The best party games for large groups either get everyone playing at once or split the crowd into teams. Mafia and Werewolf handle 10 to 20 people with nothing but a moderator. Team games like charades and Fishbowl stretch to 30 or more, and icebreakers like Two Truths and a Lie work at any size. Below are 15 ideas with the player range, equipment and best use for each.
Large-group party games at a glance #
| Game | Players | Time | Equipment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mafia / Werewolf | 6 to 20 | 20 to 60 min | None, cards or a phone | Groups who like arguing and bluffing |
| Wink Murder | 8 to 30 | 5 to 10 min a round | None | Quick rounds, mixed ages |
| One Night Ultimate Werewolf | 3 to 10 | About 10 min | The box and app | Smaller breakout groups |
| The Resistance: Avalon | 5 to 10 | About 30 min | The box | Teens and adults who like deduction |
| Blood on the Clocktower | 5 to 20 | 30 to 120 min | The box | Dedicated game nights |
| Among Us | 4 to 15 | 10 to 15 min a round | Phones or computers | Remote or tech-friendly groups |
| Codenames | 4 to 8+ | About 15 min | The box | Two teams of any size |
| Charades | 6 to 30+ | 20 to 40 min | Slips of paper | Everyone, including kids |
| Fishbowl (Celebrity) | 8 to 30 | 30 to 45 min | Paper, a bowl | Big, loud groups |
| Drawing telephone | 6 to 15 | 15 to 20 min | Paper and pens | Laughs with little skill needed |
| Two Truths and a Lie | Any | 15 to 30 min | None | Icebreakers, new groups |
| Who Am I? (sticky notes) | 8 to 30 | 15 to 20 min | Sticky notes | Mingling parties |
| Human Bingo | 15 to 50 | 15 to 20 min | Printed cards | Work events, mixers |
| Team trivia | 10 to 50 | 30 to 60 min | Question list | Mixed-ability crowds |
| Pictionary on a whiteboard | 6 to 30 | 20 to 40 min | Whiteboard or paper | Two teams of any size |
Commercial game figures come from each publisher: Bezier Games for One Night, Indie Boards and Cards for Avalon, Czech Games Edition for Codenames and Innersloth for Among Us. Blood on the Clocktower’s range comes from Wikipedia. Folk-game times are rough guides.
Social deduction games #
These games give some players a secret identity and ask everyone else to work out who’s lying. They’re the best choice when your group likes talking. For more on the genre, see what is a social deduction game.
1. Mafia or Werewolf #
A secret Mafia (or pack of werewolves) eliminates one player each night, and the town votes each day to find them. It needs no equipment, works from about 6 up to 20 players, and one person moderates. Our guides to how to play Mafia and Mafia for 15 to 20 players cover the setup.
2. Wink Murder #
One secret murderer “kills” players by winking at them. Victims wait a moment, then dramatically drop out. Everyone else tries to catch the wink and accuse the murderer. Rounds take minutes, and it works for large mixed-age groups.
3. One Night Ultimate Werewolf #
A 10-minute version of Werewolf for 3 to 10 players, with no moderator and no elimination. An app narrates the night. For a group of 20, split into two tables.
4. The Resistance: Avalon #
Don Eskridge’s game for 5 to 10 players, about 30 minutes, rated 14 and up by its publisher. Arthur’s loyal servants try to complete quests while Mordred’s hidden minions sabotage them. Merlin knows who the evil players are but must stay hidden from an assassin.
5. Blood on the Clocktower #
For 5 to 20 players, with a Storyteller running the game. Dead players keep talking and get one vote, so nobody sits out. It’s long and complex, so it’s best for groups who play often.
6. Among Us #
Innersloth’s space-themed game for 4 to 15 players. Crewmates complete tasks or eject Impostors, while Impostors try to eliminate the crew. It’s free on mobile, which makes it easy for remote groups.
Word and team games #
7. Codenames #
Two teams, each with a spymaster who gives one-word clues to help teammates find their agents on a grid of word cards. Czech Games Edition lists it for 4 to 8+ players, about 15 minutes, ages 10 and up. With big groups, split into two large teams.
8. Charades #
Players act out a word or phrase without speaking while their team guesses. Two teams of any size, and the only equipment is slips of paper.
9. Fishbowl (Celebrity) #
Everyone writes names on slips of paper and drops them in a bowl. Teams take turns guessing over three rounds with the same names: first by describing them, then with one word, then by acting them out. It gets funnier each round, and it works for 30 people.
10. Drawing telephone #
Each player writes a phrase, passes it on, and the next player draws it. The next writes what they think the drawing shows, and so on. At the end, everyone reads their chain. All you need is paper and pens.
Icebreakers and mixers #
11. Two Truths and a Lie #
Each person shares three statements about themselves, and the group guesses which one is false. It’s a good warm-up before a longer game like Mafia, since it gets people practising their bluffing.
12. Who Am I? #
Everyone gets a sticky note on their forehead with a famous name they can’t see. Players mingle and ask yes-or-no questions to work out who they are.
13. Human Bingo #
Hand out bingo cards with squares like “has been to Japan” or “plays an instrument.” Players find someone who fits each square. It’s good for work events, where people don’t know each other.
14. Team trivia #
Split into teams of 4 to 6 and run a quiz with a few rounds on different topics. It suits mixed-ability crowds, because every team has someone who knows something.
15. Pictionary on a whiteboard #
One player draws while their team guesses. Two teams, a whiteboard or large paper, and a list of words is all you need.
How to choose for your crowd #
- 10 to 20 people who like talking: Mafia or Werewolf.
- More than 20: Fishbowl, charades, Human Bingo or team trivia. Or split into two Mafia circles.
- Mixed ages or kids: Wink Murder, charades, drawing telephone. See the Mafia game for kids.
- Coworkers who don’t know each other: Human Bingo, Two Truths and a Lie, then Mafia. See Mafia as a team building game.
- Remote group: Among Us, or Mafia over a video call.
Running Mafia for a big group #
Of everything on this list, Mafia asks the most of one person: the moderator. Mafia Helper supports up to 20 players on one phone. It deals roles by passing the phone around, suggests balanced presets for 13 to 20 players, walks you through each night in order, and works out who died and who was saved. A discussion timer and vote counters keep a large group’s days on schedule. For 30 people, run two circles and put the app on two phones.
Frequently asked questions #
What is a good game for a large group of adults? #
Mafia or Werewolf for 10 to 20 people who like conversation, and Fishbowl or charades for bigger or rowdier crowds. Both need almost no equipment. For a mixer where people don’t know each other, start with Human Bingo or Two Truths and a Lie.
What games can 20 people play at once? #
Mafia, Werewolf, Blood on the Clocktower, Wink Murder, charades, Fishbowl, Human Bingo and team trivia all work with 20 people. Mafia and Werewolf work best with a moderator and firm day timers at that size.
What party games need no equipment? #
Mafia (with slips of paper, or none if the moderator assigns roles by tapping heads), Wink Murder, charades and Two Truths and a Lie. All of them work in any room with no setup.
How do you keep a big group engaged during a game? #
Pick games where everyone plays at once, like Wink Murder or charades, or split into smaller teams. In elimination games like Mafia, give players who are out a job, such as watching the night or keeping time.