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The 10 Best Party Games for Adults of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Keep the party going with these exciting games all adults will love

A variety of party games for adults on a circular table

The Spruce / Eric Brockob

Party games are one of the best ways to entertain, and there's always an outrageously fun one that's sure to break the ice and bring friends and family closer together. To find the best ones for your next gathering, we researched and tested dozens of games, perfect for adults.

Many adult games often feature mature themes, so be sure to know your audience before playing. Our testing confirmed that the age recommendation of a game is pivotal to ensuring a successful game night. Adhering to the recommended age levels guarantees every player feels included, understands the rules, and has a great time.

"A bit of silly humor can be great fun, but avoid going too risqué if you're not confident all of your visitors will be in on it," says Amanda Gummer, board game collector and toy expert at The Genius of Play.

Heading that advice, we researched and tested top-rated brands, classic best-sellers, and new, trendier games based on the playtime, setup, and intended audience of each.

The Voting Game The Adult Party Game About Your Friends

The Voting Game The Voting Game: The Adult Party Game About Your Friends

 Amazon

Similar to the superlative selection process from your high school days, The Voting Game asks you to vote on the “most likely” candidates from your group. To play, a question card is drawn, for example, “Who would you ask for help if you needed to leave the country?” or as awkward as, “Who snoops through their significant other’s phone on a regular basis?”

Players then vote anonymously for the person they think best fits the question. Results are then tallied, and points are earned by guessing who voted for you. In testing, we found that this game is best suited for a close group of friends or family members around the same age.

The Voting Game offers a fun platform to reminisce and poke fun at one another so it's best when played with people you know well. We noticed, however, that after a couple of rounds, the game became more and more predictable.

Age Range: 15 years and up | Number of Players: 4-10 | Playing Time: 30-90 minutes

The Voting Game on a wooden table

The Spruce / Shannon Wells

Moose Games The Worst Case Scenario Card Game

Moose Games The Worst Case Scenario Card Game

Moose Games

Based on the best-selling Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, the Worst Case Scenario card game challenges opponents to evaluate different scenarios and compare how terrible they are to one another. Think about being locked in the trunk of a moving car, losing your memory, or being lost at sea: what would be the worst?

Each player takes turns being "the victim." They rank five scenarios from worst to best and the other players have to try and match the victim's ranking. When you match their rank, you score a point. Whoever has the most points after all of the rounds wins.

During testing, we found this game has high replay value as every round features new scenarios with a new "victim" who has different ideas of what could be the worst scenario. It definitely helps to know the fears and interests of the people you are playing with if you want to come out on top.

The game can be challenging because every scenario is so subjective. As you try to match the ranking of your fellow players, you may learn a thing or two about your friends and family. Because of certain controversial and intense cards, this game is best suited for adults.

Age Range: 10 years and up | Number of Players: 3-6 | Playing Time: Not Listed

During our testing, we discovered that Codenames is great with groups—the more, the better! The game starts with naming two spymasters, one from each team. Spymasters are the only players in the game who know the secret identities of the 25 agents.

The premise of the game is for the spymasters to try and get their teammates to guess the cards that correspond to their spies' codenames using just one-word clues. Guess right, and your team gets a point—or more if you can find a word that encompasses more than just one spy's codename.

In road testing the game, it took even the youngest players about two minutes to understand the rules, earning Codenames a perfect score for setup. Some players weren't exactly hyped at the educational aspect, and some of the one-word clues were tricky to play out, so this left some players feeling defeated from time to time. But overall, this is a fun game for anyone who loves a good word challenge.

Age Range: 10 years and up | Number of Players: 2+ | Playing Time: 15 minutes

Person playing Czech Games Codenames on top of a table

The Spruce / Sarah Vanbuskirk

No Wrong Answers Adults Only Edition

No Wrong Answers Adults Only Edition : Non-Burning Questions to Kick Off Conversations

 Amazon

For a more chill party game that still leads to hilarity and tons of fun, we recommend No Wrong Answer- Adult Edition. The travel-friendly card game asks outlandish questions such as "What celebrity do you think you could legitimately pick up in a bar?" or "Which historical figure probably had the best butt?"

The thought-provoking questions spark hours of debate, conversation, and fun for any group of people, from families to friends to complete strangers. Every group of friends will play the game differently, so the replay value is extremely high.

It's also a great pick to take on road trips or other travels to pass the time in a fun and meaningful way. There's also an original pack for ages 12 and up and a junior version for younger kids, so players of all ages can get involved in the unique conversations.

Age Range: 17 years and up | Number of Players: 2+ | Playing Time: Not Listed

That's What She Said Party Game

That's What She Said The Hilariously Twisted Party Game Adults Only

 Amazon

Spice up your next birthday party, Bachelorette party, or game night with That's What She Said—the hilarious party game that's definitely aimed at adults. Guaranteed to cause laughter, the card game challenges players to match setup cards with the iconic joke—"That's what she said."

