Party Game Finder — Games by Age & Group Size

Finding party games that actually work for your age group is harder than it looks. This tool matches games to your kids' ages, guest count, venue type, and energy level. No more googling "party games for 7 year olds" and getting the same 10 results.

Written by Baljeet Aulakh | Last updated February 2026

Quick Answer

Plan 1 game per 15-20 minutes of party time — a 2-hour party needs 5-6 games. Mix high-energy games (relay races, musical chairs) with calm ones (trivia, drawing). Always have 1-2 backup games ready. Use the free finder below to browse 40+ games filtered by age and group size.

40+: Games
All Ages: Supported
Full: Instructions

Filter Games

Age Range

Group Size

Setting

Energy Level

Prep Time

Showing 40 games

🪑

Musical Chairs

The classic party game where players walk around chairs while music plays and scramble to sit when it stops.

Ages 3-125-20 players10-15 min

indoor·active energy·Minimal prep

🥔

Hot Potato

Players pass an object around a circle while music plays — whoever holds it when the music stops is out.

Ages 3-105-20 players10-15 min

Indoor / Outdoor·moderate energy·No prep

🗣️

Simon Says

A listening game where players must only follow commands that begin with "Simon says."

Ages 3-123-30 players10-15 min

Indoor / Outdoor·moderate energy·No prep

🦆

Duck Duck Goose

A chasing game where kids sit in a circle and one player taps heads choosing a "goose" to chase them.

Ages 2-86-20 players10-15 min

Indoor / Outdoor·active energy·No prep

🚦

Red Light Green Light

Players race toward the finish line but must freeze when "red light" is called.

Ages 3-104-30 players10-15 min

Indoor / Outdoor·active energy·No prep

👩

Mother May I

A polite racing game where players must ask permission before taking steps toward the finish line.

Ages 3-104-20 players10-15 min

Indoor / Outdoor·moderate energy·No prep

🕺

Freeze Dance

Kids dance wildly when music plays and must freeze in place the instant it stops.

Ages 2-124-30 players10-15 min

indoor·active energy·No prep

🌴

Limbo

Players take turns leaning backward to walk under a bar that gets lower each round.

Ages 4-144-20 players10-15 min

Indoor / Outdoor·active energy·Minimal prep

🏃

Relay Races

Teams compete in various racing challenges — running, hopping, carrying objects, and more.

Ages 4-146-30 players15-20 min

outdoor·active energy·Minimal prep

🏅

Obstacle Course

A custom course of physical challenges that players race through one at a time.

Ages 4-143-20 players20-30 min

outdoor·active energy·Some prep

👜

Sack Race

Players hop to the finish line with both feet inside a sack or pillowcase.

Ages 4-124-20 players10-15 min

outdoor·active energy·Minimal prep

🥚

Egg and Spoon Race

A steady-hand race where players carry an egg on a spoon to the finish line without dropping it.

Ages 4-144-20 players10-15 min

outdoor·moderate energy·Minimal prep

💪

Tug of War

Two teams pull opposite ends of a rope trying to drag the other team past a line.

Ages 5-146-30 players10-15 min

outdoor·active energy·Minimal prep

🚩

Capture the Flag

Two teams try to steal each other's flag and bring it back to their territory without getting tagged.

Ages 6-148-30 players20-30 min

outdoor·active energy·Minimal prep

⚽

Kickball

A playground classic — like baseball but you kick a bouncy ball instead of hitting with a bat.

Ages 5-148-20 players20-30 min

outdoor·active energy·Minimal prep

🏷️

Tag Variations

Classic tag with fun twists — freeze tag, blob tag, TV tag, and more to keep kids running.

Ages 3-125-30 players15-20 min

outdoor·active energy·No prep

🎨

Arts & Crafts Station

A creative activity station where kids make themed crafts to take home as party favors.

Ages 3-122-20 players20-30 min

Indoor / Outdoor·calm energy·Some prep

🎭

Face Painting

Kids get their faces painted with fun designs like butterflies, superheroes, animals, or rainbows.

Ages 3-122-20 players20-30 min

Indoor / Outdoor·calm energy·Some prep

🧸

Build-a-Stuffed Animal

Kids stuff and decorate their own plush animal to take home — a creative keepsake activity.

Ages 4-122-15 players20-30 min

indoor·calm energy·Some prep

🧁

Decorate Your Own Cupcake

Each kid decorates their own cupcake with frosting, sprinkles, and candy toppings.

Ages 3-142-20 players15-20 min

indoor·calm energy·Some prep

🌈

Tie-Dye Station

Kids create their own tie-dye t-shirts with vibrant colors and patterns to take home.

Ages 5-143-15 players20-30 min

outdoor·calm energy·Some prep

📿

Friendship Bracelet Making

Kids make colorful beaded or woven bracelets for each other as party keepsakes.

Ages 5-142-15 players15-25 min

Indoor / Outdoor·calm energy·Minimal prep

🔍

Scavenger Hunt

Teams race to find a list of hidden items or complete fun challenges around the party area.

Ages 4-143-20 players20-30 min

Indoor / Outdoor·active energy·Some prep

🗺️

Treasure Hunt

Kids follow a series of clues from station to station, leading to a hidden treasure at the end.

Ages 4-123-20 players20-30 min

Indoor / Outdoor·active energy·Some prep

🧠

Team Trivia

Teams compete to answer fun trivia questions about animals, movies, science, and pop culture.

