The best graduation party games

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These free graduation party games will bring fun and excitement to the occasion. I think great graduation games are the secret to making sure everyone has brilliant fun and making sure your party is a memorable one.

I've listed all sorts of my favorite party games here. Some are especially suited to a graduation party and then of course there are some timeless classic games for all ages and tastes that are guaranteed to bring everyone together and keep the party swinging.

These are all completely free graduation party games and I've split them into several categories for ease of browsing:

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Graduation Party Games Icebreakers

Please find below a selection of my favourite free graduation party games that are real ice breakers.

Icebreakers are a great way for everyone to meet, it also allows a calm start to the party until everyone arrives. Guests do not need to stand around waiting for the graduation party games to start.

Guess Who (Suitable for all ages)

Place the name of a teacher on a sticky label. When a guest comes in, stick it on their back. They have to ask other guests yes or no questions about the teacher and guess who it is by the end of the night.

Musical Partners (Suitable for all ages)

This is one of the best graduation party games you can do to get everyone up dancing. Start with one couple on the dance floor. Stop the music and the couple have to split and select someone else to dance with. Simply repeat this until the dance floor is full.

Match of the Year (Suitable for all ages)

This is one of the more appropriate free graduation party games. What you do is try arranging lots of pictures of the grad at various periods throughout their school years on a table. You could turn this into a competition by asking guests to specify which photo belongs to which year.

Rogue’s Gallery (Suitable for all ages)

Set up a table with paper, crayons, pencils and pens. Everyone has to draw a picture of themselves and write their name at the bottom. When they are finished they are pinned on a board. Everyone gets a prize. I can still remember my granny’s self-portrait – it was a real hoot.

Famous Person

Each person must act like a famous person and the other guests must guess who they are.

Noisy Graduation Party Games

Please find below a selection of my favorite very noisy and still free graduation party games.

Limbo (suitable for all ages)

This is a good one of the free graduation party games for the garden. Play some fun music while your friends stand in line waiting to bend backwards low enough to fit under the limbo stick (broom handle, yardstick, etc.). In order to win, the limbo master must not touch the stick or fall on the floor while limboing under the stick (which is usually held by 2 people).

Key and String (suitable for all ages)

This is one my mum showed me as a child and I've played it countless times since then. It's an absolute hoot!
What you do is get two rows of people preferably in alternate boy, girl order and you need 2 rolls of string, each with a key tied to the end.
The object of the game is for the string to go up (underneath the clothes) of one person and then down (underneath the clothes) of the next person and so on until everyone is threaded together. The first team to complete this challenge wins.
You can also reverse it and see which team is unthreaded first.
Watching someone trying to work a key up their trouser leg is hilarious. Similarly, watching girls trying to maintain their modesty while wearing a dress or skirt and the string is tightening is equally side-splitting.
So simple and so much fun.

Spot The Leader (suitable for ages 6 and up)

One person leaves the room and is the guesser. Choose one person to lead the others clapping or dancing. Put on some music. The leader must regularly change the rhythm and which body part they clap against. The others must follow. The guesser comes back in and tries to guess who is leading the clapping.

Chopstick Race (suitable for ages 5 and up)

An individual style graduation party games. Give each person 10 pieces of candy or rice. Also a bowl and a pair of chopsticks. The object is to get the candy or rice into the bowl individually. First person to complete gets a prize!

Eat The Chocolate (suitable for ages 9 and up)

This is a lively one of the graduation party games. In the middle of the guests place a large bar of chocolate on a plate, a knife and fork, hat, gloves and scarf. Taking it in turns, each guest rolls the dice. If a guest gets a six they have to put the clothes on as fast as possible and start eating the chocolate with the knife and fork. Keep eating till the next person gets a six then take the clothes off for them to dress up and eat as much chocolate as they can. If the number of guests is large you can split the group into teams of say 8 to 10 with their own chocolate and clothes.

Spin The Wheel (suitable for all ages)

Borrow one of those wheels of fortune and fill in the prizes you have on the wheel. That will include no prize and a forfeit if you want. Arrange the right person to host the game and get the audience participating madly.

Coconut Shy (suitable for older ages)

In an outdoor area set up a coconut shy. This will need holders for the coconuts. You could of course just balance the coconuts on a ledge. You can decorate the coconuts in the theme of your party which may just mean using the graduate's photo. Just supply balls to throw and set up a line say 4 or 5 feet away.

