyone feeling embarrassed, focusing on inclusion and emotional comfort.
You’ll want to choose games with the mixed friend groups in mind – avoiding putting anyone on the spot. If you want effortless, that’s definitely an option, or you can go all out and be over-the-top. Whatever you decide, there are plenty to choose from.
From low-pressure icebreakers to hilarious challenges, these party games for teens get them talking, moving, having fun, and feeling relaxed with friends.
What Makes a Party Game “Teen-Approved”
Teen party games should not feel forced. You should strive to choose games that the teens are excited to play, and don’t think of as being lame. Teens are more likely to join in when they don’t feel like they’ll be singled out or watched. Team and group games are perfect because they don’t spotlight anyone, preventing anxiety and embarrassment for shy teens. To improve participation in a party fame, you can implement some sort of prize or reward to give the teens an incentive.
Games for teens should also have clear rules and a quick setup (also quick cleanup, IYKYK). You don’t want to bore the teens with long rules that they won’t listen to.
Once you know what makes a game “teen-approved”, you can start choosing ones that work for an upcoming party.
Icebreaker Party Games for Teens That Aren’t Cringey
Icebreakers can be cringey if they’re awkward, but casual games can fill the role without teens thinking it’s lame. They involve question-and-answer games and team-based games. Icebreaker games often lead to side conversations, too, promoting connections.
When doing icebreakers, the best way to make them feel like they’re not icebreakers is to set them out early and not announce it. Let the teens find them and get started on their own.
21 Questions
When playing in a group, one person will have to answer up to 21 Questions asked by everyone else. Don’t force anyone to be the one to answer the questions – instead, let them volunteer, so no one feels pressured or uncomfortable. You can either have the group take turns asking or have them call out answers as they think of them. Once the 21 questions have been asked and answered, it’s time for someone else to be the one to answer.
Guess the Song
Play a few seconds of a song and have teens guess what it is. The first team to answer gets a point, or you can just let people call out answers without keeping score. To make it even more fun and engaging for teens, rotate who controls the music so everyone can choose some songs for others to guess.
Guess the Song is a great party game for teens because it doesn’t single anyone out. It also gives them something to connect over right away, making it easier to form bonds throughout the party.
Who Am I?
Teens have the name of a well-known person or character taped or stuck with a sticky note to their forehead and have to guess what it says by asking yes-or-no questions. It gets teens talking without having to rely on awkward introductions.
Would You Rather?
Instead of having teens say their answer out loud, ask a “Would You Rather” question and then have them move to designated sides of the room based on their answer. This gets them talking in smaller groups amongst themselves, so conversation flows naturally. Another game that is kind of similar, but also completely different, is paranoia questions, where many of the questions happen to be would you rather questions about other participants.
Casual Conversation Jar
While this isn’t exactly a game, conversation jars help build social-emotional learning skills while helping teens get to know one another. To ensure teens don’t have to answer any question that makes them uncomfortable, it’s okay to let them choose which ones to participate in or read aloud.
You can also make your own conversation jar for teens, adding customized questions to any empty jar. Consider adding questions like, “What song do you have on repeat right now?” or “What is your least favorite snack?”
Active Teen Party Games That Don’t Feel Forced
Game night energy might come across as cringey or childish, so the goal is to find active games that help release nervous energy without feeling childish.
Long competitions leave teens feeling overly structured because they require long stretches of attention. Short bursts of activity help release nervous energy and then allow teens to relax again so they can enjoy the party.
It’s great for the beginning of a party or when energy starts to dip. Since these are group games, teens can participate without feeling trapped or pressured. It also allows quieter teens to engage without feeling overwhelmed.
Minute to Win It Challenges
Quick Minute to Win It challenges are perfect because they’re short and optional. Teens can cheer on their friends from the sidelines, jump in for rounds that sound like fun to them, and switch up their teams without guilt. You can find plenty of challenges that only require cups, snacks, or random household items, or you can substitute what’s been used before for what you have on hand.
Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt with flexible rules involves creating a list of items to find or tasks to complete. Teens can either do it alone, in pairs, or as a small group, checking off each item as they go. The first to finish wins! Keep the scavenger hunt short so no one loses interest.
Sardines
Sardines is like reverse hide and seek, so one player hides and everyone else seeks. When a seeker finds the hiding player, they join them in their spot. Seekers continue joining those in the hiding spot – the last person to find the group becomes the next person to hide.
Creative Party Games That Get Everyone Laughing
Collaborative drawing, storytelling, or challenge games are teen favorites that allow them to contribute at their own comfort level while sharing humor. Laughing together encourages natural connection, positivity, and a relaxed but fun setting for everyone.
Pictionary
A classic favorite, Pictionary helps teens bond, build connections, and laugh together. Drawing skills don’t matter here, because the best belly laughs will often come from terrible drawings. Quiet and outgoing teens will both love this because they can participate on the level that is comfortable to them and still have a great time.
You can play traditional Pictionary with paper or dry erase boards, or choose a digital option, including one that syncs to your TV for everyone to see and use or an app on your phone.
Anomia
Anomia is fast-paced and leads to hilarious moments when two players flip matching symbols and race to give an example from their opponent’s category. When the matching cards flip, pressure goes up, so it’s easy to accidentally give a wrong answer or struggle to think of even easy words.
Card Games for Teen Parties That are Low-Pressure and Easy
Card games are perfect for teen parties because they’re familiar, easy to set up, and typically don’t require someone to be the center of attention. When you have mixed friend groups, quieter teens, or just need something calm but fun, these card games are a great option.
Spoons
An old-fashioned game of Spoons is so much fun, moves quickly, and doesn’t require much explanation. It keeps teens focused, entertained, and excited as they sit in a circle passing cards until someone gets four matching, then quietly grabs a spoon. When they pick up the spoon, it signals to the other players that they should also grab one. The person left without a spoon is “out”.
Uno
Uno is easy to learn, and many players will already know it. It’s competitive without being intense, and can be played by small or large groups. Players can jump in and out between rounds, talk while they play, and have something to do with their hands as they get to know the others better.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
This game is fast-paced, easy to learn, doesn’t require strategy or pressure, and is hilarious. Players take turns placing cards and saying a word from the game’s name (Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza) in order until the card that is played matches the word said aloud.
When a player lays a card that matches what they said, everyone races to slap the pile. Sometimes a card will be played that requires doing a certain motion or sound, adding to the humor and excitement.
Conclusion on Choosing the Best Games for a Teen Party
The best teen party games aren’t overly structured and won’t consume each minute of the event. Instead, it’s about creating an environment where it’s safe to laugh and connect while feeling comfortable enough to relax. You also want to listen to your teens, and run game ideas by them before the party. If they feel like they had a say in what games were played, they’re more likely to participate enthusiastically.
From fun icebreakers to short movement games or creative challenges, these options can all help teens feel comfortable with those around them. When they feel comfortable and included, conversation flows more naturally, friendships deepen, and the party becomes memorable.