There are 400 phrase cards and 58 setup cards, so there are endless combinations for hilarious fun. You'll need at least four people to play this game, but the more players, the better. All senses of humor are welcome, and even the toughest friends are bound to break with this game.

Every round, each player discards one card that just doesn't hit the mark for them to ensure every round is funnier than the last. There's also an expansion pack available for more players, more games, and more laughs.

Age Range: 17 years and up | Number of Players: 4+ | Playing Time: 30-60 minutes

Cards Against Humanity The Main Game

Cards Against Humanity The Main Game

Amazon

No list of the best adult games would be complete without Cards Against Humanity. This game is a fan favorite for a reason. Marketed as a “party game for horrible people,” this is one extremely entertaining and wildly inappropriate choice, so it’s important to know the group you’re playing with, as some topics are highly sensitive or triggering for some.

That said, if your group is into inappropriate humor, that is one reason to love it. Like Apples to Apples, a judge is designated to pick their favorite fill-in-the-blank sentence created by the Black and White cards. To play, the Judge draws a Black Card that has a sentence or phrase for all players to see.

Once this card is drawn, each player chooses from their hand of white cards with words and phrases, most of which are hysterically inappropriate, to fill in the blank. From there, the judge will then choose their favorite outrageous combination. We loved the high replay value of this game, especially with all of the expansion packs available, so the fun never has to end.

Age Range: 17 years and up | Number of Players: 4-20 | Playing Time: Not listed

Cards Against Humanity game on a wooden table

The Spruce / Shannon Wells

DSS Games Who Can Do It

DSS Games Who Can Do It - Compete with Your Friends to Win These Challenges

 Amazon

Get all of your guests up and moving with Who Can Do It– a party game where players compete in hilarious challenges to win the game or a laugh. Three or more players try to be the first to take the worst selfie, come up with a name for an emo band, read the last text you received in a sexy voice, and more.

The first, funniest, or best answers win the round and the card. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins, but no one will be paying attention to the score with all the fun being had. Definitely play this pick with a group you don't mind embarrassing yourself in front of.

Age Range: 17 years and up | Number of Players: 3+ | Playing Time: Not Listed

In its most basic explanation, Exploding Kittens is a game of hot potato, and it's really easy to learn—which is why we gave this a perfect score for setup. The objective of the game is not to draw an Exploding Kitten card, which eliminates you immediately from the game. Unless, of course, you have a Defuse Card or other game-shifting cards that allow you to pass the card or skip your turn. Diffuse cards include laser pointers, kitten yoga, catnip—anything that can distract the kittens.

This game comes in six different versions, all in various stages of appropriateness. Depending on who is attending your get-together, you can choose the right one. Both the kid-friendly (ages 7 and up) and adult-friendly (ages 17 and up) versions can accommodate the same number of players

We love the cards' hilarious graphics and sturdy and glossy finish. Because it's not super action-packed and there’s quite a bit of downtime as you wait for each player to make his or her choices, the actual play duration can make the game feel long.

Age Range: 7 years and up | Number of Players: 2-5 | Playing Time: 15 minutes

Exploding Kittens card game on top of a table

The Spruce / Danielle Centoni

Apples to Apples is a classic party game great for large groups and is easy to understand. The object of the game is to select a card from your hand that best represents the card played by the judge.

To play, each player receives seven red apple cards face down to start. In each round, the judge picks a green apple card with descriptive adjectives and reads it aloud to the group. To win, players must win a certain amount of rounds designated by however many people are playing.

This game of comparison is very similar to games like Cards Against Humanity and What Do You Meme?. However, unlike those games, Apples to Apples relies on more wholesome humor, making it a good pick for coworkers, new friends, or parties with family in attendance.

Age Range: 12 years and up | Number of Players: 4-10 | Playing Time: 30-75 minutes

What Do You Meme is a card game for meme lovers. In each round, one person is designated as the judge, and everyone else is dealt cards from a deck of potential captions. The judge selects a meme card and displays it to the group. Everyone then competes to create the funniest meme by drawing from their hand of caption cards, and the judge then selects a winner.

It doesn't take long to explain and understand the logistics of the game, which we appreciated during testing. This game is a better bet for large groups because it still covers funny, pop-culture references, as well as raunchy, sexual, and explicit phrases that make a game like Cards Against Humanity so fun, without some of the more offensive jokes.

If you’re not comfortable sharing an extremely dirty, insensitive joke with any of those people, you should refrain from playing. It scored well overall, but we found that as time went on, the plays became more predictable.

