Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy; it’s the perfect excuse to bring people together for a night full of laughs, friendly competition, and maybe a little harmless mischief.
Whether you’re hosting a kids’ party, an adult gathering, or a mixed crowd, having a lineup of exciting games ensures no one ends up sitting in the corner scrolling on their phone. A great party is like a good magic trick it keeps everyone entertained, surprised, and wanting more.
Classic Halloween Games with a Twist
1. Pumpkin Ring Toss
Set up a few pumpkins with stems and hand out glow-in-the-dark rings. For kids, keep the distance short; for adults, make them step back or even spin before throwing. The glow element adds that eerie Halloween vibe while keeping it fun for all ages.
2. Costume Charades
Instead of the usual charades topics, stick to Halloween themes think “a witch brewing a potion” or “a mummy breaking out of a tomb.
Kids can act out silly monsters, while adults can sneak in some over-the-top dramatics. It’s low prep but always good for laughs.
3. Spooky Musical Chairs
Play Halloween-themed music anything from “Monster Mash” to eerie instrumental tracks and have players circle chairs.
Remove one each round, just like the classic game. For adults, you can make it trickier by dimming the lights or adding mild “challenges” when someone gets out, like telling a ghost story in 30 seconds.
4. Mummy Wrap Race
Split into teams and wrap one member in toilet paper from head to toe. The team with the most complete mummy wins. For kids, keep it simple; for adults, make them hop to the finish line while wrapped for an extra laugh.
5. Haunted Freeze Dance
When the music plays, everyone dances; when it stops, they must freeze in a creepy pose. Anyone who moves is “out.” For a spooky touch, flash a strobe light or use a fog machine.
Interactive & Team-Based Fun
6. Ghostly Scavenger Hunt
Hide Halloween-themed objects plastic spiders, mini pumpkins, fake eyeballs around the house or yard. Give each team a clue list. For adults, make the clues riddles; for kids, keep them picture-based.
7. Witch’s Hat Relay
Place a witch’s hat on one side of the room and a bucket of candy on the other. Players must wear the hat while transferring candy one piece at a time using a spoon. Sounds simple until you see the hat slipping over someone’s eyes mid-run.
8. Monster Mystery Puzzle
Give each team pieces of a Halloween-themed puzzle. They must complete it before the others. For a twist, hide some pieces around the room so they have to search while assembling.
9. Pumpkin Bowling
Swap bowling balls for small pumpkins and set up pins made from decorated plastic bottles. The wobbly shape of the pumpkins makes strikes hilariously unpredictable.
10. Eyeball Spoon Relay
Replace the classic egg-and-spoon race with ping pong balls painted to look like eyeballs. Players must carry them across the room without dropping bonus points for creepy facial expressions.
Icebreaker Games to Start the Party Right
11. Two Truths and a Lie: Spooky Edition
Guests share two real Halloween-related experiences and one fake one. Others guess the lie. It’s perfect for breaking the ice and can be surprisingly revealing.
12. Guess the Gross Thing
Fill opaque containers with mystery items: peeled grapes for “eyeballs,” cold spaghetti for “worms,” mashed bananas for “brains.” Blindfold players and have them guess. Works brilliantly for kids and brings out the playful side in adults.
13. Spooky Name Generator
Give guests slips of paper to combine a creepy adjective and a spooky creature (e.g., “Slimy Phantom”). Everyone introduces themselves with their new “Halloween identity,” which makes the rest of the night more fun.
Outdoor Halloween Games for Bigger Crowds
14. Glow-in-the-Dark Pumpkin Hunt
Paint mini pumpkins with glow paint or wrap them with glow sticks. Hide them in the yard and hand out baskets. Kids get excited collecting them, while adults can turn it into a timed competition with small prizes for the fastest hunter.
15. Zombie Tag
Choose one “zombie” to start. When they tag someone, that person also becomes a zombie. The game ends when everyone has been “infected.” For adults, add glow stick bracelets to track who’s who in low light.
