You found our list of fun dinner party games.
Dinner party games are interactive activities designed to entertain guests at a social gathering where a meal is served. For example, Charades, Murder Mystery, and Who Am I. The purpose of these games is to enhance social interaction, provide amusement, and stimulate conversation among attendees. These dinner party games are also known as dinner party activities and games for team dinners.
These activities are a subset of party games are similar to parlor games, conversation games, and get to know you games. You can also play these games during virtual team dinners and office parties.
This list includes:
- dinner party games for adults
- Christmas dinner party games
- dinner party games for adults with no materials
- dinner party games for small groups
- dinner party games to play at a restaurant
- murder mystery dinner party games
- dinner party games for large groups
Let’s get to it!
List of dinner party games
From Eavesdrop Bingo to Trivia, here is our list of the best games for dinner parties.
1. Eavesdrop Bingo
Eavesdrop Bingo is a dinner party game where guests listen to conversations and mark off phrases on their Bingo cards.
Examples:
- “Can I get this recipe?”
- “I can’t believe how fast this year went by.”
- “Did you see the news about…?”
- “Oh, I’m just so busy these days.”
- “We should do this more often!”
This game encourages active listening, social interaction, and laughter, which helps build camaraderie among participants and adds to the party atmosphere. Simply print Bingo Cards with common dinner party phrases, then give a prize to the first player who calls Bingo.
This activity also ranks as one of the top dinner party games for large groups.
Check out icebreaker Bingo.
2. Random Word Cloak and Dagger
Random Word Cloak and Dagger is an exciting party game where players sneak a specific word into conversations. This activity is one of the easiest dinner party games for adults with no materials.
At the start of the evening, each player receives a random word. Throughout the night, each player must slip that word into conversation as many times as possible without getting caught. If another guest correctly identifies the word, then that player is out. At the end of dinner, the player who has used the word most often without getting caught is the winner.
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3. Do Not Mind the Tiger
Do Not Mind the Tiger is a fun game for the dinner party. To play the game, first get a picture, figure, or stuffed animal of a tiger. Throughout the evening, guests will pass around the tiger. The point of the game is to make other guests look at the tiger unexpectedly. Every player will start with ten points and lose a point whenever they look at the tiger. The game gets fun as folks find creative ways to sneak the tiger into view. You can substitute the animal for any tiger or object.
4. Twisted Toasts
Twisted Toasts is one of the most fun dinner party games for adults.
At some point throughout the evening, guests must make a short toast, but it must include three completely random words. An example could be jellyfish, umbrella, and toaster. The challenge is to make the words sound natural in the context of the speech. After every player has gone, the group votes on who gave the best speech.
5. The Last Word
The Last Word is a lively conversation game that challenges participants to think quickly while keeping the dialogue flowing. One player starts the game by saying a complete sentence, and the last word becomes the first word for the next person. For example, if the first person says, “I love chocolate ice cream,” the next might respond, “Ice cream melts quickly in the sun.”
The game continues as players build off each other’s sentences, creating a chain of connected thoughts. The excitement escalates as guests try to avoid hesitation or repetition, and if someone stumbles, they are out of the round. This game sharpens quick-thinking skills and fosters creativity and laughter, making it a perfect addition to any gathering.
Check out more word games.
6. Dinner Rules
Each participant creates a random, whimsical rule that all guests must follow throughout the evening. For example, speaking only in rhymes, using a specific funny accent, or making exaggerated hand gestures while talking. At the start of the evening, each guest takes turns sharing their rule, and once established, the challenge is on! Guests must navigate conversations and interactions while adhering to these hilarious mandates, leading to uproarious moments and unexpected twists. To add a fun twist, a “rule enforcement officer” could gently remind participants of their silly rules, ensuring folks stay on their toes!
7. Spoons
Spoons is a fast-paced card game in which players compete to collect four matching cards. Players pass cards swiftly, grabbing new ones and discarding old ones. The first player who collects four matching cards seizes a spoon, leading to a lively scramble for the remaining spoons. Spoons is an enjoyable and competitive game that brings excitement to any gathering, keeping all participants entertained and engaged in friendly competition.
