22 Hilarious Family Reunion Games for Adults & Kids to Play

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Learn how to play a variety of fun, family-friendly games
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It’s not a proper family reunion without fun games and activities that bring everyone together. Wondering what to play with your group? Choose a few options from our comprehensive list of games perfect for families of all sizes, age groups, and abilities. From classic outdoor games and sports to funny competitive games that will have everyone laughing, there’s an activity for everyone to enjoy! We even spoke with event planner Natasha Miller to learn which games are always a hit. Keep reading for the scoop!

Best Family Reunion Games

  • Giant Jenga
  • Human Ring Toss
  • Egg Race
  • Family Trivia
  • Charades
Section 1 of 5:

Fun Family Reunion Games for All Ages

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  1. 1
    Giant Jenga Buy a giant Jenga game set or combine multiple regular Jenga sets to build an epic Jenga tower. Have family members take turns removing blocks from the tower and placing them on top one at a time. If the tower falls during your turn, you lose. [1]
  2. 2
    Karaoke Competition Set up a computer or karaoke machine with an instrumental version of a song. Have family members take turns singing in an epic karaoke battle . Do a straightforward competition where everyone votes on the best performance. Or, do head-to-head battles where two people sing the same song in knock-out rounds. [2]
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  3. 3
    Who Am I? Quiz Learn fun facts about your relatives while learning who knows who best. Ask your family to send you memories, stories, and facts about themselves. Turn these bits of trivia into a quiz and print out enough copies for everyone to give it a go. Offer prizes to the person or people who score the highest. [3]
    • Word the trivia as questions. For example, “Who accidentally spilled water on grandpa one Thanksgiving?” or “Who holds a degree in physics?”
    • Make sure to have pencils or pens on hand so everyone can fill out the quiz.
    • To save money and paper, you could also have people take pictures of the quiz questions and fill out their answers on their phones. They can text you their responses.
  4. 4
    Kickball Nothing gets people in a competitive spirit quite like kickball . [4] To play, set up four base plates in a diamond. Have one player stand on home plate, have another player be the pitcher in the center of the diamond, and have other players stand on bases. Once the pitcher rolls the ball to home plate, the person there kicks it as far as they can. The rest of the game proceeds similarly to baseball. [5]
    • Split players up into teams before you start the game. Ideas for teams include “Generations,” “Adults vs Kids,” “Girls vs Boys,” and “Mom’s Side vs Dad’s Side.”
  5. 5
    Charades Charades is a classic party game for a reason. People of all ages can play, and there’s no shortage of things to act out. Split people into two teams. Choose someone to start. Give them a slip of paper with a secret word written on it. Have them stand in front of everyone and act out the word. Their teammates make guesses until the word is guessed or one to two minutes pass. [6]
    • If their teammates can’t guess the word they’re acting out, the other team gets a point.
    • Play enough rounds for everyone on each team to have a turn acting out a charade.
    • Use a timer to keep the game moving.
  6. 6
    Paper Airplane Competition Give everyone a regular sheet of paper. Challenge them to fold a paper airplane. Reading a tutorial or consulting with one another is okay. Once everyone’s crafted their plane, have them throw them across the room or outside. Mark who throws theirs the furthest—they win! [7]
    • Make sure everyone throws their plane from the same starting place to make it fair.
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Section 2 of 5:

Hilarious Family Reunion Games

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  1. 1
    Human Ring Toss Split people into teams of two. Give every team a pool noodle that’s duct-taped into the shape of a ring. Have team members stand 3 to 4 feet (91 to 122 cm) from their partners. Without anyone moving their feet, challenge each person to throw the pool noodle over their partner like a game of ring toss. [8]
    • Have everyone switch partners every round for more of a challenge.
    • Partner kids together since they’re closer in height.
    • If multiple people land a pool noodle around their partner, have them keep resetting and trying again until only one person does it. That team wins!
  2. 2
    Ice Cube Melt Split participants up into teams of six or seven people and have them stand in lines. Give the front player in each line a fresh ice cube. Challenge them to rub the ice until they can’t stand the cold, then pass it to the team member behind them. Continue until the ice melts. Whoever melts their ice cube first is the winning team. [9]
  3. 3
    Balloon Pop Race Set up three chairs on one side of the playing area. Inflate one balloon for every player. Divide players into three equal teams and have them line up across from the chairs with their balloons. Shout “Go!” and have the three people in the front of each line run up to the chairs and sit on their balloon to pop it. [10] Once it pops, they run back and the next person in their line goes.
    • The team whose line empties first wins.
  4. 4
    Junk in the Trunk Prepare by filling empty tissue boxes with 12 ping-pong balls each and running a long, sturdy string through each box. Have players tie one box to their waist so it sits over their rear end. When the game starts, each person must shake to try to empty the ping-pong balls from their box the fastest. [11] Prepare for a lot of laughter!
  5. 5
    Gumball Pie Get one empty pie tin for each player you have. Place an unwrapped piece of gum in the bottom of each tin and fill them with whipped cream. Have players sit at a table in front of the “pies” with their hands behind their backs. When the game begins, each player pushes their face into the whipped cream to find the gum with their mouth. Whoever finds it first wins. [12]
    • Play this game with teens and adults—younger children might choke on the gum.
    • Keep wet wipes on hand so people can clean up afterwards.
  6. 6
    Ostrich Dance Game Have two players go head-to-head each round. Tape a piece of paper with a word written on it onto each player’s back. Have them stand facing each other to start. On “Go,” both players must spin around and try to read the other person’s word without revealing their own. Whoever calls out the other person’s word first is the winner. [13]
    • Write the words largely in a dark color so they’re easy to read.
    • The game is called the Ostrich Dance because players might move like the large birds do as they try to hide their backs.
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Section 3 of 5:

Outdoor Family Reunion Games

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  1. 1
    Egg Race For an egg race , gather up boiled or plastic eggs . Split players into teams of two. Have everyone hold a spoon (or put it in their mouth, for a funny twist). Make them stand in a line. On “Go,” the first teammate with the spoon and an egg must run it across the yard or field without dropping it, then run it back to their teammate. Their partner then does the same. [14]
    • Turn it into a relay race, suggests Miller. Have teammates stand halfway across the yard or field. When the first player gives them their egg, it’s a race to the end of the playing area!
    • If your egg drops, your team is out.
    • The first team to successfully take the egg out and back both times is the winner.
  2. 2
    Water Balloon Toss Split players into teams of two and have them stand in two lines, with everyone facing their partner. Space them 5 to 8 feet (150 to 240 cm) apart. Give one line water balloons to hold. When the game starts, everyone tosses their water balloon to their partner, who must catch it without breaking it. Go back in forth until only one balloon remains. [15]
    • Have players wear swimsuits or clothes they don’t mind getting soaked in.
  3. 3
    Scavenger Hunt Get people moving and competing by holding a scavenger hunt . Split everyone into teams of four or more people. Hand each team a list of items to find around the area. They must take pictures of the items and text you as they find them so you can track who finds the most (or everything) in the shortest amount of time. [16]
    • Example items to put on your family reunion scavenger hunt list:
      • A selfie with the oldest person there
      • A rock
      • A leaf
      • A flower
      • An act of kindness toward someone
      • A piece of litter they pick up and properly discard
      • Something shiny
      • A bug
  4. 4
    Three-Legged Race Great for kids, teens, and adults, a three-legged race is a fun coordination challenge. Use elastic exercise bands or long ribbons to tie two players together at the two legs that touch when they’re standing side-by-side. Have each team of two line up and run (or hobble) to the finish line as fast as they can. [17]
    • The winner is the team that reaches the finish line first.
    • Miller recommends the three-legged race as a fun, nostalgic team-bonding activity.
  5. 5
    Cornhole (Beanbag Toss) Who doesn’t love playing cornhole ? Set up a beanbag or cornhole board . Place tape on the ground where players will stand—typically 27 feet (820 cm) away from the board. Give each player five beanbags and challenge them to throw them into the beanbag board hole. Whoever lands the most successful throws wins the game. [18]
    • Miller explains, “Summer parties almost always have to include cornhole. It's such a simple game, but it allows for anybody of any ability and any state of sobriety to participate.”
    • Let children stand closer to the board to make it easier for them to play.
    • To play in rounds, score the tosses so each beanbag in the hole is worth three points, and each one that lands on the board is worth one point. Whoever reaches 21 points first wins the game.
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Section 4 of 5:

Family Reunion Games for Older Adults

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  1. 1
    Go Fish Round up two to six players for a game of Go Fish . Pass out seven playing cards to each player and place the rest face down on the table. Take turns going around the circle asking one other player, “Do you have any [number]?” If they do, they have to give you all their cards with that number. Otherwise, they’ll say “Go fish!” and you have to draw one card from the deck. [19]
    • Every time you collect all four cards of a certain number, lay them flat on the table. The first person to run out of cards wins.
  2. 2
    Family Trivia Before the reunion, ask everyone to send you fun facts about themselves. Use an online Jeopardy game template to set up family trivia featuring the fun facts. Have players split into teams based on immediate families, generations, genders, or another factor. Compete to answer as many questions correctly as you can. [20]
    • For a more competitive game, use buzzers. Or, take turns letting each team select a question and try an answer for a slower-paced game.
  3. 3
    Bingo Hand out bingo cards to all players along with highlighters or markers. As host, use an online random number generator or actual bingo balls to call numbers off the card. As players, if a number on your bingo card is called, mark it off. If you get a whole row marked off (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally), call out “Bingo!” You’ve won! [21]
    • Bingo is a great game for larger groups to play together.
  4. 4
    Dominoes Dominoes is a fun, simple tabletop game anyone can learn. Each player gets seven dominoes to start. Whoever goes first places a domino down. The next player places a domino that matches one of the ends of the first domino. Play continues until someone runs out of dominoes. [22]
    • Two to four people can play dominoes at a time using a full set of double-six dominoes .
    • If you can’t play a domino, you have to draw from the excess pile. If there’s no excess pile or it’s already drained, pass your turn to the next person.
    • At the end of each round, tally up the number of dots on your dominoes and award them to the winner. Whoever reaches 100 points first wins the whole game.
  5. 5
    Balloon Volleyball Inflate three balloons. Have all your players sit in a circle on the ground and bat the balloon to one another without letting it touch the ground. Add more balloons into the mix to up the difficulty level of the game. [23]
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Have a Successful Family Reunion

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  1. 1
    Plan games that people of different ages can participate in. Not everyone has to participate in every activity, but think of games that are accessible for a variety of people. Plan some activities that require athleticism for children and teens to tire themselves out. Pick other activities that require wit or collaboration for older adults. [24]
  2. 2
    Make the reunion affordable for everyone. Lower the cost of attending by making the event a potluck where everyone brings food. Choose a location that most of your family members can afford to travel to. Consider splitting the cost of a vacation rental to make it cheaper than getting individual hotel rooms. Make the main reunion as affordable as possible, and make higher-priced activities or extra days optional. [25]
  3. 3
    Take lots of pictures during the reunion. Ask family members to send the photos to you or upload them to a photo-sharing app like PhotoCircle. Share the digital album with everyone who attended so they can cherish the memories for years to come. Consider compiling them into an actual album and gifting it during the holidays. [26]
  4. 4
    Ask people to unplug. If your reunion is happening over multiple days, pick phone-free days where people do activities or excursions while leaving their phones turned off. Some people might need to keep their phone on for work or emergencies, but try to have them use it as little as possible. That way, everyone can focus on bonding with one another. [27]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cozymeal.com/magazine/family-reunion-games
      2. ↑ https://www.cozymeal.com/magazine/family-reunion-games
      3. ↑ https://lynnaeallred.com/family-reunion-games/
      4. ↑ https://bolderplay.com/blogs/blog/epic-family-reunion-outdoor-games-everyone-will-love
      5. ↑ https://www.hsmc.org/wp-content/uploads/HSMC_EVENT_Kickball-rules-2015.pdf
      6. ↑ https://reunacy.com/blog/family-reunion-games-that-will-keep-kids-off-devices/
      7. ↑ https://reunacy.com/blog/family-reunion-games-that-will-keep-kids-off-devices/
      8. ↑ https://physicalkitchness.com/family-olympic-games/
      9. ↑ https://familyreunionhelper.com/blog/2010/07/best-ever-relay-race-games/
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/VTwM_Fpua2A?t=4
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/_WVLQYXcVVM?t=41
      3. ↑ http://www.mustruninthefamily.com/2022/11/gumball-pie-game.html
      4. ↑ https://travel.earth/entertaining-and-fun-games-for-a-party/
      5. ↑ https://reunacy.com/blog/family-reunion-games-that-will-keep-kids-off-devices/
      6. ↑ https://reunacy.com/blog/family-reunion-games-that-will-keep-kids-off-devices/
      7. ↑ https://reunacy.com/blog/family-reunion-games-that-will-keep-kids-off-devices/
      8. ↑ https://bolderplay.com/blogs/blog/epic-family-reunion-outdoor-games-everyone-will-love
      9. ↑ https://bolderplay.com/blogs/blog/epic-family-reunion-outdoor-games-everyone-will-love
      10. ↑ https://reunacy.com/blog/family-reunion-games-that-will-keep-kids-off-devices/
      11. ↑ https://www.storypoint.com/resources/active-adult/party-games-for-seniors/
      12. ↑ https://www.storypoint.com/resources/active-adult/party-games-for-seniors/
      13. ↑ https://www.storypoint.com/resources/active-adult/party-games-for-seniors/
      14. ↑ https://www.storypoint.com/resources/active-adult/party-games-for-seniors/
      15. ↑ https://mariebostwick.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-family-reunion-planning/
      16. ↑ https://mariebostwick.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-family-reunion-planning/
      17. ↑ https://mariebostwick.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-family-reunion-planning/
      18. ↑ https://mariebostwick.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-family-reunion-planning/

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