16. Haunted Obstacle Course
Use caution tape for “spider webs,” hay bales to jump over, and pumpkins to weave between. Time each player or team. You can scale the difficulty depending on the crowd’s age.
17. Spider Web Maze
Stretch yarn across a hallway or between trees to create a web. The challenge is to crawl or step through without touching the “web.” It’s simple but surprisingly competitive.
18. Creepy Capture the Flag
Split into two teams and hide glow-in-the-dark flags. Players try to capture the other team’s flag while avoiding “ghost guards.” Kids love the running, and adults love the strategy.
Creative & Craft-Based Game Ideas
19. Haunted Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Instead of carving, set up a table with paints, glitter, stickers, and creepy accessories. Guests create the most “haunted” pumpkin they can. Kids focus on color and sparkle; adults often get sarcastically creative.
20. Potion-Making Challenge
Fill jars with odd items like gummy worms, colored water, and dry ice. Players mix ingredients to create the most bizarre “potion.” Bonus points for clever names.
21. Scary Mask Design Race
Give each person a plain paper mask and art supplies. Set a timer for 15 minutes. The most creative (or terrifying) design wins.
22. Haunted House Blueprint
Teams get a large sheet of paper and markers to draw their own haunted house floor plan. Points for spookiness, originality, and weird details.
23. Franken-toy Workshop
Provide old toy parts, glue, and tape. Guests create their own monster toys. This works well as a relaxed side activity for those who aren’t into competitive games.
Hilarious Party Challenges
24. Horror Movie Charades
Players act out famous horror movie scenes or characters. Kids can stick to “friendly scary” movies, while adults can take on more over-the-top roles.
25. Haunted Trivia
Prepare a list of Halloween facts, horror movie questions, and folklore trivia. Teams compete for candy prizes.
26. Ghost Balloon Pop
Fill balloons with slips of paper some with dares, some with prizes. Players must pop them by sitting on them.
27. Monster Mayhem Dice Game
Create dice with silly Halloween actions: “howl like a werewolf,” “dance like a zombie,” “crawl like a spider.” Players roll and perform the action.
28. Vampire vs. Werewolf Debate
Split into two groups. Each side argues why their creature would win in a battle. Judges (or the audience) pick the winner.
Food-Related Halloween Games
29. Apple Bobbing with a Twist
Replace water with a bucket of green “slime” made from gelatin. The gooey texture makes it funnier and messier.
30. Donut on a String
Hang donuts from strings at mouth level. Players race to finish without using their hands. It’s a classic that never gets old.
31. Mystery Taste Test
Blindfolded players taste Halloween-themed snacks and guess what they are. Kids usually find this hilarious, while adults sometimes overthink the answers.
32. Candy Corn Scoop
Blindfold players and have them use a spoon to transfer candy corn from one bowl to another. The catch? They can’t use their other hand to steady the bowl.
33. Marshmallow Monster Build
Give each person marshmallows and toothpicks to create monster shapes. Award points for creativity, height, and stability.
Adult-Only Halloween Party Games
34. Haunted Truth or Dare
Classic party fun with a spooky twist. All questions and dares must be Halloween-related like “share your creepiest real-life story” or “pretend to be a zombie for the next five minutes.”
35. Spooky Costume Catwalk
Guests strut down a “runway” showing off their costumes. The crowd votes for categories like “Funniest Costume” or “Most Terrifying Look.” A few sarcastic judges’ comments keep the laughs going.
36. Haunted Beer Pong
Swap regular cups with Halloween-decorated cups, use ping pong balls painted like eyeballs, and add creepy rules like “you must howl before every throw.”
37. Horror Movie Drinking Game
Choose a horror movie and assign drink prompts like take a sip every time someone screams or the lights flicker. Of course, adapt this with non-alcoholic drinks for all-age events.
38. Graveyard Karaoke
Dim the lights, add a fog machine, and have guests sing Halloween-themed songs or perform regular hits with spooky voices.
