50 Fun-filled Parlor Games for Your Next Family Reunion Extravaganza

Family reunions are wonderful opportunities to strengthen bonds, create lasting memories, and have loads of fun. One way to ensure a memorable and enjoyable family reunion is by organizing parlor games that engage everyone. Whether you have a small gathering or a large extravaganza, these 50 fun-filled parlor games will entertain people of all ages and keep the laughter flowing.

1. Balloon Pop

Divide participants into pairs. Each pair gets a balloon tied to their ankles. The objective is to pop the other team’s balloons while protecting their own. The last pair with an intact balloon wins.

2. Human Knot

Participants stand in a circle and reach out to grab hands with two other people. The challenge is to untangle the human knot without letting go of each other’s hands. It requires cooperation and communication.

3. Charades

This classic game requires participants to act out a word or phrase without speaking. Divide into teams, and one member from each team acts out a clue while the others guess. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

4. Pictionary

Similar to charades, teams take turns drawing a word while their teammates guess. The team with the most correct guesses wins. Prepare a list of words in advance to make it more challenging.

5. Musical Chairs

Arrange chairs in a circle, one less than the number of players. Start playing music and have everyone walk or dance around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone must find a seat. The person left standing is eliminated. Remove one chair and repeat until only one person is left.

6. Tug of War

Divide into two teams and use a strong rope. Each team holds an end of the rope and tries to tug it towards their side. The team that pulls the rope past a designated line wins.

7. Egg and Spoon Race

Each participant balances an egg on a spoon and races to the finish line without dropping it. If an egg falls, they must start from the beginning. The first person to reach the finish line with their egg intact wins.

8. Simon Says

One person plays “Simon” and gives instructions that the others must follow. However, the only instructions they must follow are those preceded by “Simon says.” Anyone who performs an action without “Simon says” is out. The last person remaining becomes the next “Simon”.

9. Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of items or clues for participants to find. They must search for the items or solve the clues within a specified time limit. The team or individual who finds the most items or solves the most clues wins.

10. Limbo

A bar is held horizontally, and participants must bend backward to go under it without touching it with their hands or falling. Gradually lower the bar after each round. The last person to successfully go under the bar wins.

11. Hula Hoop Contest

See who can keep a hula hoop spinning around their waist the longest. The person who keeps it going the longest without dropping it wins. For added fun, try hula hooping in pairs or multiple hula hoops.

12. Mummy Wrap

Divide into teams of two and give each team a roll of toilet paper. One person in each team becomes the “mummy” while the other wraps them from head to toe with the toilet paper. The team that wraps their mummy the fastest and neatest wins.

13. The Name Game

Choose a category such as animals or food. The first person says a word from the category, and the next person must say a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word. Keep going until someone can’t think of a word within a few seconds. That person is out, and the game continues until only one person is left.

14. Water Balloon Toss

Pair up participants and give each pair a water balloon. Start with a short distance and have the pairs toss the balloon back and forth. After each successful catch, they take a step back. The pair that tosses the balloon the farthest without breaking it wins.

15. Three-Legged Race

Pair up participants and have each pair stand side by side, with their adjacent legs tied together. They must run or hop to the finish line. The first pair to reach the finish line wins.

16. Duck Duck Goose

Arrange participants in a circle, with one person as the “goose”. The goose walks around the circle, tapping each person on the head and saying “duck”. They can choose one person as the “goose” by tapping them on the head and saying “goose”. The person chosen as the “goose” must get up and chase the original goose around the circle. If the goose reaches the vacant spot first, the person becomes the new goose. If not, they continue as the goose.

17. Guess Who

Have participants write down a famous person’s name and stick it on their foreheads. They must then go around asking yes or no questions to figure out who they are. The first person to correctly guess their identity wins.

18. Name That Tune

Play a few seconds of a popular song, and participants have to guess the name of the song and the artist. The person with the most correct guesses wins.

19. Ping Pong Madness

Set up a ping pong table and divide participants into teams. Each team must bounce the ball off the table and onto the opposing team’s side, taking turns until someone misses. The team with the most successful bounces wins.

20. Family Feud

Adapted from the popular TV game show, create a list of survey questions and divide participants into two teams. Each team takes turns guessing the top answers. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

21. Minute to Win It

Choose a variety of rapid-fire games from the popular TV show “Minute to Win It”. Participants must complete each game in one minute or less. The person or team with the most successful completions wins.

22. Bounce Off

Divide participants into pairs and give each pair a ping pong ball. They must try to bounce the ball off the table and into a cup. The pair with the most successful bounces wins.

23. Sack Race

Provide each participant with a large sack or pillowcase. They must hop inside the sack and race to the finish line. The first person to cross the finish line wins.

24. Bring Me

Have a list of items ready and call out “Bring me…” followed by an item. Participants must quickly find and bring the item to the designated point. The first person to bring the item wins a point. The person with the most points at the end wins.

25. Guess the Picture

Prepare a slideshow of close-up pictures of various objects or things. Participants must guess what each picture represents. The person with the most correct guesses wins.