Bobbing For Apples (suitable for older ages)

Bobbing for apples is one of the better graduation party games. Set up a large pail filled with water and enough apples to cover the surface. Lay out plenty of towels. The guests using only their teeth must try and get an apple out of the pail. Usually hilarious and very messy!.

Octopus Tag (suitable for older ages)

This is one of te graduation party games where no one is out! A first person is chosen who is the octopus. The rest of the group are the fish. Each person tagged joins the octopus. Play continues until there is one fish left.

Stocks (suitable for older ages)

Set up old fashioned stocks with holes for the arms to 'lock' the unfortunate volunteers in. They should be seated. Then set up a line about 6 feet away and let the guests throw wet sponges at them.

Talent Spots (suitable for older ages)

As a break from the normal graduation party games a talent spot lets everyone get a drink and watch the entertainment. Set aside a stage with lighting if possible with music pre arranged to suit the act. You can ask the guests to prepare something in the party invitations and give them a theme if you wish. For example you could allow them to do anything, be a ringmaster or clown for a circus party, sing mambo no. 5 at a Mardi Gras party, sing backwards, act out a script for a hollywood theme or tell jokes.

Blow Fish (or Ships) (suitable for all ages)

Arrange a pail with water. Also straws and either small boats which float in the water, or fish. Set up the players in two's who play against each other. The object of the game is to blow the boat to your opponents side. The players can get very wet, so remember to set out towels.

Goldfish Bowls (suitable for all ages)

Arrange say 10 goldfish bowls together on a table. Have balls which fit into the goldfish bowls but they are not too small. The object of this one of the graduation party games is for the players to stand behind a line and throw the balls into the goldfish bowls. Have prizes for the best.

Horseshoe Pitch (suitable for all ages)

Put a stake in the ground and have the contestants stand say 6 to 12 feet away depending on their age. Give each player some horseshoe to throw at the stake, the nearest wins. You can use balls if need be.

Jump Rope (suitable for all ages)

With some jump ropes, just have the guests play jump rope with the guest jumping for the most jumps the winner.

Sing A Long (suitable for all ages)

In a 'camp fire' style have the guests sing some classic songs in unison. A great effect.

Dance Competition (suitable for all ages)

Arrange a dance floor. Also have music in keeping with the party theme. Guests have to dance with a judge eliminating people as the music goes on. The last couple or person still on the floor wins. Good fun graduation party games.

Hire Equipment (suitable for all ages)

Graduation party games can be determined by the equipment you have. Consider hiring a Buckaroo, Fastest draw game, trampoline or golf game.

Name That Tune (suitable for all ages)

Set up music on a cd. Ask players how many notes they need to hear to name the tune. Play they number of notes and see if they get it right. This can make highly competitive graduation party games.

Blindfold Games (suitable for all ages)

There are two graduation party games in this category.

Arrange an obstacle course which a guest guided by a partner must negotiate.

Put various objects in a box. The guest must identify them by touch alone. For older players you can set the scene by claiming to have horrible things in the box. Touching half a tomato can set their imagination running wild.

Blindfold Cottonball Game

Set out 2 fishbowls. One is filled with cottonballs. Each guest must transfer the cotton balls from one bowl to the other using a spoon. The catch is they wear a blindfold.

Ice Cube Race

Fill a lrage bowl with water and add a top layer of ice cubes. Guests must get ice cubes out of the bowl using their feet only.

Ice Cream Race

Give each guest a bowl of ice cream. They must finish the ice cream using no hands.

Boogle

Find as many 3 or more letter words as you can in one minute from a prepared list of letters.

Mad Painting

Have each guest wear a pair of large gloves. Give them paints, brushes and paper. have them paint their own masterpiece. Judge who has the best one.

Chocolate Eating

Give each guest a large pair of gloves, and a knife and fork. Also they get a bar of chocolate. They have to eat as much chocolate as they can in 2 minutes using only the knife and fork.

Quiet Graduation Party Games

Please find below a selection of my favorite free graduation party games that are nice and quiet and will help calm the children down.

Pass the Parcel (suitable for all ages)

Although this game has music it is excellent for calming everyone down after something active. There are two ways you can play this:
1) Wrap the present up as many times as possible and a layer of paper is ripped off each time the music stops – repeat until there is no wrapping left and there you have the lucky winner.
2) Wrap the present up once and the person left holding the present when the music stops is out – repeat until you have a winner.

