Halloween is one of those rare times when adults and kids get the same pass to be ridiculous and nobody questions it. Costumes, creepy snacks, a little bit of spooky décor, and of course, the real star of the night games.
Without games, your Halloween party risks becoming just another “stand around and eat candy” gathering. And trust me, I’ve been to one of those not fun.
Over the years, I’ve tried and hosted so many different Halloween games, from messy pumpkin relays to eerie mystery boxes that make guests squeal.
The best ones are easy to set up, don’t require a PhD in party planning, and get everyone from shy kids to too-cool teenagers laughing or screaming in the best way possible.
So, if you want your Halloween bash to be remembered long after the candy is gone, here’s my personal list of the 20 best Halloween games. Let’s start with the first five because these are guaranteed crowd-pleasers.
1. Pumpkin Bowling
Pumpkin bowling is exactly what it sounds like bowling, but with mini pumpkins. You don’t need a fancy lane.
A long hallway, driveway, or even a cleared-out living room works just fine. Use empty plastic bottles as pins and fill them with a little sand or rice so they don’t topple too easily.
The fun part? Pumpkins aren’t perfectly round. They wobble, roll unpredictably, and sometimes take a wild left turn for no reason.
This makes the game hilarious, especially when someone is convinced they’re going to get a strike and the pumpkin ends up rolling into a wall. I like to award bonus candy for the most dramatic “pumpkin fail” of the night.
2. Mummy Wrap Race
Few things in life are as satisfying as wrapping your friends in toilet paper without consequences.
The mummy wrap race is a team game where one person stands still and their partner races to cover them from head to toe. The first fully wrapped mummy wins.
It’s surprisingly competitive and also an excellent way to burn through the cheap toilet paper you regret buying.
3. Halloween Scavenger Hunt
A Halloween scavenger hunt works for all ages and gives your party a bit of adventure. Hide themed items like fake spiders, plastic bats, or glow-in-the-dark skeleton bones around your home or yard.
Give players a checklist and a small bag or bucket.To make it more engaging, I like to add clues or riddles that lead to the next item. For older kids and adults, you can throw in a time limit and dim the lights to make it a little creepier.
And yes, it’s perfectly fine to hide candy as one of the “prizes” because, let’s face it, nobody says no to more candy on Halloween.
4. Witch Hat Ring Toss
This game is simple, but don’t underestimate how competitive people get. Make or buy a tall witch hat, place it on the ground or a table, and use glow-in-the-dark rings to toss.
I once saw someone take ten minutes trying to perfect their “winning throw” only for the ring to bounce off the brim at the last second.
It’s especially fun to turn off most of the lights and play by candlelight or blacklight, giving the game a more magical vibe. You can even assign different point values depending on where the ring lands.
5. Eyeball Pong
Think beer pong, but make it Halloween-friendly. Replace the red cups with clear ones decorated with creepy designs and swap ping pong balls for plastic eyeballs. Fill the cups with water, juice, or for adults, maybe a themed cocktail.
It’s ridiculously fun watching guests try to aim while laughing at how silly it feels to be tossing eyeballs. Plus, you can set it up anywhere a kitchen table, patio, or even the floor. I like to award a “grossest victory dance” prize for whoever wins.
6. Apple Bobbing… with a Twist
Apple bobbing is a Halloween classic, but I’ll be honest dunking your face into cold water on a chilly October night isn’t always appealing. That’s why I like to add a twist.
Instead of just apples, throw in a few “mystery” floating objects. Some could be marshmallows, while others might be wrapped candy.
This turns the game into a fun surprise challenge. You don’t know if you’re going to grab an apple, a piece of candy, or a slimy peeled grape.
For hygiene’s sake, you can use individual bowls instead of one big tub if you have a larger crowd. That way, everyone still gets the experience without sharing the same water.
7. Ghost Balloon Pop
This one is pure chaos in the best way. Before the party, fill white balloons with either small treats or silly “trick” slips of paper. Draw spooky faces on the outside so they look like little ghosts.
The game is simple: everyone gets a balloon, and on “go,” they must pop it to get the prize or trick inside. The “tricks” can be fun challenges like “do your best zombie walk” or “sing a ghost song.”
The best part is watching people try to pop balloons without using their hands stomping, sitting, or even using elbows.
8. Spooky Obstacle Course
If you’ve got some space backyard, driveway, or even a big basement a spooky obstacle course is a great way to get people moving.
Think crawling under “spider webs” made from string, hopping over “grave mounds” (pillows under blankets), and running through a tunnel of hanging bats.
I like to set it up so that players have to carry something while they run the course, like a mini pumpkin or a fake skull. It makes it harder and funnier. You can time each participant and crown a “Haunted Champion” at the end.
9. Monster Freeze Dance
This one’s a favorite for kids, but I’ve seen adults get way too into it. Put on a playlist of Halloween-themed songs “Thriller,” “Monster Mash,” “Ghostbusters,” you name it and have everyone dance like their favorite monster.
When the music stops, everyone must freeze. If you move, you’re out until the next round. I love adding random pauses to trick people into thinking the music will play longer. The result? Some truly awkward monster poses that are perfect for party photos.
10. Pin the Hat on the Witch
It’s the Halloween cousin of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” but way more fun to customize. Print or draw a big picture of a witch without her hat. Blindfold players, spin them gently, and have them try to stick a paper hat in the right spot.
The hats never land where they should, and that’s the beauty of it. I once had someone place the hat completely upside down on the witch’s chin and they still claimed it looked better that way. If you’re hosting for kids, you can give everyone small prizes just for participating.
