Dinner Party Games For Adults: How To Keep The Table Entertained

Most dinner parties have a wobble somewhere after pudding: plates half-cleared, everyone comfortable, and a conversation that's run its natural course.

You don't need to clear the table to fix it. These games all play around glasses, crumbs and candles.

Games that need almost no table

• Hitster - play a song, guess the year, lay your card in your timeline. Easy to learn, plays in the space between plates, and it quietly turns into everyone's favourite music argument.
• The Chameleon - one small box, six players, plenty of bluffing.
• Coup - five cards each and a short, sharp round.
• Just One - cooperative clue-writing, no losers to sulk about it.
• Wavelength - one dial in the middle and a lot of good-natured disagreement.

Nothing but conversation

• Two truths and a lie, limited to the last twelve months.
• Fishbowl: three rounds of the same slips - describe, one word, mime.
• Would I Lie To You? with real anecdotes written before pudding.
• The name game, a sticky note on each forehead.

Moving from pudding to drinks

• Change the music before you change the game - a new playlist signals a new part of the night.
• Move everyone one seat round. It resets every conversation at once.
• Bring out coffee and something small and sweet as the game starts.
• Start the game yourself rather than asking whether anyone fancies one.
• Play one round, then offer to stop. Nobody ever takes you up on it.

What to avoid at the table

• Anything with a big board or standing pieces. Wine plus components is a bad combination.
• Games that need a long rules explanation. Three minutes is your limit.
• Anything that eliminates players early and leaves someone watching.
• Team games when the numbers are odd, unless you'll play the referee.

Shop funny cards

How to write it so it lands

• Have the game already in the room. Fetching it from upstairs is where the mood dies.
• Keep scoring loose - competitiveness is the quickest way to flatten a table.
• One game per dinner. Two is a games night, which is a different invitation.

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Frequently asked questions

What games can you play at a dinner party without clearing the table?

Card and music games. Hitster, The Chameleon, Coup and Just One all play in the space you've already got, around plates and glasses.

What's a good easy game for a dinner party?

Hitster is the easiest to teach - hear a track, guess the year, place it in your timeline. New players are up to speed within one round.

How do you move a dinner party from dinner to drinks?

Change the playlist, move everyone round one seat, bring coffee, and start a short game yourself instead of asking the table what they'd like to do.

How long should an after-dinner game last?

Twenty to forty minutes with an obvious stopping point. Anything that commits people for the rest of the evening gets politely declined.

Do you sell board games?

No. We make greeting cards, art prints, pin badges and party bits in the UK, so the games here are simply what we'd recommend to a friend. Some links go to other shops and may earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you.