Turning 16 is a big deal – you’re getting close to becoming an adult, and you finally get to drive! Why not throw a fabulous party with some fun 16th birthday games?
You only have one 16th birthday, so it’s important to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Throwing a party is a lot of fun, but it can be little nerve-racking, too. There’s the pressure of preparing and organizing everything, and you want to make sure your guests have a good time.
I’m here to take some worries off your plate – you can keep your guests entertained by planning some great games. So, without further ado, here’s my list of 16th birthday games for parties.
Table of Contents
Fun 16th Birthday Party Games
These party games are perfect for a 16th birthday, and they’ll provide endless entertainment for your guests!
1. Birthday Friendly Feud
This clever take on the Family Feud TV game is so much fun and easy to play! Plus, these cute printables are very affordable. The prompts will have your guests cracking up for hours!
2. Hot Girl Bday
This set comes with 4 different silly games that test how well guests know the birthday girl.
3. Would You Rather?
You can either have guests come up with their own prompts for this classic party game, or buy a set of questions designed for teens to keep the party going smoothly.
4. Balloon Drop
Hang tons of balloons and streamers from the ceiling (or a tree, if your party is outdoors). Set a timer for one minute and have guests pop as many balloons and pull down as many streamers as possible. The player with the most popped balloons wins!
Pro Tip: It’s best to play this game toward the end of the party so that guests can enjoy seeing all the balloons and streamers first. Also, you don’t need helium in the balloons – blowing them up with air works fine!
5. Balloon Body Pop
Divide into teams of any size (2 or more people per team) and give each group an equal number of balloons. The challenge is to pop the balloons only by pressing their bodies together, no hands allowed!
6. Selfie Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of 16 things for guests to find at your party. Have each player or team take a selfie with every item they find.
Pro Tip: At the end of the game, have players share their photos with you – you can make an awesome album to remember the 16th birthday party forever!
7. Name That Cake
This game works best if you choose an unusual cake flavor. Leave your birthday cake out where guests can see it, along with a jar and some slips of paper and pencils. Have guests write down their names and what kind of cake they think is hidden beneath the icing. Check the papers after cutting the cake, and whoever guessed correctly (or closest to it) wins!
8. 16 Questions
You can come up with your own questions, or have guests fill out this printable questionnaire to find out who knows the birthday boy/girl the best!
9. Medusa
This game works best with 10 or more players. Have everyone stand in a circle with their arms around their neighbors’ shoulders. On the count of 3, all players look up at another player. If 2 players look at each other, they scream and fall down. The last two players standing win!
16th Birthday Games for Teens
Here are more of the best birthday party games for teens that I found – I know these would be great for your sweet 16!
10. 16 Candles
Hide 16 birthday candles (unlit!) around the party space. Let guests know at the beginning of the party to keep their eyes out for candles and collect them if they see any. Toward the end of the party, whoever has found the most candles, wins!
11. Movie Emoji Pictionary
You could come up with your own clever list of emojis to describe popular teen movies, or use this cheap printable.
12. What’s On Your Phone?
Players collect points for different things they have on their phones. For example, they get 3 points for having a photo with the birthday boy/girl, 2 points for having an unopened voicemail, etc. Here’s a printable to make organizing the game super simple.
13. Text Message
A twist on the classic game of telephone. Have the first player type a 2-4 sentence text message in their phone. They show it to the next player, who has 15 seconds to memorize it. Then player 2 types the message in their phone and shows it to player 3, and so on until the message gets to the last player, who reads the final message out loud.
14. Water Balloon in the Air
Have players form a circle, and assign each person a number. One player stands in the middle and throws a water balloon in the air and calls out a number. The person with that number has to run and catch the balloon before it drops! If that player catches the balloon, they get to throw it in the air and call a number. But if they drop it or it pops, they’re out. The last player standing wins!
15. Capture the Flag
A fun outdoor game that’s good for large groups. Here’s a video explaining how to play.
16. Noodle Hockey
All you need for this game is some pool noodles, two brooms, a wiffle ball, something to mark goalposts (like tape or cones), and space to play. Follow the rules of hockey, but instead of sticks and a puck, use pool noodles and the wiffle ball! Oh, and goalies get to use brooms instead of noodles to block the ball.
17. Give Yourself a Point
This printable game is super easy to play, and it can help your guests get to know each other a little better.
18. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
This quick-reaction card game is fun for all ages!
Birthday Games for a Sweet 16 Party
Whether you’ve invited 3 people to your party or 300, you need some cool games for everyone to play! Here are a few more 16th birthday games that will be perfect for your celebration.
