The 11 Best Party Games for Adults

Best Overall: R & R Games Time's Up

4.4

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Erik Arneson, a game expert and the author of How to Host a Game Night, is a huge fan of Time's Up, which is essentially a celebrity-themed guessing game. "The same set of celebrities are guessed in each of three rounds, but the restrictions get progressively more challenging," he tells The Spruce.

Players have 30 seconds to guess as many names of the famous people in the Deck of Fame as possible. As the rounds go, the amount of clues (and how they're giving) get harder and harder. With 432 cards, you can repay this pick over and over again and each round will be just as fun as the last, especially with a new group each time. Younger players may not know all of the celebrities included, but if that's the case, look into expansion packs or create your own deck.

You only need three people to play this award-winning party game, but the starter set allows for up to 10 people—and you can get an expansion set to include even more. "I've never played a game of Time's Up that didn't end with uproarious laughter," Arneson adds. Plus, he notes that it can be played indoors or out.

Price at time of publish: $16

Best Team-Based: Monikers Monikers: Classics Expandalone Party Game

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"Monikers is my go-to party game," offers Cardner Clark of Guardian Games in Portland, Oregon. We like that this team-based game can be learned in under two minutes and can be played with 12 or more people. "Monikers is basically Taboo plus charades, and it gets silly very quickly," says Clark. Note that some of the cards' topics can be suggestive or mildly inappropriate for work or certain family situations, so keep that in mind before you bring it to a party.

Price at time of publish: $20

Best for Small Groups: Repos Just One

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If you're entertaining a smaller crowd, your best bet is Just One, which calls for three to seven players. It's a fun mystery word game that combines deductive reasoning with sneaky strategy. Arneson and Greg May, founder of the Manhattan board game cafe, The Uncommons, are big fans. "[It's] a fantastic cooperative party game for people who like word games," says Arneson.

Price at time of publish: $21

Best for Large Groups: What Do You Meme? What Do You Meme? Core Game

4

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You only need three players for What Do You Meme?, but it can be played with as many as 20 people. It's similar to games like Apples to Apples and Cards Against Humanity, calling on players to create the funniest memes based on potential captions found on the cards. One thing to note, though, is that this modern party game may be best suited for millennials or those more acclimated with social media graphics.

Price at time of publish: $30

Best Virtual Play: Jackbox Games Jackbox Party Pack 3

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It doesn't matter where you are, as long as you have your phones and a screen to view the game on, you're all set. This pack from JackBox comes with five seriously entertaining games, including the Trivia Murder Party quiz show, Quiplash, a say-anything battle that crowns players for having the wittiest answers, and Fakin' It, a game where one of the players has something to hide. All games allow up to six players or more, so it's a great option for medium to larger parties.

Price at time of publish: $25

Best Drawing: Telestrations After Dark Adult Party Game

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A favorite of Arneson's, Telestrations is a hilarious mashup of telephone and pictionary. The drawing-based party game comes in a few different versions, but the After Dark set is perfect for adult get-togethers—it even comes with drink coasters. Plus, as Arneson notes, "No artistic skill is needed!" Equipped with eight dry erase markers, sketch books, and cleaning cloths, players can expect the weirdest, most hilarious drawings from their friends.

Price at time of publish: $30

Best Escape Room: Thames & Kosmos Exit: The Game

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If you have a couple of hours to kill, Arneson recommends the Exit: The Game series, "which are like escape rooms you can play in your own living room." This award-winning interactive party game calls for two to four players and takes one to two hours to complete. We also like that it comes in several themes, like Abandoned Cabin, Secret Lab, Mysterious Museum, and Haunted Roller Coaster.

Price at time of publish: $15

Best Board Game: Catan Studio Catan

4.8

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If you and your friends appreciate strategic gameplay, you'll enjoy nerding out on Catan. Requiring problem-solving skills and encouraging explorative tactics, there's a reason the addictingly compelling board game is a cult classic. While it can take a little while for beginners to pick up, May likes that this high-end pick teaches you something.

Price at time of publish: $48

Best Drinking: What Do You Meme? Buzzed

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If you're hosting a 21-and-over party, you might reach for Buzzed to break the ice. This drinking card game is basically a prompted version of Never Have I Ever, with 180 cards that reveal quirks about each player. While you only need three people to play, we like that it works for groups as big as 20.

Price at time of publish: $20

Best Mystery: Hunt A Killer Murder at The Motel

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When you've traded the podcast for the party, this immersive, true crime-inspired game will have you and your friends stepping into detective shoes. You're provided with just enough clues and puzzles to piece together a murder mystery in one sitting (so it can only be played once). If you enjoy games with props like letters and photos, and that have you feeling like you're a part of the action, the latest from the Hunt A Killer series will be right up your alley.

Price at time of publish: $28