Okay, so picture this: it’s Halloween night. I’m standing in my living room, surrounded by fake cobwebs, deflating ghost balloons, and that one fog machine that won’t stop wheezing. And I’m realizing—again—that planning the games is somehow the most stressful and most fun part of hosting.
One year, I tried to improvise with a “spooky trivia” round… which quickly turned into a heated debate about whether Frankenstein is the monster or the doctor. (Technically both, depending on who’s had more wine.)
So, to save you from my mistakes, here’s my list of tried-and-true Halloween party games—whether your guest list is full of sugar-fueled kids, overly dramatic adults, or that glorious chaos in between.
1. Haunted Scavenger Hunt
This one brings out everyone’s inner detective. I hide creepy treasures around the house—plastic bones, chocolate eyeballs, the occasional fake hand for drama. Split your guests into teams, hand them tiny cauldrons, and let the madness unfold. Someone will definitely take it way too seriously—and that’s half the fun.
2. Giants, Wizards, and Trolls
Think “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” but louder and far more ridiculous. Teams shout “GIANTS! WIZARDS! TROLLS!” while acting it out. Giants stretch tall, Wizards cast spells, Trolls crouch low. It’s chaotic, noisy, and somehow perfect every single time.
3. Deadly Wink Murder Mystery
A classic for a reason. Everyone mingles, one person’s secretly the murderer, and if they wink at you—boom—you’re “dead.” Cue dramatic falls and Oscar-worthy fainting spells. I once saw someone collapse into the snack table for realism. 10/10 performance.
4. Halloween Bingo Bonanza
When you need a breather, this one’s a lifesaver. Print bingo cards filled with words like “witch,” “pumpkin,” and “ghost.” You’d be shocked how competitive people get—especially when the prize is good. (Last year it was a pumpkin-scented candle. Fights were almost had.)
5. Monster Musical Chairs
Crank up “Monster Mash” and have everyone stomp around like Frankenstein’s monster. When the music stops—mayhem. Chairs flying, people shrieking, someone always fake-tripping. I once swapped the chairs for glow-up hula hoops outside—best decision ever.
6. Zombie Horde Tag
Perfect for guests with endless energy. The person who’s “it” has to move like a zombie—slow, stiff, moaning like they haven’t had caffeine in days. Each tagged player joins the horde until you’ve recreated The Walking Dead (minus the CGI budget).
7. Mummy Race Challenge
It’s messy, but trust me—it’s worth it. Wrap someone’s legs in toilet paper and make them race without tearing it. Spoiler: it always tears. You’ll have bits of TP floating around like confetti. Bonus: the photos are comedy gold.
8. Monster Mash Limbo
Grab a broomstick, blast “Thriller,” and watch people get way too serious about winning. There’s just something about Halloween music that makes everyone commit fully—backbends, howls, and all.
9. Ghost Story Circle
Turn off the lights, grab a flashlight, and take turns building one spooky story together. Everyone tries to outdo the last person. Once, someone added that the ghost was haunting us for stealing their leftover pizza. Terrifying and honestly… relatable.
10. Mystery Box Sensory Challenge
The chaos level on this one? Immaculate. Fill boxes with creepy textures—peeled grapes (eyeballs), cold spaghetti (brains), mashed bananas (unknown horror). Then watch your guests shriek while trying to guess what’s inside. Gross. Perfect. Unforgettable.
11. Haunted Jenga Dares
Write spooky dares on each Jenga block—like “howl like a werewolf” or “do your best zombie walk.” The higher the tower gets, the funnier (and shakier) it becomes. I once had a guest moonwalk mid-game. Legendary.
12. Guess the Candy Count
Simple, but weirdly addictive. Fill a jar with candy corn or mini pumpkins, and have everyone guess the number. Closest guess wins the whole jar. Once I had a tie, and yes—we made them rock-paper-scissors for it. No mercy.
13. Cemetery Pong
Basically beer pong, but spooky. Swap red cups for black ones, decorate with mini tombstones, and add a bit of dry ice for flair (no drinking the fog, please). It’s competitive, creepy, and surprisingly elegant for what it is.
14. Horror Movie Bingo
Pop on a scary movie and hand out bingo cards with tropes like “creepy doll,” “jump scare,” “foggy forest,” or “power outage.” Every time it happens, people yell and mark their cards. Honestly, it’s the only way I can watch horror movies without hiding behind a pillow.
15. Spooky Telephone Game
When the sugar crash hits, this one’s a lifesaver. Start with a creepy phrase, whisper it down the line, and see what chaos emerges. By the end, “The witch haunts the graveyard” usually turns into “The vampire stole the Wi-Fi password.” Every. Single. Time.
By the end of the night, your floor might be covered in candy wrappers, fake spiders, and a suspicious amount of toilet paper—but that’s just the mark of a successful Halloween party.
And if you’re anything like me, you’ll already be planning next year’s games before the fake cobwebs even hit the trash.
