I’ve hosted enough Halloween get-together’s to know that the energy of the night depends almost entirely on the games. Decorations help, costumes help, but without solid halloween games… the vibe sort of fizzles. People stand around eating chips and trying to look entertained. So I’ve been jotting down ideas over the years, some chaotic, some surprisingly wholesome, some that nearly got my living room destroyed.
This list isn’t polished or Pinterest-y. Just real stuff that actually works for different groups, from kids hyped on sugar to adults who “don’t do costumes” but show up anyway. And I’m mixing in Halloween party games, scary Halloween games, DIY Halloween games, all that topical authority stuff people search for when they suddenly realize their party is tomorrow night.
Classic Halloween Party Games (But with Slight Upgrades
Sometimes the old-school games slap harder than anything new. But adding small twists keeps them from feeling like forced nostalgia. And honestly, if you’re into that retro vibe, you’d probably love checking out some of the best classic picks over on all-time best arcade games or browsing their whole section of arcade games for even more party inspo.
Bobbing for Apples… Without the Soaked Faces
The original version is a bit… chaotic. And, yeah, kinda gross when you think about ten people dunking their faces into the same bucket.
But you can modernize it.
Use hanging apples on strings instead. Players try to bite them with their hands behind their backs. It gets ridiculous fast. Kids lose it laughing. Adults suddenly get way more competitive than they should. It’s one of those silly Halloween challenges that ends up way more fun than expected.
Pumpkin Bowling
This one works perfectly for mixed groups — kids, adults, that one friend who always pretends they’re not playing but ends up trying anyway.
Grab a small pumpkin and roll it toward DIY ghost pins (paper towel tubes, plastic bottles, whatever you’ve got).
The pumpkin never rolls straight. It wobbles, veers off, sometimes does a sad little half-turn. Which weirdly makes it 10× funnier.
It’s chaotic in the best way, perfect for a Halloween party game that doesn’t need much setup.
Why it works: zero skill required.
Best Halloween Games For Kids (Where the Sugar High Becomes Useful)
Kids don’t care about rules. Or fairness. Or structure. They just want to burn energy while wearing costumes that barely let them bend their arms. And honestly, if you’re into this kind of fun chaos, you might also love browsing some retro-style action in the arcade games category or checking out something more futuristic like Neon Turf Wars — a cyberpunk twin-stick arcade brawler. There’s even a whole section of pixel games if you love that old-school visual vibe.
Monster Freeze Dance
Put on some Halloween-themed songs. Kids dance around like sugar-fueled goblins. When the music stops, they freeze. Someone always falls over in the most dramatic way possible. Works every time.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Hide tiny plastic spiders, clue cards, fake bones, whatever fits the theme. If you set up organized clues, great. If not? Kids will absolutely invent their own rules within two minutes. They’ll still have a blast.
Mummy Wrap Race
Just grab toilet paper. Split into teams. Wrap one person like a mummy. Then that wrapped, barely-mobile human has to waddle to the finish line without falling apart. It’s total, high-energy chaos — and it’s perfect.
Spooky Halloween Games (Not terrifying, just enough to get reactions
These are somewhere between silly and scary. Good for teens, families, mixed groups.
Mystery Box Challenge
People stick their hands in boxes filled with things like peeled grapes, cold spaghetti, hair extensions… whatever. Label them as “eyeballs,” “intestines,” “witch hair.”
Everyone screams. Every single time.
Blackout Tag
Turn off lights. Use glow bracelets as “lives.” Extremely fun indoors, but maybe move fragile objects first.
Halloween Trivia Games (Actually way funnier than expected)
Trivia sounds boring until you watch people absolutely collapse trying to remember basic monster facts. Make it a little messy.
Sample Categories
- Classic horror movies
- Urban legends
- Halloween history (half the “facts” sound fake anyway)
- Famous costume fails
- Candy identification
Add punishments for wrong answers if your group likes chaos, like drawing a pumpkin mustache on the loser.
Halloween Games for Adults (The Ones You Don’t Play at Kids’ Parties)
Adults act like they don’t care about games. Lies. They just like games that feel slightly unhinged.
The Haunted Escape Room (DIY Version)
Don’t overthink it.
Use a bedroom or a basement corner. Add:
- combination locks
- riddles
- blacklights
- hidden symbols
- cheap props that look spooky in low light
People love yelling at each other during puzzles. A Halloween classic.
Murder Mystery Party
Takes some prep, but it’s absolutely worth it. Every guest gets a character. Someone’s the “villain.” The fun is watching people pretend to be detectives after two drinks.
Fun Halloween Activities That Aren’t Exactly “Games” But Still Work
These fill gaps between the bigger games.
- Pumpkin painting (way easier than carving)
- Costume catwalk
- “Guess the candy in the jar”
- Build-a-monster craft table
- S’mores station outside, if weather doesn’t sabotage everything
Sometimes these activities save the night when people need a breather.