8. Questions from an Envelope
Questions from an Envelope is a lively conversation game for dinner parties. The host fills an envelope with random questions, or guests each put questions into the envelope. Then, players take turns picking questions from the envelope throughout the evening and discussing the answers.
Here is a list of random questions.
9. Assassins
Assassins is one of the best dinner party murder mystery games. Each guest starts the night by getting a plastic spoon and the name of another guest, their “target.” If the assassin successfully taps their target with their spoon, the target is “dead,” and the assassin receives that person’s target. However, if anyone sees the assassin make the attack, then the assassin is out. Throughout the game, players can guess who killed who and when. The game continues until only one assassin remains.
This game is similar to Werewolf.
10. Flavor Roulette
Flavor Roulette spices up any dinner party by challenging guests’ taste buds. This game is similar to the blindfold taste test on Hell’s Kitchen. Each participant tries a mystery dish or condiment blindfolded and guesses that ingredient. A correct guess earns points, and the winner receives a special prize.
11. Story Swap Dinner
Invite guests to bring a story to share during dinner. Each guest writes their story’s title on a card and places it into a hat. Each player draws a card, reads the story aloud, and guesses who authored it. This game enhances bonding and stimulates engaging conversations.
12. Memory Mismatch
Memory Mismatch is a fun, interactive dinner party game with a twist on shared memories. Each guest writes down a memory involving another person at the party but adds one fictional detail. After hearing the tale, the group determines which part of the story is made up. This game sparks lively discussions, brings up fun past experiences, and challenges the group’s memory and creativity while adding humor to the evening.
13. Guess the Guest
Guess the Guest is an engaging dinner party game in which players impersonate famous figures for others to guess. This game promotes creativity and teamwork as players give clues, leading to laughter among friends. The game tests pop culture knowledge in a fun way, sparking conversations and creating lasting memories at gatherings.
14. Speed Sommelier
Speed Sommelier is one of the best dinner party games to play at a restaurant.
Each participant receives a random drink, like juice, soda, or water, and has just 60 seconds to give a dramatic, creative description of it as if it were a fine wine. Players must use elaborate language to describe the “flavor notes,” “aromas,” and “mouthfeel,” no matter how ordinary the drink is. For example, a player might describe orange juice as “sun-kissed citrus” with a “playful tartness and honey-like finish.” The exaggerated descriptions lead to lots of laughs, blending creativity with humor.
15. The Nostalgia Menu
In this nostalgic activity, create a hypothetical menu where each course represents a different life phase, like childhood or teenage years. Guests share a memory connected to food from the time of each course. For instance, during the “childhood” course, a player might recall their grandmother’s homemade cookies or a favorite school snack. This activity sparks personal stories and highlights how food shapes our memories and relationships, blending storytelling with a shared dining experience.
16. Guess the Gadget
Guess the Gadget is a fun dinner party game that sparks curiosity. As guests arrive, they find old or quirky kitchen gadgets displayed as centerpieces. Each player examines these items and guesses their intended use based on their shape and design. The anticipation builds as folks share theories, creating lively conversation. After every player has guessed, the host reveals the actual purpose of each gadget, often leading to surprised reactions and humorous discussions. This game serves as an entertaining icebreaker and encourages guests to share their own cooking experiences, fostering a lively atmosphere throughout the evening.
17. Dish Drawing Duel
This game is a twist on Pictionary. Paper napkins are the canvas. Split the dinner groups into teams of three or four based on where they are sitting. Each team will have an artist, and the host will whisper the same word to all the artists each round. Instead of only one team drawing at a time, all teams will begin drawing at once and race to guess the food-related drawing first. The “duel” adds a sense of anticipation and can add laughter and loudness to the table.
18. Who Am I?
Who Am I? is a well-known dinner party game where players wear sticky notes with famous names on their foreheads. The goal is to guess the identity on the post-its by asking yes or no questions, which promotes critical thinking and creativity. The game can take away the awkwardness of starting conversations because the mission is to figure out that mystery gives folks a reason to talk to each other, making it easier to transition into personal discussions later in the evening.