Memory Game (suitable for all ages)

You can make this game as difficult or as easy as you like depending on age of the children playing it. Arrange several objects on a tray and cover them with a cloth. Give everyone a pencil and a piece of paper. Remove the cloth and give everyone 1 minute to memorize all the objects. Then they have to write down as many of the items as they can remember. The person who remembers most correctly wins.

Blindfold Drawing (suitable for ages 4 and up)

Arrange paper and pencils or pens. Blind fold half the guests. Then tell them what they are drawing, perhaps something that relates to the party theme. Give them enough time to complete their drawing. You can make it more fun by breaking the drawing instructions down into parts. The other guests can try and help with instructions. Then swap with the other guests taking a turn to be blindfold.

Shell Painting (suitable for all ages)

Arrange a shell for each person and ask them to paint it. A prize of course for the best design! You could ask for the shell to be painted in the party theme.

Painting (suitable for all ages)

Painting of any kind makes good graduation party games. The subject can fit the party theme and can be masks, kites, fans, hats or parasols for example.

Drawing (suitable for all ages)

Drawing something fitting the party theme is great fun. Just set out pens, pencils, and paper!

Message In A Bottle (suitable for all ages)

Give everyone a plastic bottle, paper, access to sand, pens, mini shells, and any other materials you wish. Ask them to create a scene in the bottle and add a message. Crafts graduation party games do give a creative outlet.

Paper Clip (suitable for all ages)

Give each person a piece of paper and pencil for this mental agility graduation party games. Each person has 2 minutes to write down all the things they can think of to do with a paper clip. This is a true test of each persons creativity. It is likely that most people will get 3 to 4. When reading out some of the mad answers remember no one said what color, size, or materials made up the paper clip. Creative people will have it used for a coat hanger, colored purple to use as a mood enhancer, huge size to use as a boat and lots more ideas!

Jar Game (suitable for all ages)

Memory Game

One of the good graduation party games for relaxing the pace a bit. Give each guest some paper and a pen. Set out various unrelated items on a tray and cover it up. Take away the cover and give everyone 1 minute to memorize the items. They must then wait 1 minute before they write out what was on the tray. The guests' ages will determine how many items you use.

Team Graduation Party Games

Blow and Suck (suitable for all ages)

The first of the team graduation party games is an old faithful that can be enjoyed by people of any ages.
All you need is a pack of straws, a ping pong ball or card and two teams of people. You simply pass the ball or card from the front of the team to the back using only the straws.

Pass The Orange (suitable for all ages)

This fun-filled game is inexpensive and simple. The only supplies it requires are 2 oranges and people with both a neck and a chin. Divide the group into 2 teams. When the person (not actually playing the game) says "Go!" the people must pass the orange from neck to neck using only chins and necks. The team that can get the orange to the last neck in line the quickest without dropping the orange wins.

Pass the Sand (suitable for all ages)

Obviously one of the good free graduation party games for the beach or even the garden. Divide the group into 2 teams and line them up. Have the person in each line grab a handful of sand from a container. They must pass the sand to the next player, who passes it to the next, and so on down the line. When the sand reaches the last player, he/she pours what is left of it on a plate. The team with the most sand wins the game. (You may have to weigh the sand on a food scale if it's close.)

Cross Dress Relay Game (suitable for all ages)

For this game you need 2 piles of clothes. One pile would consist of ridiculous looking male clothes including braces, pipe, beard, mad shirt – anything goes really.
The other pile of clothes will be equally ridiculous female clothes. This could include tights and bra with oranges etc. You then arrange 2 rows of people, one for boys and one for girls. Each person takes it in turn to dress and undress. The boys would put on the female clothes and vice versa.
The team that completes the task first wins.
Obviously you need to get your camera ready for this one.

Bum Shuffle (suitable for all ages)

Now this is my favorite of all the team graduation party games. Divide the teams into about six people. They have to sit in a line with their legs wide apart and their arms around the waist of the person in front. When you say “go” they all have to shuffle forwards on their bums. If the line is broken then they have to start again. The winning team is the first team across the finishing line.

