Best party games for groups

This category covers several kinds of party games. Word and clue games, such as Codenames, ask one player to connect many ideas with a single word. Picture and storytelling games, such as Dixit and Pictionary, turn imagination into points. Hidden role games, such as Mafia, give secret jobs to the players and let the group talk, accuse and vote. Dexterity games, such as Jenga, need a steady hand rather than words, so they work across languages and ages.

For each game we explain how a round works, how many people can take part and what kind of group it suits best. We also include tips for hosts: how to split teams, how to explain the rules quickly and how to keep quieter guests involved. Our ratings are editorial opinions. We do not sell or host these commercial games here; the guide only introduces them. If your party needs a quick competition on phones, our free browser games have online leaderboards that friends can compare.