Party games can provide some of the best experiences in all of gaming. They force players to group up and work together toward a common goal, which can be very rewarding. Not all of them do that, though – some party games will test the bonds of friends greatly, be it on a Mario Party battlefield, an Overcooked kitchen, or somewhere else entirely. Regardless of the objective, playing games with friends is always fun and when developers specifically hone in on that camaraderie, the result can be a great game that makes an appearance at any and every social gathering.
This list highlights some of our personal faves. Here are 10 great party games, listed in no particular order, that are sure to bring cheers, laughs, screams, and more to any event.
The Jackbox Party Pack 7
Jackbox Games has been making excellent party game collections for years and one of its latest, The Jackbox Party Pack 7, is one of the studio’s best. Much like previous packs, this one features five games: Quiplash 3, The Devils and the Details, Champ’d Up, Talking Points, and Blather Round. At $29.99 for the entire collection, getting five excellent party games in this is a win unto itself. It doesn’t hurt that the included games are a lot of fun, too.
Quiplash will have you and up to seven other players proving your wit and humor in front of everyone, which is always successful in a party setting. The Devils and the Details is pure chaos and who doesn’t love that? Champ’d Up is perfect for those looking to get competitive. Talking Points turns everyone into the world’s worst PowerPoint presenter – sounds terrible and amazing, right? – and the final game, Blather Round is a hilarious take on MadGab. At least one of these is sure to be a hit at your next social gathering.
Mario Party Superstars
Mario Party has been an excellent party addition for decades – it’s right there in the title – and Superstars is the latest release in the franchise; a greatest hits collection of the best boards and minigames from the series. If you’re a longtime fan, your favorites are surely in it. If it’s your first Mario Party, then you get to play some of the best the series has to offer.
Anyone that’s played Mario Party before knows how successful it can be at a party. It’s basically Nintendo’s take on pure chaos veiled with the bright colors, fun music, and familiar characters of a board game based on its Mario franchise. Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, and the like, pull you in and then the board games put your best friendships to the test. Do you go on the offense and completely screw up your friends’ plan? Do you play the long con and quietly collect the most coins for a bonus star at the end? Or do you win because for whatever reason, Mario Party Superstars decided to give you two random stars that put you in first place (although a new skill-based filter can remove the more random elements if you’d prefer)? The choice is yours. | Our Review
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
If you’re looking for something a little more competitive at a social gathering, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a must. Due to its reliance on skill versus the pure luck seen in others on this list like Mario Party Superstars, Ultimate is perfect for those looking to gain some bragging rights with a win. It’s the classic Smash Bros. formula distilled into arguably its greatest essence with the most stages of any game in the series and easily the most fighters to choose from.
What makes it especially ideal for a party is that it features characters even your friends who don’t play games will recognize like Mario, Pikachu, and Sonic. It also features video game icons like Cloud from Final Fantasy 7, or DLC characters such as Sora from Kingdom Hearts and Banjo and Kazooie. Plus, it’s a great fighter. If your party guests can mash buttons frenetically, they’re going to have a great time. | Our Review
That's You
That’s You is a great party game for players that really know each other, though perhaps not the best option for a living room of near strangers. That’s because it relies heavily on what you know about a person. One round might have you drawing their ideal final meal while another will have you deciding who would do what on a camping trip.
It’s a great time because it rewards not just those who know their friends best, but those who can identify the funniest quirks and personality traits of themselves and those around them. Plus, it’s extremely accessible. All you need is a mobile phone to play because once the game is loaded up on a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 console, it's played entirely via said mobile device.