Learn more about guessing games.
19. The Compliment Chain
The Compliment Chain is a heartwarming game in which dinner party guests give genuine compliments to the person next to them. This exercise fosters positivity and strengthens bonds, uplifting participants, creating a warm atmosphere, and encouraging kindness. The activity also leads to meaningful connections and an unforgettable dining experience.
20. Alphabet Game
The Alphabet Game is an engaging icebreaker that sparks friendly competition among guests. Participants choose a category, such as animals, countries, or food, and take turns naming something from that category alphabetically. For example, if the category is animals, then the first person might say “alligator,” followed by “bear,” “cat,” and so on. The game continues until a participant stumbles or cannot think of a valid entry, eliminating them from the round. As the pace quickens, guests must think quickly and creatively, leading to laughter and conversation as they cheer each other on.
21. Guilty Pleasures
Guilty Pleasures is a fun dinner party game encouraging guests to share personal quirks while fostering connection and laughter. Each guest takes a turn revealing their guilty pleasure—such as a cheesy TV show, an embarrassing song, or an indulgent food item. After a participant shares, the others guess why it qualifies as a guilty pleasure, exploring the reasons behind their choices, which can lead to discussions about nostalgia or simply the enjoyment of something deemed “bad.” As guests engage in guessing, they often share their own guilty pleasures, creating a relatable atmosphere. This game promotes openness and sparks entertaining conversations, creating an unforgettable evening filled with laughter and camaraderie.
22. Mystery Object
Mystery Object is one of the best dinner party games for small groups.
In this game, one player chooses an object and describes it without revealing its identity. The other guests then take turns guessing what the object is based on the clues given. This activity can stimulate conversation and entertain the group throughout the evening. The game can also improve folks’ powers of observation and listening skills.
23. Fantasy Dinner Party Draft
A Fantasy Dinner Party Draft is a fun game where players create a guest list for an imaginary dinner party. This exercise puts a fun twist on the “if you could have dinner with any five figures” question. Give the group an example scenario, and then have each guest share which people, real or imaginary, they would invite to their dinner party under those circumstances.
For example:
- In a haunted mansion
- Underwater
- Crashing a wedding together
- A diplomatic dinner to solve a world crisis
- A dinner with visiting aliens
The scenarios and answers can be serious or silly.
24. Placemat Games
Placemat games make great dinner party games to play at a table. You can print games like word searches, icebreaker questions, coloring pages, and tic-tac-toe on place mats and encourage guests to play with each other during dinner. You could even make an interactive game where players must pass their mats to the next person in line, for example, written telephone, trivia, or surveys.
25. Pitches from a Napkin
Pitches from a Napkin involves players generating business ideas spontaneously on a napkin. This activity promotes creativity, teamwork, and quick thinking, making it a great icebreaker for dinner parties. The game combines creativity with communication in a fun way, enabling players to display their entrepreneurial spirit while socializing with friends or colleagues.
26. Trivia
Trivia can be both educational and entertaining, making it an excellent choice for dinner parties. Guests can team up and answer questions on various topics, from history to pop culture. This game spices up the gathering with friendly competition while stimulating participant conversations.
Learn more about trivia questions
27. Tradition or Not?
Tradition or Not is one of the best Christmas dinner party games. During this activity, each player takes a turn sharing a family tradition. The other players must then guess whether the tradition is real or fiction. This exercise makes one of the best Christmas dinner party games and can be a great way to share personal details with the group and foster deeper connections.
Final Thoughts
Dinner party games can ensure that every guest enjoys their time, talks, and does not get too hangry. These activities can serve as icebreakers and strengthen bonds through shared experiences. Whether you choose a game that challenges the palate or tests storytelling skills, each option adds a unique flavor to your gathering. Remember, the right game can transform an ordinary dinner into an unforgettable event.
Next, check out our posts on improv games and large group games.
