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Quick games
Under 10 minutes
Short games for when the program is running behind, a game ended early, or you have ten minutes before the food arrives. Everything here is done inside ten minutes including the explanation, which is the part people forget to budget for. Most need nothing bought, so you can decide on one and start it in the same breath.
48 games
- Hep Hep Hooray10–150 people · 10 min · HighHost shouts “hep hep” and players raise their hands, or “hooray” and they clap — but only if the host's own hands match.
- Human Bingo15–100 people · 10 min · CalmEveryone gets a grid of traits and hunts for people who match them. First to complete a line shouts bingo.
- Junk in the Trunk2–20 people · 5 min · HighA tissue box of ping pong balls is strapped to your back. Shake them all out in one minute.
- Longest Line20–150 people · 10 min · MediumTeams build the longest possible line out of whatever they have on them. Shoes, belts, IDs, anything.
- Gift Wrapping Race8–40 people · 10 min · HighTeams wrap an awkward object against the clock. Judged on speed and on how presentable it ends up.
- Stop Dance10–80 people · 10 min · HighEveryone dances while the music plays; when it stops, the host shouts a command and the last person to obey is out.
- Pass the Message8–60 people · 10 min · CalmA phrase is whispered down a line of players; the last one says it out loud and everyone hears how wrong it went.
- Rock Paper Scissors Tournament10–300 people · 10 min · HighPairs play rock-paper-scissors; each loser becomes the winner's cheerleader until two players face off with the whole room screaming.
- Rock Paper Scissors Evolution12–150 people · 8 min · HighEveryone starts as an egg; win rock-paper-scissors against someone at your stage to evolve into a chicken, a dinosaur, then a human.
- Would You Rather4–200 people · 10 min · MediumThe host reads two choices and everyone walks to the side of the room that matches their answer.
- Hot Potato6–40 people · 10 min · MediumPass a small object around a circle as fast as you can; whoever holds it when the music stops is out.
- Simon Says5–200 people · 10 min · MediumPlayers copy the leader's commands only when they start with “Simon says”; obey a command without it and you're out.
- Musical Statues6–50 people · 10 min · HighDance while the music plays, freeze like a statue when it stops; anyone who wobbles or laughs is out.
- The Boat Is Sinking15–200 people · 10 min · ChaosThe host shouts “The boat is sinking — group yourselves into five!” and anyone not in a group of exactly that size is out.
- Guess How Many5–300 people · 5 min · CalmGuests guess how many sweets are in a jar; the closest guess wins the jar at the end of the party.
- Face the Cookie2–20 people · 8 min · MediumA cookie sits on your forehead. Wriggle it down to your mouth using only your face — no hands.
- Blow the Cup2–20 people · 8 min · MediumBlow on a cup nested inside another so it jumps into the empty cup next to it. Most jumps in a minute wins.
- Suck It Up2–20 people · 8 min · MediumUsing only a straw in your mouth, pick up candies one at a time by suction and move them to another plate.
- Stack Attack2–16 people · 10 min · HighBuild a 36-cup pyramid, then take it all back down into a single stack before the minute is up.
- Movin' On Up2–16 people · 8 min · MediumHold a tall stack of cups with one odd-coloured cup at the bottom, and move cups top to bottom until it comes back round.
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Common questions
What party game can I run in five minutes?
Hep Hep Hooray, Bring Me or a single round of Pinoy Henyo. All three explain in under a minute, which is what actually makes a game short.