26 Birthday Party Activities That Won't Cost You a Dime

Treasure Hunt Game

This birthday party game gives clues to the guests that lead them to areas around the house or yard until they reach their final prize. This free birthday party game can be customized for adults and little kids.

Three-Legged Race

This classic group game is such a fun birthday party game that's great with kids but hilarious for adults. All you need for this game is something to tie each pair's legs together.

Button-Button

Who has the button? Let your guests play detective to find out. All you need to play this easy birthday party game is a button!

Charades

The classic game of charades can be adapted for children of all ages and adults. It's a great idea to match a game of charades with the theme of your party.

Elephant Tug of War

A fun game of tug of war that doesn't need anything other than something to tug. This is a great game that will really encourage your guests to use their imaginations. This one also goes great with other jungle-themed party games.

Fruit Basket

This free birthday party game is great for larger groups of guests and kids and adults will love it equally. This is an inventive game that takes barely any prep work.

Marco Polo

This classic water game is just as fun on land. Add some funny voices and you've got yourself quite the party game. Be sure to scroll down to view the variations you can use to put a spin on this easy birthday party game.

Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course in your backyard or large area in your home using items you have on hand. You'll be surprised what items you have that may challenge your guests.

Hot Potato

The classic game of Hot Potato is a lot of fun and brings about a ton of laughs. The person left may be the winner but you can keep the game going by having them be the next caller.

Red Rover

Many people know the easy-to-play game called Red Rover, and it will be a hit at your next birthday party. This is a great game to play outside and even better if you have a fairly large group.

What's In the Bag?

What's in the bag is a super fun guessing game for a birthday party. This game can be easily changed for older children.

Simon Says

Simon Says can be played anywhere at anytime without anything to buy. Put a twist on this popular birthday party game by changing the name "Simon" to something to fit your theme.

Boomer-Whitz

A cross between I Spy and Hide and Seek will keep kids of all ages into this birthday party game. You only need one object for this game and it can be one of your choosing.

Dress Up Relay Race

In this birthday party game, the guests will compete in relay races where they pile on the clothes and accessories. You can even customize all the clothes and accessories to fit whatever the theme of your birthday party is. There are also lots of other variations for relay races you'll want to check out.

Steal the Bacon

A unique spin the classic game of tag that uses just one simple item you are sure to already have in your house - and guess what? It's not bacon. This game works with a just about any group of people, you'll just need to divide them up into teams.

Water Balloon Toss

This birthday party game is best played in the warmer weather and needs to be outside. Pair up the guests and have them see how long they can go before they break the water-filled balloon.

Capture the Flag

A fun, classic birthday party game that's best played outside and exciting as a team activity. You can use flags, bandanas, or just about any soft object.

Cross the Lava Flow

This is a great birthday party activity that is sometimes called Cross the Lava or the Floor Is Lava (like the popular game show). How many of the guests can make it to the end point without falling in the river?

Musical Chairs

Pair some fun music with an assortment of chairs, and you've got yourself an easy birthday party game that's always full of fun. Set up chairs or cushions in a circle but have one less than the number of people playing. When the music stops, anyone without a seat is eliminated and one chair is removed. Last one in the last chair wins!

Egg and Spoon Race

This birthday party game could get messy quickly, but that makes it all the more fun! Have all the guests put one hand behind their back and use the other hand to hold a spoon with an egg in it. Have them run to the finish line just like that.

The first one who makes it with the egg still intact and their arm behind their back, wins. If the egg falls halfway through, they have to start over from the beginning.

Partners in Pen

Much like charades but through writing, this free birthday party game involves guessing what your partner is describing. Have the pair sit back to back. One partner has an object that they have to describe to their partner who draws out what he or she thinks the partner is holding. 

The team that finishes with the quickest time wins. The only catch is that the one holding the object cannot say its name or explain what the object is used for.

Plastic Wrap Game

This is a perfect birthday party activity for a large crowd, and multiple people can get prizes along the way. The basic idea when making this game is you start with a high-value present in the middle, wrap it with plastic wrap, then add a second prize in the next layer, wrap that, and you keep adding items and wrapping until you have a giant ball. The object of the game is for players to unwrap the ball, get a treat each time, and get to the prize in the middle.

Opposites

This is one of the easiest birthday party activities to start because it just requires the participants—no props or money involved. However, it gets hard quickly. To play this game, instruct the guests to do something, but they have to do the opposite in order to stay in the game. For example, if you say raise your right hand, they have to raise their left hand; if you say to jump, they need to squat.

You can even combine this game with a Simon Says type of game by having them watch you act something out but they have to do the opposite.

Minute to Win It Games

Minute to Win It games are short games that are both fun and challenging. These are perfect for birthday parties because everyone or just a few can play during the party. They also only take a few supplies and most of them you'll already find in your home.

There are a whopping 35 Minute to Win It games here that will keep everyone at the party busy and having fun. These are great for kids, tweens, teens, and even grown-ups, including some ideas here on how to play the games in various ways, such as against the clock, as a small team, or as a large group.

Giants, Wizards and Elves

This is a unique birthday party activity that you probably haven't seen anywhere else. Players are on teams that meet in the corner of the room, and each group is either a giant, wizard, or elf. There are a few fun rules that everyone needs to follow to make it all work, but it can get loud since it includes some shouting. This fun game could easily be used as an icebreaker. It would be perfect for a wizard-themed birthday party.

Adults can also get in on the fun in a totally silly spontaneous way. This is really perfect for any large group.

Make Party Favors

Skip goodie bags altogether and have the attendees make the party favors. You can pick a craft appropriate for the age of the birthday kid. It can be as simple as or building lightsabers out of empty wrapping-paper rolls. Don't feel like you have to go out and buy supplies — there are a ton of crafts you can do with just a plastic bottle.