Ages 6-146-30 players15-20 min

Indoor / Outdoor·calm energy·Some prep

🎭

Charades

Players act out words or phrases without speaking while their team tries to guess.

Ages 5-144-20 players15-20 min

indoor·moderate energy·Minimal prep

✏️

Pictionary

Like charades but with drawing — one player sketches while their team races to guess the word.

Ages 5-144-20 players15-20 min

indoor·calm energy·Minimal prep

🤝

Human Knot

Players stand in a circle, grab different hands across the circle, and work together to untangle without letting go.

Ages 7-146-15 players10-15 min

Indoor / Outdoor·moderate energy·No prep

🎁

Pass the Parcel

A wrapped package is passed around a circle — when the music stops, that player unwraps one layer.

Ages 3-105-20 players10-15 min

indoor·calm energy·Some prep

🗽

Musical Statues

Like Freeze Dance but players must hold the funniest or most creative pose when the music stops.

Ages 3-104-25 players10-15 min

indoor·moderate energy·No prep

🎰

Bingo

A party-themed version of bingo with pictures or words that match your party theme.

Ages 4-143-30 players15-20 min

indoor·calm energy·Some prep

📖

Story Time Circle

Kids sit in a circle and collaboratively create a silly story, each adding one sentence.

Ages 2-73-20 players10-15 min

Indoor / Outdoor·calm energy·No prep

🎯

Pin the Tail (Themed)

The classic blindfold game themed to your party — pin the horn on the unicorn, the tail on the dinosaur, and more.

Ages 3-103-20 players10-15 min

indoor·calm energy·Some prep

🃏

Memory Card Game

Players flip pairs of cards trying to find matching pairs — the player with the most matches wins.

Ages 3-102-8 players10-15 min

indoor·calm energy·Minimal prep

⏱️

Minute to Win It Challenges

Quick one-minute challenges using household items — stack cups, balance cookies, move cotton balls, and more.

Ages 6-144-20 players20-30 min

indoor·active energy·Some prep

🎈

Balloon Pop Relay

Teams race to pop balloons by sitting on them, stomping them, or squeezing them.

Ages 5-146-20 players10-15 min

Indoor / Outdoor·active energy·Some prep

💃

Dance Off / Dance Battle

Players show off their best dance moves in head-to-head battles or freestyle rounds.

Ages 4-144-20 players15-20 min

indoor·active energy·No prep

🎤

Karaoke Contest

Kids take the stage to sing their favorite songs with a microphone — solo, duets, or group performances.

Ages 5-143-15 players20-30 min

indoor·moderate energy·Minimal prep

📸

Photo Booth with Props

A decorated photo station with silly props where kids take fun pictures throughout the party.

Ages 3-142-30 players15-30 min

Indoor / Outdoor·calm energy·Some prep

🔐

Escape Room Challenge

Teams solve a series of puzzles, riddles, and clues to "escape" the room or unlock a treasure box.

Ages 7-144-12 players20-30 min

indoor·moderate energy·Some prep

Get a Complete Activity Schedule

Great games found — now fit them into a real timeline. A free Party Genius plan schedules activities with transitions, mixes energy levels, and includes backup games in case one falls flat.

Build My Activity Plan

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What Are the Best Party Games for Each Age Group?

Quick guide to the best party games for each age range.

Age Group	Best Games	Group Size	Duration
Ages 2-4	Musical statues, Bubble pop, Parachute play	5-10	5-10 min
Ages 5-7	Musical chairs, Freeze dance, Pin the tail	8-15	10-15 min
Ages 8-10	Scavenger hunt, Relay races, Trivia	10-20	15-20 min
Ages 11-13	Capture the flag, Escape room, Charades	10-25	20-30 min
Teens 14+	Board games, Karaoke, Photo booth	8-20	30-60 min
Adults	Trivia night, Card games, Lawn games	10-30	30-60 min

Related Party Planning Guides

Birthday Party Games Guide Ice Breaker Generator Timeline Generator Kids Party Themes Outdoor Party Ideas

Pro Tip

Plan 5-8 games but expect to actually play 4-5. Kids' attention spans are shorter than you think, and transitions eat time. Always alternate high-energy games (relay races, tag) with low-energy ones (crafts, coloring). And have one "emergency game" ready — musical chairs works every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find age-appropriate party games for kids?

Use our Party Game Finder to filter games by age range. Select the age group of your party guests (1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, or 13+) and the tool will show only games that are safe and fun for that age range. Each game includes recommended age ranges based on physical ability and attention span.

What are the best party games for large groups of kids?

For large groups of 15-20+ kids, the best games include Capture the Flag, Relay Races, Freeze Dance, Simon Says, and Scavenger Hunts. These games scale well because they keep everyone engaged at once. Use our game finder to filter by group size to see all options.

What party games work indoors for rainy days?

Great indoor party games include Musical Chairs, Charades, Pictionary, Freeze Dance, Pass the Parcel, Bingo, Memory Card Game, Karaoke Contest, and Minute to Win It Challenges. Filter by "Indoor" setting in our game finder to see all 20+ indoor-friendly options.

How many games should I plan for a birthday party?

Plan 4-6 games for a 2-hour party, mixing active and calm games to manage energy levels. Start with an icebreaker, alternate between high-energy and calm games, and have 1-2 backup games ready. Our Party Game Finder helps you build the perfect game lineup with a mix of energy levels.