Balloon Bang (suitable for ages 5 and up)

If you have a suitable space with room to run around, or even better outdoors this is a very active game. Brief the teams not to stamp on the person, just the balloons.Split everyone into 2 teams. One team has balloons tied to their ankles with ribbon. The second team have to burst all the balloons.

Balloon Hockey (suitable for ages 6 and up)

A great competitive game. Each player has a round balloon and a long ballon to use as the hockey stick. Set up a goal which can be a large box on its side. Players take turns to try and score by hitting their balloon from a set distance into the goal. Give each player say 5 attempts, with the winner scoring most times.

Superfast Drawing (suitable for ages 8 and up)

This is a version of Pictionary. Before the party have at least 20 cards with meaningful words on them such as skull, treasure etc. Split everyone into teams and give them pens, pencils and paper. One person from each team comes to you and you show them a card. They return to their team and quickly draw a picture representing the word. No gestures or speaking allowed. Keep a score.

Feed The Baby (suitable for ages 6 and up)

Split everyone into teams of 2. Have the right number of chairs, bibs, bowls of fruit puree and spoon. Line the teams up 10 to 20 feet from the chairs. Say go and the teams run to the chairs, they put the bib on one of them who sits down. The other team member feeds the sitting on the puree. The winners finish the puree and take off the bib.

Double Packers (suitable for ages 7 and up)

Split everyone into teams of 2. Each person must hold the hand of their partner. Give each pair an object to wrap such as a shoebox. Also give them ribbon, wrapping paper and sticky tape. Start the game and the teams must wrap their present using their free hands. The first pair to complete wins. I like graduation party games where the teams must rely on each other so much.

Knee Jerk Relay (suitable for ages 6 and up)

This is one of the rather silly graduation party games. With the right music and noisy atmosphere it can be excellent. Split the guests into 2 teams. Set out a course say 20 to 30 feet. Give the first player an orange or balloon to hold between their knees. They must walk the course keeping the object between their knees and pass it to the next team member. If the orange drops the player must start again. First team to complete wins.

Stepping Stones (suitable for ages 8 and over)

Split everyone into 2 teams, pair the people in the teams up and arrange a short course. Ahead of the party cut a big pair of feet from card. In the teams one person is the foot person, the other the stepper. The foot person places the feet in front of the stepper who must only walk on the card feet. They must go up and down the course and then the next pair can start. First team to complete wins.

Three Ball Relay (suitable for ages 6 and up)

Different graduation party games. Split the guests into 2 teams. Give each team 3 balls of widely different size. Set out a course. In turn each player guides the 3 balls using only their hands up and down the course, handing over to the next player. First team finished wins.

Chinese Whispers (suitable for ages 6 and up)

Arrange everyone in a line. Have a message of at least 10 words ready in advance. Whisper it to the first person who whispers it to the next in line, all the way along the guests. The last person says out loud the message, caompare that to the original. Play music to make it tougher.

Yes/No (suitable for ages 7 and up)

A classic of graduation party games. This game requires quick thinking. Set up a small stage area. Bring out each player and ask them questions which they must avoid saying yes or no to. For example do you like milk, have you been on holiday yet, did you graduate. Allow up to 10 questions per player. They are also out if they hesitate for more than 5 seconds.

Where Am I Going (suitable for ages 7 and up)

One of the lively team graduation party games. Set up an obstacle course which is safe for the youngest player. Split the guests into 2 teams. Blindfold the first person and start them off. Their team must shout instructions to them to get them round the course. They then pass the blindfold to the next person. First team round the course wins.

Face Painting (suitable for older ages)

As well as an guest decoration exercise face painting can be a good graduation party games for teams. In keeping with your theme you can challenge the teams to paint each others faces. That could be as a clown, pirate or tiger for example. Prizes could be for the best overall team.

Plate Race

A fun and noisy graduation party games. Mark out a river about 6 feet wide. Split the kids into 2 teams, half of which sit on either side of the river. Gove the first child from each team 2 good size paper plates. They must cross the river, once you say go, by putting down the first plate, standing on it, then placing the second plate in front of them and standing on it and so on. Once they have crossed the river standing only on the plates they pass the plates on to the next one in their team. First team to get everyone across the river wins.

Googly Balloons

Put a marble into each balloon and blow them up. Split the kids into small teams and give them some balloons which they must keep up in the air. Perhaps 2 balloons per person. The weights in the balloons makes them act really strangely. This is one of the laugh out loud graduation party games.