High-Energy Group Activities
39. Zombie Relay Race
Teams must shuffle like zombies to a marker and back, passing a “severed head” (a lightweight ball). First team to finish wins.
40. Werewolf Howl Contest
Everyone takes turns letting out their best werewolf howl. Judges pick the scariest, funniest, or most dramatic performance.
41. Haunted Limbo
Play eerie music while guests limbo under a pole decorated with cobwebs. Lower it each round until only one player remains.
42. Monster Dance-Off
Two players face off in a “monster-themed” dance battle, while the crowd cheers and decides the winner. Kids often go for silly moves; adults sometimes get oddly competitive.
43. Skeleton Sack Race
Give each participant a sack or pillowcase decorated like a skeleton. They hop to the finish line while keeping the “bones” intact.
Crowd-Wide Halloween Games
44. Murder Mystery Night
Give guests character cards with backstories and goals. Someone is “the murderer,” and others must figure it out through conversation and clues.
45. Haunted BINGO
Create bingo cards with Halloween symbols witch hats, pumpkins, ghosts. Call out the symbols or show them on flashcards.
46. Ghost Hunt Tag
Hide one “ghost” (a player with a white sheet or costume) in the house or yard. Everyone else searches in the dark with flashlights.
47. The Great Candy Trade
Give everyone a random mix of Halloween candy. The challenge is to trade with others until you get your favorite mix.
48. Spooky Simon Says
A Halloween-themed version of Simon Says, with commands like “creep like a spider” or “howl like a wolf.”
Competitive Team Challenges
49. Haunted Build-a-Story
Teams take turns adding one spooky sentence at a time to a shared story. The wilder it gets, the better.
50. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
Use a large board or taped grid and mini pumpkins painted in two colors for X’s and O’s.
51. Creepy Photo Scavenger Hunt
Give teams a list of funny Halloween poses to take pictures of, like “a zombie attacking a ghost” or “a witch making a phone call.”
52. Grave Digger’s Treasure Hunt
Bury small trinkets in a sandbox or container of sand. Players dig to find as many as possible within a time limit.
53. Spooky Pictionary
Instead of normal words, include Halloween objects, monsters, and scenes.
Kid-Friendly Halloween Games That Adults Secretly Love Too
54. Batty Bean Bag Toss
Paint bats on a large board with cut-out holes as “bat caves.” Players toss bean bags to score points.
55. Skeleton Puzzle Race
Cut up a large skeleton poster into pieces. Teams race to reassemble it correctly.
56. Pin the Hat on the Witch
A Halloween twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” blindfolding players and spinning them before they try to place the witch’s hat.
57. Spooky Shadow Tag
Play tag in a dimly lit room or outside at dusk. Players can only tag someone by stepping on their shadow.
58. Trick-or-Treat Guessing Game
Fill jars with Halloween candy. Players guess how many pieces are inside. Closest guess wins the jar.
Simple & Quick Halloween Icebreakers
59. Pumpkin Hot Potato
Pass a small pumpkin around while music plays. Whoever holds it when the music stops is out.
60. Ghost Story Circle
Players sit in a circle, and each adds one spooky sentence to build a group ghost story.
61. Costume Match Game
Give each person a card with part of a Halloween duo (e.g., vampire and coffin). They must find their match.
62. Monster Name Race
On a board, write as many monster names as possible in 60 seconds.
63. Pumpkin Emoji Guess
Show Halloween-themed emojis and have players guess the phrase or movie they represent.
DIY Craft-and-Play Activities
64. Creepy Creature Origami
Provide paper and instructions for folding bats, spiders, or ghosts.
65. Spider Ring Toss
Stick plastic spider rings into foam pumpkins. Toss rings to land on them.
66. Haunted Lantern Making
Guests decorate paper lanterns with spooky designs, then display them during the party.
67. Witch’s Broom Race
Players “ride” broomsticks while racing across the yard.