26. Hike it Up

Divide participants into teams and give each team a balloon. They must keep the balloon in the air without using their hands. The team that keeps the balloon airborne the longest wins.

27. Hilarious Headbands

Gather a collection of funny headbands or hats. Each participant puts on a headband without looking and must guess what they are based on reactions and hints from others. The person with the most correct guesses wins.

28. Sticker Stalker

Give each participant a sheet of stickers and challenge them to secretly stick as many stickers as possible on other participants without them noticing. The person with the most stickers stuck wins.

29. Pen and Paper Games

Hangman

One person thinks of a word and draws a series of blank lines representing the letters. Others try to guess the word by suggesting letters. If a guessed letter is correct, the person fills in the corresponding blank. If a guessed letter is incorrect, a part of a stick figure is drawn. The objective is to guess the word before the stick figure is completed.

Tic Tac Toe

Create a grid of 3×3 squares. Each player takes turns placing their symbol (X or O) in an empty square. The first player to get three of their symbols in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins.

Dots and Boxes

Draw a grid of dots (e.g., a 10×10 grid) and take turns connecting two adjacent dots with a line. When a player completes a square, they write their initials inside it and take another turn. The player with the most squares at the end wins.

30. Paper Airplane Target Practice

Fold paper airplanes and set up targets of varying sizes and distances. Participants must fly their airplanes and aim for the targets. Assign different point values to the targets based on difficulty. The person with the highest total score wins.

31. Name That Smell

Prepare a set of small containers with various smells (e.g., vanilla extract, coffee, lemon). Blindfold participants and have them smell each container, guessing the scent. The person with the most correct guesses wins.

32. Who Am I?

Write the names of famous people or characters on sticky notes and place them on participants’ foreheads without them seeing. They must ask yes or no questions to figure out who they are. The first person to correctly guess their identity wins.

33. Egg Drop

Divide participants into teams and provide each team with limited materials (straws, tape, newspaper) to protect a raw egg from a high fall. The teams with eggs that survive the drop intact win.

34. Marshmallow Tower

Provide each team with marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti. The objective is to build the tallest tower using only the marshmallows and spaghetti within a given time limit. The team with the tallest standing tower at the end wins.

35. Cup Stacking

Give each participant a stack of plastic cups. They must stack the cups into a pyramid and then dismantle it as quickly as possible. The person who completes the task the fastest wins.

36. Hide and Seek

A classic game loved by all ages. Select one person as the seeker who counts while others hide. The seeker must find all the hidden participants within a specified time limit. The last person found becomes the next seeker.

37. Water Bucket Relay

Divide participants into teams and line them up. Place a bucket full of water at one end of the line and an empty bucket at the other end. Participants transport water from the full bucket to the empty bucket using a sponge, cup, or any other means. The team that transfers the most water within a given time wins.

38. Spoon and Ping Pong Ball Race

Provide each participant with a spoon and a ping pong ball. They must balance the ball on the spoon and race to the finish line without dropping it. If the ball falls, they must start from the beginning. The first person to cross the finish line wins.

39. Blind Drawing

Divide participants into pairs. One person is blindfolded while the other person guides them to draw a specific object without directly telling them what to draw. The pair with the closest resemblance to the object wins.

40. Puzzles

Provide a variety of puzzles at different difficulty levels and see who completes them the fastest. You can use jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, word searches, or brain teasers.

41. Outdoor Movie Night

Set up an outdoor movie projection screen or a white sheet and show a family-friendly movie. Provide blankets, pillows, and popcorn for a cozy outdoor movie night experience.

42. Mini Sports Olympics

Organize a series of mini-sports events such as sack races, relay races, mini-golf, and bean bag toss. Keep score and award medals or prizes to the winners.

43. Family Cookbook Challenge

Have each family member prepare their favorite dish and create a family cookbook. Everyone can share their recipes and enjoy a delicious feast together.

44. Family Trivia

Create a trivia game with questions about your family’s history, traditions, and memorable moments. Form teams or play individually and see who knows the most about the family.

45. Costume Contest

Host a costume contest where family members come dressed as their favorite character, historical figure, or in a specific theme. Award prizes for the most creative, funniest, or best overall costumes.

46. Karaoke Night

Set up a karaoke machine or use a karaoke app on a TV or computer. Take turns singing your favorite songs and have a blast with a fun and lively karaoke session.

47. Board Game Marathon

Set up various board games around the venue and encourage family members to play and have fun. Create a friendly competition or play cooperatively to finish as many games as possible.

48. Family Talent Show

Give family members a chance to showcase their talents, whether it’s singing, dancing, playing an instrument, performing a magic trick, or anything else. Enjoy the entertainment and cheer each other on.

49. Family Photo Booth

Set up a photo booth area with fun props and backdrops. Encourage family members to take goofy or posed pictures together. Provide instant photo prints or share the photos digitally as keepsakes of the reunion.

50. Family Storytelling Circle

Gather everyone in a circle and take turns sharing stories, anecdotes, or memories. This activity strengthens family bonds and allows younger generations to learn about their family’s history and traditions.