 Age Range: 17 years and up | Number of Players: 3-20 | Playing Time: Not listed

What Do You Meme? game on a wooden table

The Spruce / Sage McHugh

Compare

Entertainment Value Design Setup Value
The Voting Game The Voting Game: The Adult Party Game About Your Friends
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The Voting Game The Adult Party Game About Your Friends
3 3 5 3.5
Moose Games The Worst Case Scenario Card Game
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Moose Games The Worst Case Scenario Card Game
Czech Games Codenames
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Czech Games Codenames
4 4 5 4
No Wrong Answers Adults Only Edition : Non-Burning Questions to Kick Off Conversations
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No Wrong Answers Adults Only Edition
That's What She Said The Hilariously Twisted Party Game Adults Only
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That's What She Said Party Game
Cards Against Humanity The Main Game
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Cards Against Humanity The Main Game
3 4 5 4
DSS Games Who Can Do It - Compete with Your Friends to Win These Challenges
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DSS Games Who Can Do It
Amazon Exploding Kittens Card Game
null:
Exploding Kittens Card Game
3 5 5 4.5
Mattel Games Apples to Apples
null:
Mattel Apples to Apples
What Do You Meme? Core Game
null:
What Do You Meme? Core Game
3 4 5 4

How We Tested the Party Games

Many options on this list were tested by our editors in their own homes with family and friends. After we played each game correctly with the recommended number of appropriately aged players for multiple rounds, we evaluated each one on a number of factors:

  • Entertainment Value: We considered if the game held the attention of each player involved and if we wanted to keep playing after a round or two. This also factors in a game's replay value. The best games are the ones you can play again and again and still have the same level of fun.
  • Design: Some games on this list have fun illustrations or clever design elements that add to the value of the game. The design of the game can also account for a game's small box that makes it easy to carry with you on the go.
  • Setup: To us, party games should require little to no setup so you can get right to the game. We evaluated the setup process for each game we played, considering how long it took to lay out the pieces, deal out the cards, and explain the rules to everyone involved.
  • Playtime: We tested if the manufacturer's listed duration was accurate, noting if the game rounds felt long, short, or just right.

Taking their insights and full product reviews into account, we compiled this list along with other heavily researched, highly-rated, and best-selling games we love.

QuickWits on a wooden table

The Spruce / Shannon Wells

What to Look for in Party Games for Adults

Players

Knowing your audience is the golden rule when choosing a party game. If you’re hosting a sober crowd, a drinking-oriented game probably isn't the best choice. If you have a particularly edgy group, you may want to consider a more off-color option, like the infamously edgy Cards Against Humanity, in lieu of a basic board game.

If you're ever in doubt, Amanda Gummer, board game collector and toy expert at The Genius of Play suggests opting for luck and chance-based games, as they're fast-paced and work for larger groups with a variety of interests. "Most people enjoy even the simplest of games, so you don't risk some players losing interest," she says.

Setup

The initial first minute of the game matters, because this is the time that players get a sense of whether a game is engaging and most importantly, easy to follow. "Classic favorites like charades are great choices because most people roughly know the rules, so it's simple to get playing," says Gummer.

She adds that newer and trendier games are great options too, but stick to those with simple rules and instructions so you don't lose actual playtime. For a quick setup and simple premise, we love The Voting Game. It's also a great way to get to know friends and family on a deeper level.

Play Time

Longer games, like That's What She Said, are an excellent option for older kids and adults if you have the time. On the other hand, Gummer says that shorter games that last around 15 minutes are likely to work best for house parties because you can play multiple rounds or easily switch to another game on hand.

This was one of the things we loved about Exploding Kittens, which only lasts about 20 minutes per round but has a high replay value so you can keep playing for hours.

FAQ
  • What makes a great party game?

    A great party game is one that can be played with a large number of people and where everyone is having a good time. The game should be for the right age range and number of people based on the group you're planning on playing with. It should start with easy-to-understand instructions and setup should be a breeze.

    Gameplay should be fun for everyone, even when it's not a player's turn, so no one gets bored. Fast-paced games make great party games because they keep everyone's attention at all times. A party game should last 15 to 30 minutes making it possible to play multiple rounds if everyone is having a good time.

  • How do you pick a party game everyone will like?

    Anyone who's interested in playing a party game wants to have a good time and a lot of laughs. Pick a game with a high fun factor to make sure of it. Look at the description of the game to see what ages the game works best with so you can pick a game that everyone in your group can participate in.

    Directions should be easy to understand so gameplay runs smoothly. You'll want to stay away from raunchy humor games unless you know that everyone at the party has a shared sense of humor.

  • How do you know if a party game is good for a group?

    It just takes a few minutes to find out if a party game is great for a group. Since most party games are for large groups, the answer is yes most of the time. To make sure, you'll want to look at the game box or read an online description for that particular game.

    It should tell you the minimum and the maximum number of players for the game. Some party games don't have a set maximum number of players, making them perfect for a very large group.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Julia Fields, an associate editor for The Spruce, covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, crafts, and the holidays. To compile this list, she researched best-selling card games for adults, also considering full product reviews that were conducted by The Spruce editors. Julia's also a huge fan of board and card games herself and has played multiple games on this list again and again.

Our Expert:

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