68. Mini Pumpkin Painting
Quick, creative, and doubles as a party favor.
Active Halloween Yard Games
69. Skeleton Bone Hunt
Hide plastic “bones” around the yard. Teams must find and assemble a full skeleton.
70. Graveyard Dodgeball
Use soft balls and decorate the play area as a graveyard.
71. Monster Limbo Crawl
Instead of bending backward, players crawl under a web of yarn.
72. Candy Corn Toss
Throw candy corn into cups or buckets at varying distances.
73. Lantern Relay
Teams pass a lit lantern (or glow lantern) without dropping it.
Large Group Halloween Games
74. Creepy Costume Freeze
Players dance until the music stops, then freeze in character.
75. Haunted Whisper Chain
A spooky version of telephone, passing creepy phrases around the circle.
76. Trick-or-Treat Swap
Players swap candy until they get their favorites.
77. Ghost Parade
Everyone walks around showing off their ghost costumes.
78. Haunted Conga Line
Start a spooky dance line and see how big it gets.
Fun for All Ages
79. Glow Stick Sword Fight
Safe foam swords wrapped with glow sticks for nighttime battles.
80. Pumpkin Stack Challenge
Stack as many mini pumpkins as possible before they topple.
81. Spider Web Toss
Toss balls at a target shaped like a spider web.
82. Haunted Obstacle Crawl
Crawl under tables and through “tunnels” made from sheets.
83. Witch Hat Hoopla
Toss hoops onto a cone-shaped witch hat.
Halloween Story & Guessing Games
84. Guess the Halloween Sound
Play creepy noises bats, howls, creaks and have players guess them.
85. Story Cube Spookfest
Roll story cubes with Halloween images and create a tale.
86. Monster Memory Match
Card-matching game with Halloween images.
87. Creepy Who Am I?
Players wear cards on their foreheads with a monster name, guessing via yes/no questions.
88. Horror Movie Quote Match
Match famous quotes to the correct movie.
Final Spooky Challenges
89. Pumpkin Golf
Hit small balls into carved pumpkin “holes.”
90. Haunted Piñata
Break open a Halloween-themed piñata full of candy and trinkets.
91. Zombie Freeze Tag
Players tagged must freeze until freed by a teammate.
92. Mummy Treasure Hunt
Follow clues to find hidden “ancient” treasure.
93. Skeleton Ring Toss
Toss rings onto skeleton arms or legs.
94. Ghost Bowling
Use white-painted bottles as “ghost pins” and roll a ball to knock them over.
95. Haunted Bean Bag Knockdown
Throw bean bags at a spooky target wall to knock down characters.
96. Trick or Truth
Players pick a card either answer a spooky question or do a silly challenge.
97. Pumpkin Push Race
Push pumpkins across the yard using only your nose.
98. Creepy Crawl Race
Crawl across the floor like a spider to the finish line.
99. Haunted Hoop Challenge
Shoot basketballs into Halloween-themed hoops.
100. Monster Musical Statues
Dance like a monster, freeze when the music stops last one standing wins.
Conclusion
Halloween parties are meant to be more than just candy and costumesthey’re about connection, laughter, and creating moments people remember long after the night ends.
With these 100 Halloween party game ideas for kids and adults, you can keep every guest engaged, whether they’re running in a zombie tag game, crafting their own creepy lantern, or battling it out in a haunted trivia showdown.
The best part? Most of these ideas are budget-friendly and easy to adapt for different group sizes and spaces.
FAQs
Adjust difficulty, time limits, and space to suit the crowd. For example, younger kids can have closer targets, while adults take on extra challenges.
Not necessarily. Many can be set up with items you already have like toilet paper for mummies or kitchen bowls for tossing games.
Absolutely. Small themed prizes like candy bags, spooky trinkets, or even just bragging rights make them even more fun.
Around 5-7, depending on how long each one takes. Mix quick icebreakers with longer group activities.
Try trivia, Pictionary, story-building games, or any seated craft-based activity.