9 Dinner Party Games For Your Next Gathering
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We’ve played many thoughtful dinner party games with loved ones — these are our top picks for stimulating play and connection in any group.
If you have your standard Sunday family dinner or your biweekly brunch with your closest girls, the conversation can feel a bit stale after a while. (Or conversely, if you’re hosting an event where no one is particularly close with one another, it’s hard to find common ground!) That’s when we love to break out the ol’ dinner party game. They’re the perfect way to break the ice and get to know one another — plus, they bring out our strategic thinking skills, endless laughs, and creative storytelling.
Our criteria:
Our team has personally played and loved the games on this list, as well as many more! The selections below are good for a variety of groups — some include the kiddos, while others are just for close-knit girlfriends. All are thoughtfully crafted and destined to be a good time, while bringing you closer too.
For even deeper conversations, check out these conversation card decks — or, for more games the whole family will love, consider these board games.
1. Hey Girl Hey
Best For | Casual girls’ night
Price | $28
For fans of Truth and Dare and Never Have I Ever, you’ll love Hey Girl Hey. This interactive card game combines a variety of activities and questions, so you can have fun and learn about one another simultaneously. The cards include Challenges, Truth or Drink, Dare or Drink, Never Have I Ever, Get to Know Ya, Girl Talk, Choose Your Character, and Debate — and with 150 prompts, you’ll never run out of topics to discuss. Support this Black woman-owned small business and build even closer connections at your next dinner party or sleepover with your girlfriends.
Customer Review | “This game was an absolute HIT amongst myself & guests. We thoroughly enjoyed the questions and the conversation starters as well as the dares… amazing work ladies, I truly loved it and glad I could support!” – Jazmine C. (Read more reviews)
2. We’re Not Really Strangers
Best For | Intimate dinner parties
Price | $25
We’re Not Really Strangers is the purpose-driven game you want to bring to your next gathering with friends and family. Up to six people can play at once, and the set includes pencils, notepads, and 150 prompts. The questions range from Perception (Level 1) to Connection (Level 2) to Reflection (Level 3), with increasing degrees of intimacy and intensity. For example, a Perception question might be “What’s the worst assumption someone’s made about you?” whereas a Reflection prompt may ask “What questions were you most afraid to answer?” Vulnerability required, but you’ll walk away feeling closer than ever with your loved ones.
Customer Review | “If I could sum this game up in three words, it would be “for the soul”. Everything about this is perfect. Play it with your friends, family, and strangers. You won’t regret it.” – Leah B. (Read more reviews)
3. Codenames
Best For | Free online play
Price | Free online, $19.99 in Target
For many in the pandemic (this editor included), Codenames was a go-to offering endless hours of fun and escape. In its simplest terms, you’ll divide up a set of words between two teams (four players minimum), and then you work with your team’s “spymaster” to identify your team’s words — but the spymaster’s only allowed to give you one clue per turn. Because the words are randomly divided every time, there are thousands of variations so you’ll never get bored. While you can buy the physical board game at stores like Target, Codenames is also free to play online; simply sign up for a room, copy your specific room’s URL, and share it with friends on audio/video chat (like on Google Meet or Zoom).
Customer Review | “This game is so fun! It’s a great mental challenge but people of all ages can play and enjoy it! Endless possibilities of how the board can be arranged- you’ll pretty much never run out. It’s not like a trivia game where you may end up knowing all the cards.” – egw2260 (Read more reviews)
4. Dixit
Best For | Family play
Price | $36
If the phrase “a picture’s worth a thousand words” resonates with you then let us introduce you to Dixit. This interactive card game features 84 beautifully illustrated cards all open to interpretation. When it’s your turn, you’ll choose one card (without telling the others) and share a theme that the card inspires for you. Everyone else will share one card face down that they have that inspires that same theme, and after shuffling, they’ll try to deduce which card was yours. It’s great for sharing other perspectives, getting creative juices flowing, and playing with all ages. (Once you work your way through this set, there are also Dixit expansion packs featuring other universes like Disney, Loony Quest, and more.)
5. Spill It
Best For | Adult parties
Price | $23
Founded by three Black women who “enjoyed a glass of wine (or two) with their friends,” Spill It helps you spill all the tea amongst your BFFs. You’ll need three to eight (adult) players, ideally a beverage of your choice, and this deck — choose from 49 conversation cards across three levels of questions, and see what unfiltered hot takes come out! If you’re not all of drinking age or just prefer more PG-rated cards, there’s also the Family DUI (Discussion Under the Influence) set which will bring the whole family closer together.
6. Cards Against Humanity
Best For | R-rated laughs
Price | $29; free downloads online
Similar to Apples to Apples or Mad Libs, Cards Against Humanity is dubbed a party game “for horrible people.” You’ll each receive a handful of white cards with various sayings or phrases (think: “a bag of magic beans” or “the art of seduction”). Then when it’s your turn, you’ll choose a black card with a question or prompt (i.e., “What’s that smell?”) and then everyone else will submit their funniest white cards to pair together — the most hilarious combo wins. But unlike Apples to Apples which is more child-friendly, CAH can get a bit rowdy, risqué, and R-rated so we recommend playing after your little one’s bedtime.
Customer Review | “I learned more from this game than I did in high school” – Liquid_Peppermint (Read more reviews)
7. Very Special Games
Best For | Unique games
Price | $25+
If you’re tired of all the mainstream board games (you can only play Monopoly, Taboo, and Uno so much, you know?), Very Special Games has a variety of unique options to explore. Started by Evan and Josh, two friends in TN, VSG now carries six different games like Puns of Anarchy, Ransom Notes, and Charty Party. They’re all great to play with kids or adults (there are a few family-friendly options too) and they’re all meant to be learned in just a few minutes. We like to keep these options on hand for our dinner party regulars when we need a fresh ‘n new activity.
Customer Review | “Party games can be pretty hit or miss, but Ransom Notes is legitimately one of the funniest party games my group has ever played! The lax nature of the game combined with the large number of words makes for a great time, and I’ve already bought another one for someone who might enjoy it.” – Adam K. (Read more reviews)
8. Words of Art
Best For | Fans of art
Price | $38
Words of Art brings a renowned collector’s works right into your home. Agnes Gund’s never-before-shared collection is the central focus here, with 150 pieces illustrated across the cards. Each person will take a turn as the designated storyteller sharing a verbal prompt, and everyone will submit the piece that most represents the prompt. While it opens your mind creatively, it’s also a wonderful educational experience as over half of the cards feature pieces from women artists (and a third are from women of color). While you might also see some familiar artworks by Warhol or Jasper Johns, you’ll learn about lesser-known artists and the gift of perspectives amongst loved ones along the way.
9. Liar’s Dice
Best For | Quick games
Price | $20
If you need something to quickly pass the time, Liar’s Dice is the classic game first played by sailors and pirates. Using dice and cups between two to four players, you’ll try to outbid, outbluff, and outlast your opponents; it’s easy, engaging, and doesn’t require tons of reading or learning complicated rules. There are many variations of the game that you can find in stores like Kohl’s and Walmart, online, or even used on eBay in different languages. A game played for centuries all over the world — it’s sure to be a hit for you, too.
Featured image from Hey Girl Hey
