Cocktail party games for adults are a seriously underrated way to make your party more fun. Instead of just standing around sipping cocktails, engage in exciting games that all your guests will love!
As cocktail party fanatics, it’s safe to say we’ve tried our fair share of party games. Now, we want to share the best of those games with you!
From pool games to card games and even games that turn you into a detective, we’ve rounded up our top picks to make your cocktail party unforgettable and fun.
Key Takeaways
- There are so many types of party games for adults! You can find party games to fit the occasion regardless of your budget, space, or guest list.
- Cocktail party games should be fun, and while a little friendly competition is good, highly competitive or athletic games aren’t recommended.
- Most adult party games can be reused for multiple parties!
- Cocktail party games are a great way to get guests to try the drinks you’ve made and get the conversation flowing.
Murder Mystery Game
One of our favorite adult party games is murder mystery games that invite you and your guests to uncover clues, examine the evidence, and solve a murder!
Communication is key if you want to successfully solve the mystery, so it’s a great ice-breaker for a cocktail or dinner party.
The best part is the variety of mysteries to choose from! Investigate a murder at a movie theater, on a boat, the murder of a millionaire, and more. There’s always a new case to be solved!
Beware: not all murder mystery games are made equal! Some are too easy to solve, and others are just downright boring.
We’ve enjoyed murder mystery games from Cryptic Killers the best, and they’re convenient to order from Amazon.
Two Truths and A Lie
If you’re searching for fun party games that will have everyone laughing, Two Truths and A Lie is always a winner. As an added bonus, it’s free! This proves you don’t have to spend money to have fun games planned for your cocktail party.
The concept of the game is simple; say two things about yourself that are true and one that’s a lie. The other cocktail party guests have to guess what the lie is.
You can easily turn this into a drinking game by making a rule that everyone who guesses incorrectly has to take a drink. When everyone has guessed, reveal your truths, and another party guest can take their turn telling Two Truths and A Lie.
Depending on the size of your cocktail party, you can split into teams and just have your teammates guess which statement was a lie instead of every party guest.
If you’re struggling to get started, this guide has some inspiration and ideas to make your game more successful.
Giant Beer Pong
Giant beer pong is sure to be a hit at your next party, and it’s a great way to make a cocktail party feel more casual.
Instead of using plastic cups and ping pong balls on a table, this outdoor kit has been supersized! Arrange the cups on the lawn or patio before the game begins and form two teams of two.
When the game starts, players take turns tossing their balls, trying to make it into a cup of the opposing team. If a ball lands in a cup, the opposing team members have to take a drink.
It’s a friendly competition that moves quickly, so other guests will have plenty of time to have a try too!
Ladder Toss
The last thing you want is to plan cocktail and dinner party games that are too difficult. Highly athletic games will not be fun for all your guests; they will probably bring the vibe down for the whole party.
Playing games that everyone can do successfully is a much better choice!
Ladder toss is the perfect game if you want to get outside and enjoy a simple game. The best part? You can keep your ladder toss game for other parties!
This is a great game for any size cocktail party because it can be played with as little as two people or teams.
Giant Jenga
Jenga is a classic game that’s usually played on a tabletop indoors, but your cocktail party deserves to take it up a notch! Giant Jenga is one of the best outdoor cocktail party games for quick, easy entertainment.
Unfortunately, purchasing the game comes with a steep price tag. The large wooden pieces are solid enough to last for years to come, though!
We love this version of the classic party game that turns it into a drinking game. There are holes for jello shots built into the wooden pieces.
If you successfully pull out a piece with a shot in it, you do the shot before the next player takes their turn.
The Mixologist Cocktail Game
The Mixologist Cocktail Game is a cocktail-inspired board game. This party game is best played indoors with 2-6 players or in two or more teams of 6+ players.
The game includes chances, twists, and general knowledge about cocktails that will challenge your guests. While the party game is cocktail-themed, you don’t have to drink to play.
It’s very casual and allows for plenty of conversation and (optional) cocktail sipping while you play.
Wordtini
Some adult party games are too long and drawn out to be enjoyable. Wordtini is the exact opposite of that! The fast-paced game can be tailored to match the crowd at your party.
The letter-filled dice are shaken and rolled. Then guests hurry to make a word out of the letters.
If you’re with close friends, feel free to add NSFW vocabulary to the mix.
There are 20 challenge cards with the party game, too, making it easier to rack up points quickly and adding an additional challenge while you build words with the dice.
This game is super easy to travel with, so you can even take it to a cocktail party you aren’t hosting.
Tell Me Without Telling Me
Tell Me Without Telling Me is a card game that’s been blowing up on social media lately. Each card has a prompt on it and instructions on how to “tell” what the card says.
The options are “show, don’t tell,” “one syllable,” and “freestyle.” Teams compete to see who can successfully guess what’s on the card the fastest.
Even if you don’t guess correctly, you’ll be rolling in laughter along the way!
This party game requires no preparation or setup, which is always a big win in our book.
Floating Corn Hole
If you’re looking for cocktail party games to play on a hot day, why not head straight to the water?! This adult party pool game is a fun twist on a traditional cornhole game. The 36-inch inflatable cornhole boards float on top of the water while you try to toss floating bean bags into the holes to score points.
This game doesn’t require any thinking. You just need to have fun! Even grown-ups need to splash around in the sun from time to time, so why not at your cocktail party?
Spin the Bottle Drinking Game
We always recommend having some party games in the back of your mind that can be thrown together quickly if your cocktail party starts to have an awkward lull.
The spin-the-bottle game is simple. To start, you should line the edges of a table with drinks. These can be bottled drinks, cocktails, or shots. Next, find an empty bottle to place in the middle of the table.
Take turns spinning the bottle, and wherever the bottleneck points, drink that drink. This is a fun way to get guests to try all the drinks you prepared for the cocktail party too! After you drink, the next person spins, and the game continues like that until the drinks are finished.
FAQ
How do you keep people entertained at a cocktail party?
Cocktail party games are our favorite way to keep people entertained! In addition to fun party games, create a music playlist to play during the party. If you don’t have the time to make your own playlist, you can find plenty of premade options on Spotify and Apple Music.
Do you have to plan games for a cocktail party?
Party games are not required for any cocktail party, but they help keep things light and fun. Party games can act as ice-breakers to get guests to mingle and get everyone laughing.
How long does a cocktail party last?
Most cocktails last 2 to 3 hours, but it’s up to the discretion of the host.