11. Zombie Tag
Zombie Tag is like regular tag, but with a creepy twist. One player starts as the “zombie,” and instead of running normally, they have to move in slow, awkward zombie motions.
When they tag someone, that person also becomes a zombie, and the game continues until everyone is undead.
It sounds easy to avoid slow-moving zombies, but trust me once there are a few of them, escape becomes nearly impossible.
I’ve played this in my backyard at night, and the dim lighting makes it twice as intense. The sudden “Boo!” from behind a bush can take years off your life… in the best way possible.
12. Creepy Feel Box
This is the kind of game that makes people squeal, laugh, and occasionally run away.
You fill boxes with hidden objects that feel weird to touch peeled grapes for “eyeballs,” cooked spaghetti for “brains,” or a damp sponge for “rotting flesh.” Players reach inside without looking and try to guess what they’re feeling.
The key is in the atmosphere. Dim lighting, eerie background music, and a few fake cobwebs over the boxes make the experience so much more dramatic. I once used cold mashed potatoes as “zombie mush,” and the reactions were priceless.
13. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
Sometimes, simple games get the most attention. For Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe, all you need is a large board drawn on cardboard or a tablecloth, plus mini pumpkins and gourds painted in two different colors.
Players take turns placing their pumpkins until someone gets three in a row. The tactile feel of handling small pumpkins adds a nice seasonal touch. Plus, it works great for younger kids who may not want to join the more active games.
14. Haunted Story Chain
This is a sit-down game, perfect for giving everyone a breather between active rounds. Start with one sentence, like “It was a dark and stormy Halloween night when…” Then, each player adds one sentence to the story in turn.
The result? A bizarre, hilarious, and sometimes genuinely creepy tale that nobody could have planned.
I’ve played this where the story started with a haunted house and ended with a vampire who loved pumpkin pie all because of one player’s “plot twist.”
15. Glow Stick Ring Hunt
Hide glow stick rings around your yard or party space, and turn off most of the lights. Players search for them in the dark, and whoever collects the most wins.
This works well because it mixes the excitement of a scavenger hunt with the eerie glow of Halloween night. You can even assign different point values to different colored glow sticks to keep it interesting.
16. Skeleton Scavenger Build
Instead of just hiding random objects, hide all the pieces of a plastic skeleton around your party area. Players must find the bones and assemble the skeleton before anyone else does.
It’s hilarious to see people running around with femurs and skulls in hand, trying to figure out where they go. I recommend using glow-in-the-dark bones for extra effect plus, it makes it easier to play in dim lighting.
17. Bat Piñata Bash
Halloween isn’t complete without hitting something with a stick for candy. A bat-shaped piñata works perfectly for the theme. Blindfold players, give them a few spins, and let the chaos begin.
If you want to make it more challenging, hang the piñata high enough that it moves when someone swings. The candy scramble afterward is half the fun though you may need to referee to avoid “friendly” shoves.
18. Potion-Making Challenge
Set up a table with different “ingredients” in jars, like gummy worms, marshmallows, juice, and candy corn. Give each player a cup and a set time to create their own “witch’s potion.”
It’s not about making something drinkable (though you can if you want) it’s about creativity. I once judged a potion called “Ghoul’s Breakfast,” which was just chocolate milk with floating gummy spiders. Points for imagination.
19. Spider Web Maze
Use yarn or string to create a web-like obstacle course in a hallway or between two walls. Players must navigate through without touching the string, or they go back to the start.
This is surprisingly tough, especially if you make the web more complex halfway through the night. Kids love it, but I’ve seen adults get hooked on trying to “beat the web” too.
20. Haunted Musical Chairs
Yes, musical chairs but make it creepy. Replace the usual upbeat music with eerie soundtracks or sudden creepy noises. Dim the lights and add a fog machine if you have one.
When the music stops, it’s a mad dash for the chairs, and the atmosphere makes it so much funnier. Bonus points if you have a “ghost” (someone in costume) walking around to distract the players.
Why Games Are the Heart of a Great Halloween Party
No matter how creative your costumes or how spooky your décor, it’s the games that turn a Halloween gathering into an unforgettable event.
Games break the ice, make strangers laugh together, and keep the energy alive all night long. They turn quiet moments into bursts of excitement and give everyone a reason to stay engaged.
Without them, even the most beautiful party setup can feel flat. The right mix of fun, challenge, and laughter ensures your guests walk away with stories they’ll still be telling next October and that’s exactly the kind of memory every great host wants to create.
Conclusion
The secret to a great Halloween party isn’t just the decorations or the snacks it’s the energy your games create.
I’ve hosted parties where people still talk about one ridiculous game a year later. The key is variety: mix high-energy challenges with slower, funny ones so guests of all ages can join in.
Whether it’s the chaos of pumpkin bowling, the creativity of potion-making, or the suspense of zombie tag, these 20 games guarantee laughs, friendly competition, and plenty of photo-worthy moments.
Pick a few that match your crowd, and you’ll have a night people look forward to repeating every October.
If you use even half of these ideas, I can promise your guests won’t just remember your Halloween party they’ll be asking when the next one is.
FAQs
It depends on your guest list and how long the party lasts. For a 3-hour party, I usually plan 5–7 games and rotate them throughout the night.
Absolutely. Many of these games can be adapted with difficulty levels, props, or prizes to suit different age groups.
Not necessarily. Many can be played in a living room, garage, or backyard. Just adjust the game size to fit your space.
Witch Hat Ring Toss or Haunted Story Chain minimal prep, maximum fun.
Add small prizes, keep score, or introduce silly penalties for losing. It keeps people engaged.