Boat Race

Divide the guests into teams of 6. Set out a start and finish line. They sit in a line with their legs apart and arms around the person in front. When you say go the crew must shuffle themselves forward to cross the finishing line. The crew must remain unbroken, otherwise they start again.

Water Balloon Walk

Divide the guests into teams of say 4. Set out a short course which can have obstacles. Give the first person a filled water balloon and each person gets 2 sticks. The first person walks the course with he water balloon balalnced on the sticks. They hand the balloon over to the next person without using hands. First team to complete wins.

Outdoor Graduation Party Games

Scoot Them Away (suitable for all ages)

This is a good one for a back yard party. Simply line up some empty tin cans on a wall and knock them off using water pistols.

Volleyball (suitable for ages 7 and up)

Set everyone up into teams and have a normal rules volleyball competition. For the younger kids you could use a balloon and a lower net. You just need enough room for this one and a marked out area.

A fun variation is to arrange teams of 2 who have a towel. The ball is replaced by a water filled balloon. The idea is to use the towel to launch and catch the balloon with the towel. The first team to burst the balloon loses!

Treasure Hunt (suitable for all ages)

In advance hide lots of items in the garden (or indoors). Tie in the objects with the party theme. Give everyone a sheet with the hidden items listed (or drawn for youngsters.) Time the teams or individuals as they find the items. For example for a pirate theme party you could hide fake coins. Have prizes for the winners.

Races(suitable for all ages)

Races of any kind make great outdoor graduation party games. I like the ones where the players wear clown shoes or flippers.

Sandcastles(suitable for all ages)

For a beach party or a sand area at home. Have a sandcastle building competition. Prizes, of course, for the most creative and best made sandcastle. Graduation party games for all ages are good!

Favorite Graduation Party Games

Not sure which category of graduation party games this one falls into so here’s to my all time favorite of free graduation party games. It’s hilarious!

Pennies up the Bum

It’s one of the fantastic graduation party games for everyone to join in no matter what the age. What you do is get a handful of coins and clench as many as possible between your buttock cheeks. Then you have to walk to the other side of the room and squatting over a bucket you have to drop the pennies into the bucket. The person who deposits most coins obviously wins.

Graduation Party Games - Forfeits

When you have great graduation party guests it can be excellent to have forfeits for losing graduation party games. Simple forfeits can be quick and great fun.

Graduation Party Games - Preparation

Graduation Party Games - Tips

Hope you like these "tried and tested" free graduation party games.Most of I hope these graduation party games enhance your party.

I am constantly on the search for new graduation party games to share. If you have any then I’d be delighted if you would enter the details below.

Inspire others and help them have a great graduation party!

Sardines

The larger the group, the more fun this will be.

One person is "it," and it flows like a hide-n-seek game. The one person hides, (given ample time ...

Water Carrier

Set out 2 chairs about 6 to 8 feet apart.

Put a bowl of water on one and 2 glasses on the other. Give the guest a spoon, or for smaller children perhaps ...

Blindfold Drawing

Give each guest a blindfold, paper and pen.

On your instructions ask them to draw an animal's head, such as a cat. Then the body, then legs and tail....

who knows him/her the best

Make a question list of some of the grads favorite things and hand out pencils and paper for guests to write their answers. Who ever gets the most right ...

Balloon Blast(ages 5 and up) Not rated yet
Each person has a balloon tied to their ankle. Each person also has a rolled up newspaper. All the people run around and tries to pop everybody's balloon ...

spin the bottle Not rated yet
You get a bottle and then you and your friends get in a circle at a table or on a floor. Then you spin the bottle and whoever it points to, you have kiss ...

Drawing Your Graduate Boy or Girl (fun for any age) Not rated yet
Give your Guest a pen or pencil and paper. Have them draw a picture of the Grad that is Graduating. Should be interesting to see how well your guest can ...

James Not rated yet
Have each teenager pick a number 1-10, then who ever gets the right number, they get a delicious suprise. You shove a tasty pie in their face.

COTTON BALL RACE Not rated yet
USE A STRAW TO BLOW THE COTTONBALL OVER A FINISH LINE WICH CAN ALSO BE A PIECE OF TAPE.

Jumpers Not rated yet
I like silly graduation party games.

Try asking your guests to jump rope with flippers on.

A good diversion!

Graduation Party Games