Dinner Party Games For Easy Entertaining

Hosting a dinner party can feel like a lot of pressure but it doesn’t have to be! In fact, by having a few activities/games planned for the night can help guests mingle and keep the conversation flowing. So, let’s jump right in. Here are some of the best games to play during a dinner party:

• Conversation prompt cards
• Head’s Up / Who am I?
• Mince Spies
• Guess the number
• Murder mystery

Read on for our favourite adult party games, and tips on incorporating them into your dinner party without interrupting conversations or meal times.

 

Why Should You Have Games at a Dinner Party?

Playing games at a dinner party is one of the best ways to keep the night (and conversation!) flowing effortlessly. When you’re off sorting the next course, a game for guests to play can keep guests entertained, taking the pressure off you, as the host, to lead the conversation. 

Plus, if you’re mixing groups of people that perhaps haven’t met before, then a game is a great way to encourage people to mingle with one another – especially if the game requires partnering up or getting into groups.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide on hosting (including what to serve, themes, and other top tips), why not read one of our helpful blogs: How to Host a Fuss-Free Dinner Party

 

The Best Adult Games For a Dinner Party

Dinner party games don’t have to be childish or overly competitive. In fact, the best games can be played right at the table without disrupting the meal. Read on for some of our favourite dinner party game ideas:

1. Conversation Cards

Sometimes, the best way to get the conversation flowing is with a few thoughtful or quirky prompts. Conversation cards can be as simple as a deck of pre-made cards ordered online or homemade slips of paper with questions. You could even ask guests to prepare 3-5 to bring with them to the party!

A couple of our favourite conversation prompts include:

• Where is the best place you’ve travelled to, and why?
• What’s one food you could eat every day for the rest of your life?
• If you could live in any fictional universe, where would you choose?
• What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
• What’s the most unexpected hobby or interest you have?

 

2. Head’s Up / Who Am I?

This guessing game is a dinner party classic that’s sure to break the ice. You can either download the actual Head’s Up app (it’s a paid game, but is very cheap) for easy play, or go the DIY route by writing names or characters on sticky notes and placing them on each guest’s forehead. Then, each guest has to guess “who they are” by asking only yes or no questions. It’s more difficult than it sounds!

It’s fun, lively, and requires zero prep if you’re short on time!

3. Mince Spies

We played this at Christmas time and LOVED it! Essentially, Mice Spies gives each guest a secret “mission” they need to complete without being caught. For example, their task might be to subtly slip song lyrics into conversations, or sneak a selfie with an item of food.

If someone suspects a “mission” is in progress, they can call it out, but if they’re wrong, they lose a point! This game is sure to have guests giggling as they try to outwit each other. You don’t have to play it at Christmas, either, as there are plenty of prompts that would work year-round.

Looking to arrange a festive gathering soon? Check out our helpful blog: Hosting a Christmas Party – 8 Tips From the Experts

 

4. Guess the Number

‘Guess the number’ isn’t really the official name for this game, and I couldn’t tell you what it’s actually called either! But, I played it at a work halloween party recently and it was super fun. 

Essentially, you nominate one person in the group in each round to be the ‘number guesser’. They’ll close their eyes and the rest of the group decides on a number between 1 and 10 (1 the lowest, 10 the highest). Then, going around the circle, you’ll each take turns saying something you’d ‘rate’ or associate with that number. 

For example, if the assigned number is a 3, the group might say:

• ‘The quality of aeroplane food.’
• ‘My enthusiasm for Monday mornings.’
• ‘Cabbage’ (c’mon, it’s a naff vegetable)

The ‘number guesser’ listens to everyone’s responses and then tries to guess what number the group is describing based on the clues. Each player’s responses show off a bit of their personality, making this game a great way to connect with one another!

 

5. Murder Mystery / Unsolved Case Files

If you’re looking for an evening activity for after dinner, we’d highly recommend a murder mystery game. There are so many ready-made kits available that include evidence, case files, and character roles to make hosting simple.

A murder mystery encourages dinner party guests to work together to solve the case. You could even buy a few kits to encourage people to team up! We also like that there are various levels of difficulty, depending on how much time you have to spare after dinner. 

Tips for Incorporating Games Into Your Dinner Party

Organising a memorable dinner party can be tough, but games are a fantastic addition to help keep the chats flowing, but it’s important they don’t take over the evening. Here are a few of our top tips to seamlessly add games to the night:

• Know Your Crowd – Consider who will be attending and what type of game might best suit the group. If it’s a mix of people meeting for the first time, light and humorous icebreaker games like “Two Truths and a Lie” can be ideal. However, you might want to avoid whipping out Cards Against Humanity!
• Timing is Everything – Games are fantastic, but you’ll want to avoid interrupting natural conversations or when the actual meal is being served. Plan games that align with the flow of the evening – maybe something low-key like conversation cards between courses, or a more involved game like a murder mystery after dessert.
• Keep It Simple, Stupid – Not every game needs strict rules or lots of setup (who wants to sit through 10 minutes of instructions?!). Sometimes, the simplest games with few props or instructions are the most enjoyable and easygoing. 

Dinner Party Tips & Tricks With Savery Grazing

We want to help you become the hostess with the mostess, which is why we have a blog dedicated to easy entertaining – recipes galore, easy decoration ideas, and much much more!

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