Indoor Halloween Games (Weather-proof ideas)
Indoor planning saves you from last-minute disasters. And if you’re already setting up indoor activities, you might like exploring more creative gaming concepts in the gaming culture category or checking out some unique indie ideas in Indie Battles. For anyone who loves making DIY games look cool, the visual game design section is loaded with fun inspiration.
Ghost Dodgeball
Soft foam balls with little ghost faces taped on them. No precision, no strategy — which is perfect, because everyone ends up throwing wildly in every direction anyway. Pure chaos, safely indoors.
Shadow Charades (Halloween Charades but creepier)
Turn the lights off. Place a flashlight behind a white sheet. You act out spooky prompts while your giant shadow steals the show. It’s weird, dramatic, and way funnier than normal charades.
Witch Hat Ring Toss
Make the witch hats out of black poster board. Use glow rings for tossing. They look awesome in dim lighting and kids get ridiculously into it. Simple setup, surprisingly addictive.
Outdoor Halloween Games (If you have a yard or a park nearby)
These feel bigger and more adventurous, good for teens, families, and groups who don’t mind running around in costumes.
Zombie Tag
One zombie starts. When they tag a player, that person becomes a zombie too. Last survivor wins. Basically Halloween tag with lore.
Lantern Hide-and-Seek
Give seekers lanterns or flashlights. Hiders get dark corners of the yard. Feels spooky, not scary.
Witch Hunt (Mini Treasure Hunt)
Hide small items (charms, bones, tiny pumpkins). Give maps or clues.
Halloween Games for Groups (Large, small, mixed, anything)
Groups can get weirdly unpredictable, so go for adaptable, chaotic ideas.
Monster Relay Races
Teams race while wearing silly additions:
- giant monster gloves
- oversized capes
- witch hats that never stay on straight
Pumpkin Pass
Everyone stands in a line and passes a mini pumpkin under their chin. No hands. Laughing guaranteed.
Giant Werewolf Debate
Players accuse each other of being “the werewolf.” If you’ve played Mafia or Werewolf before, same concept.
The accusations get dramatic fast.
Halloween Board Games (When your crowd wants low-effort fun)
Board games are underrated at Halloween parties. Great for smaller gatherings or post-chaos cooldown.
Good options:
- Betrayal at House on the Hill
- One Night Ultimate Werewolf
- Mysterium
- Horrified
- Halloween-themed Clue
You can even sprinkle in spooky music to boost the mood.
Virtual Halloween Games (For long-distance parties or work teams)
Remote celebrations don’t have to be boring.
Fun Options:
- Online Halloween trivia
- Virtual escape rooms
- Zoom costume contests
- Multiplayer Halloween video games like Dead by Daylight (if your group likes intensity)
Better than awkward “say hi to the camera” meetings.
DIY Halloween Games (Cheap but shockingly effective)
These are lifesavers if you’re on a budget.
Spider Race
Straws + plastic spiders. Blow them across a table. First to reach the end wins.
Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
Paint rocks or bottlecaps as pumpkins and ghosts. Giant outdoor version looks cool too.
Cauldron Toss
Mini cauldrons + ping pong balls. Easy, portable, kid-friendly.
Halloween Escape Room Ideas (Quick setups that still feel immersive)
Choose a theme so it doesn’t feel random. Some easy ones:
- Witch’s lair
- Haunted attic
- Cursed carnival
- Vampire crypt
Add codes like:
- UV ink messages
- number locks
- hidden keys in pumpkins
- potion recipes that double as clues
People don’t need theatrical effects, just a tiny push into imagination territory.
Halloween Game Prizes (The stuff people actually like)
Here’s a quick table of easy-to-source prizes:
| Prize Type | Examples | Works For |
|---|---|---|
| Candy Packs | mini-chocolate bundles, sour mix | kids, teens |
| Cute/Spooky Items | skull pens, stickers, slime | families |
| Practical Stuff | mugs, candles, gift cards | adults |
| Gag Gifts | fake fangs, rubber rats | groups |
| Trophy Items | “Scariest Costume” plaque | competitions |
People love trophies way more than they admit.
FAQs (People Also Asked)
1. What are some fun Halloween games for parties?
Classic ones like scavenger hunts, murder mysteries, trivia, and escape room puzzles are splendid for mixed groups.
2. What Halloween games are best for kids?
Monster Freeze Dance, pumpkin bowling, scavenger hunts, and mummy wrap races are almost always popular among younger kids.
3. What are good indoor Halloween games?
Shadow charades, witch hat ring toss, mystery boxes, and board games are good choices for the indoors.
4. What are some scary Halloween games to play at night?
Blackout tag, DIY escape rooms, zombie tag, and mystery, box challenges are some of the activities that help to create a spooky atmosphere without going too far.
5. How do you set up a Halloween scavenger hunt?
Put away some decor or themed items either in your house or outside, write down some easy clues, then have the teams go out finding everything on the list as fast as they can.
Henry Wright: Celebrating the artistry of gaming. I cover Pixel Games, Indie Battles, Arcade Classics, Gaming Culture, and Visual Design. Let’s explore the pixels together!