19. Musical Chairs
Prepare a sweet playlist of the birthday girl/boy’s favorite songs for this classic party game.
20. Balloon Ball Collection
Tape off an area to play and place a basket in the middle. Scatter a bunch of small balls or plastic eggs within the space. Players take turns keeping a balloon in the air while putting as many balls/eggs in the basket as they can. If the balloon drops or goes out of bounds, their turn is over. Whoever gets the most eggs in the basket wins! Check out this video to see the game in action.
21. You Laugh You’re Out
Players have 30 seconds to make the others laugh by doing whatever the prompt card says. If you don’t want to buy the game, you could probably come up with some really hilarious prompt ideas yourself!
22. Slammo
This ball-bouncing game is perfect for a large outdoor party.
23. Giant Connect 4
This party game is worth the investment – the massive size of the board alone makes an impressive statement! Your guests can play in teams or take turns playing one-on-one.
24. Sweet 16 Treasure Hunt
Come up with your own clues for a treasure hunt game everyone can play together, or use an affordable printable like this one to guide you.
Pro Tip: Make the prize at the end of the treasure hunt a piñata – that way you get two fun activities in one!
25. Blindfold Makeup Artist
Divide players into teams. Blindfold the “makeup artist” and assign another player to have their makeup done. The rest of the team verbally guides the blindfolded artist as they apply makeup to the other player’s face. The birthday boy/girl can choose whose makeup they like best at the end!
26. Never Have I Ever
Everyone knows this classic – players put 5 fingers up, then go around the room saying “Never have I ever…” and filling in the statement with something they haven’t done. If you’ve done the thing they say, you put a finger down. First player with all 5 fingers down wins (or loses, however you want to play).
27. 2 Truths and 1 Lie
Players share three things about themselves with the group. The trick is, one of the statements is a lie, and the other players have to figure out which one it is. This is a great way to bring your guests together while having some fun!
The Best 16th Birthday Games for Parties
I was saving the best for last – here are a few more party games that will make your 16th birthday unforgettable.
28. Cake Decorating Contest
Divide guests into teams and give them each a plain cake or cupcake to decorate. Have the birthday boy/girl pick the winner, or put it to a vote!
29. What Do You Meme?
You’ll be happy to have this hilarious card game even when the party’s over! 16-year-olds will love this, but it’s really fun for any age.
30. Wink Murder
Have players sit in a circle and draw straws to secretly assign the “murderer.” The murderer strikes by winking sneakily at other players in the circle. When someone gets winked at, they must pretend to “die” as dramatically or quietly as they want. The remaining players can accuse one person after each death, but if an accuser is wrong, they’re out. If an accuser correctly guesses the murderer, they win! But if the murderer kills a certain number of players (depending on group size) without getting caught, they win.
31. Donuts on a String
Tie strings to several donuts so they can hang like ornaments from a clothesline. Have players place their hands behind their backs and try to eat the donuts using only their mouths. Add blindfolds into the mix to make this goofy game even more entertaining!
Pro Tip: You’ll definitely want to play this game outside, because it can get really messy!
32. Utter Nonsense
Make sure you have your phone out and ready to record some videos of guests playing this hilarious silly accents and voices game!
33. Slapjack
It’s always a good idea to have a deck of cards on hand at any party to play slapjack or other classic games.
34. Taste the Rainbow
Using only a straw, players must get as many Skittles from a big bowl into their own plastic cups. The player with the most Skittles at the end wins.
35. Whipped Gummy Bears
Give each player a paper plate with 10 gummy bears hidden inside a mound of whipped cream. With their hands behind their backs, players have to dig out the gummy bears using only their mouths and transfer them into a cup. The first player to get all 10 gummy bears wins!
36. Sock Wrestling
You’ve heard of arm wrestling, but have you ever tried sock wrestling? Instead of trying to bend each other’s arms down, players attempt to pull one another’s socks off – using only their feet.
37. Sleeping Beauty
Each guest takes turns being the “Sleeping Beauty.” They lie down with their eyes closed and cannot move or talk. The other players take turns trying to “wake up” Sleeping Beauty by getting them to laugh or flinch (without touching them).
Turning 16 is such a special time. Whether you’re playing games with friends, cutting the cake, or taking your driver’s license test, don’t forget to stop and take in the moment. And try not to stress too much about party details – after all, now you have tons of entertainment ideas!
So, what do you think? Did you find some awesome 16th birthday games to play at your party? Let me know in the comments which activity ideas you liked best, or if you have any other fun suggestions!
