The countdown to a new year is exciting, but if you’re a gamer (even a casual one), playing games during this special time is the way to go.
That’s where party games come in! They’re not as hardcore as other games, but are perfect to be played even by non-gamers and will result in an amazing night for you all.
And I have you covered with 10 fun party games to kick off the year with a bang!
At a Glance
Here’s a handy table summarizing the key details of each game (keep reading for more details):
Game | Player Count | Type | Platform |
---|---|---|---|
Skribbl.io | 2–12 | Drawing & Guessing | Browser |
Gartic Phone | 4–30 | Drawing & Prompting | Browser |
Pretend You’re Xyzzy | 3+ | Card Game | Browser |
Jackbox Party Pack | 2–8 | Variety | Consoles, PC, Browser |
JKLM.Fun | 2+ | Word Game | Browser |
Psych! | 2+ | Bluffing Trivia | Mobile App |
Among Us | 4–15 | Deduction | Mobile, PC, Console |
Codenames | 4–8 | Word Strategy | Physical Game, App |
2+ | Puzzle | Consoles, PC, VR | |
Spyfall | 3–8 | Deduction & Bluffing | Physical Game, App |
Overcooked! All You Can Eat | 1–4 | Cooking chaos | PC, Consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch) |
Now let’s get a bit more in-depth and learn more about each of these amazing games!
Skribbl.io

Imagine Pictionary, but faster, customizable, and more party-esque, and you have Skribbl.io.
This browser-based game lets you and up to 11 friends take turns drawing prompts while the rest guess what’s on the screen.
As you can probably imagine, hijinks and ridiculousness may ensue. You have been warned.
Related reading: Best Family Co-op/Party Games for PS5
Psych!

Psych! is a trivia game with a twist. Instead of just answering questions, you’ll craft fake answers to fool your friends into picking them.
The more convincing (or outrageous) your answers, the better your chances of scoring. It’s a creative, fast-paced game that’s equal parts clever and hilarious.
The game’s available on mobile, both in the App Store and on Google Play.
Gartic Phone
Another party drawing game,Gartic Phonestarts with you and your friends writing up a prompt, and everyone else drawing those prompts to the best of their ability.
From there, everyone takes turns guessing what the drawing could be, leading into the next round of prompted drawings.
The goal isn’t necessarily to beright, but rather to have fun with the bizarre prompts and potentially ridiculous drawings.
Among Us
Among Us thrives on drama, trust issues, and betrayal. As you complete tasks on a spaceship, some players secretly act as Impostors, working to sabotage the crew.
Figuring out who’s lying and who’s just bad at explaining themselves is half the fun. Whether you’re accusing your best friend or defending your innocence, it’s guaranteed to create chaos – and it’s best played between friends.
The game is available on all platforms, from mobile to PC and consoles.
If you want to look at other season-related games, check out my list of HOPAs to play this Christmas.
Pretend You’re Xyzzy
Cards Against Humanity’s tagline is “A party game for horrible people” and withPretend You’re Xyzzy, you and your friends can keep the good times rolling!
Pretend You’re Xyzzy functions just like Cards Against Humanity. Everyone draws a handful of cards with different funny phrases on them, and in each round, a Card Czar and a prompt (black) card are chosen.
The goal here is to respond with the funniest response (white) card. At the end of the round, the Card Czar chooses the winner, and the player with the most points at the end wins!
Codenames

Codenames is a game of words and wits. Split into two teams and try to guess your team’s secret words based on one-word clues from your spymaster.
Be careful, though – guess wrong, and you might accidentally help the other team or stumble upon the assassin word, ending the game abruptly. It’s a perfect blend of strategy and fun.
While this is mostly a traditional board game, it also has a mobile version that’s just as fun – check out the game’s official website to get it.
Also read:
Jackbox Party Pack

The one is a little broader, as there are currently a ton of differentJackbox Party Packsto choose from.
The Jackbox Party Pack(s) are, as you can probably tell, a pack of party games designed to leave you gasping for air – but in a good way. Each Party Pack consists of five games of various player counts, and each game is different, which can make it somewhat difficult to choose.
I think that every group of friends either has a Party Pack available to them already or should have one if the need arises. My favorite game series is Trivia Murder Party, but you’ll find your favorite soon enough. Happy hunting!
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes puts your communication skills to the test. One player defuses a bomb while the rest frantically explain how – based on an instruction manual they’re trying to interpret under pressure.
It’s chaotic, hilarious, and a fantastic way to bond with your friends (or argue over whose fault it was when the bomb went off).
The game’s available on all platforms, from mobile to PC and consoles.
Related reading: Best Two-Player Games on Switch
JKLM.Fun

JKLM.Funmay sound like some weird multi-level marketing scheme, but I promise it’s just a couple of fun party games. Personally, my friends and I are big fans of Bomb Party.
Bomb Party is a fun word game where each player is given a couple of letters and has to type in a word that consists of those letters while using up as many as they can from the sidebar.
The more letters eliminated, the better, but if you fail to enter a new word in time, you lose a life.
Spyfall
Spyfall is part deduction, part bluffing, and all fun. In each round, one player is the spy, trying to guess the group’s secret location without getting caught.
Meanwhile, everyone else is working together to uncover who the spy is before time runs out. Suspicion, clever lies, and unexpected twists make this game endlessly entertaining.
You can either invest in the more traditional board game version of the game, choose the mobile version, or play it online in your browser.
Also read: Best 4 Player Games on Switch
Overcooked! All You Can Eat

Overcooked is a co-op cooking game that will put your teamwork and communication skills to the test. You have to manage a kitchen and prepare multiple dishes at the same time.
The only way to achieve that is by setting roles and constantly communicating with your teammates while the customers keep requesting more food.
If you want to see how well you perform as a group under stress, Overcooked is a must-try. Available on all platforms.
So, which game are you starting with? Share your favorites in the comments below, and let the celebrations begin! Happy New Year!
- Author
- Recent Posts
Calin Ciabai
Common Sense Gamer’s founder and current Editor in Chief. Having a bachelor’s degree in journalism since 2007, Calin’s entire career revolves around writing about video games – something he’s been doing since 2008.
Latest posts by Calin Ciabai (see all)
- Nostalgic Gaming on a Budget: Best Classic PC Games for 2025 - January 7, 2025
- ALL Roblox Non-copyrighted Music ID Codes (2025 Update) - January 7, 2025
- These Are the Best Crossbow Enchantments in Minecraft - December 11, 2024