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Party game

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For the Canadian television game show, seeParty Game (game show).For theYes MinisterChristmas special, seeParty Games (Yes Minister).
Party guests playing a game ofMafia

Party gamesaregamesthat are played at social gatherings to facilitateinteractionand provideentertainmentandrecreation.Categories include (explicit)icebreaker,parlour(indoor), picnic (outdoor), and large group games.[1][2]Other types include pairing off (partnered) games, and parlour races.[2]Different games will generate different atmospheres so the party game may merely be intended as an icebreakers, or the sole purpose for or structure of the party. As such, party games aim to include players of various skill levels and player-elimination is rare.[3]Party games are intended to be played socially, and are designed to be easy for new players to learn.[4]

Characteristics[edit]

The characteristics of party games tend to include:

  • A game can support a relatively large or undefined number of players, compared to more traditionalboard gamesorcard gamesthat require a small, set number of players. Some games, especially commercial games, have a set limit based on available equipment; others are limited by other mechanics of the game like time for each turn, while still others have no practical limit, like Appyshot App.
  • Team-based play in party games is common, but not required. Games that divide players into two, three, or four roughly equal teams, such asCranium,CharadesorPictionarytend to allow for larger total numbers of players. By contrast, other games such asWerewolfandHow to Host a Murderare role-based, with each player being given a character or other role to play in the course of the game. The number of players is limited to the number of roles, but in many such games there are "generic" roles allowing for a high degree of flexibility.
  • Cooperation and interaction between players is encouraged. Both team and role-based play generally encourage this social aspect to the game; games that do not encourage this interaction generally make poor party games.
  • Multiple ways to play and contribute. For example, inFictionarynot everyone needs to create plausible dictionary definitions; humorous submissions are welcome. In Charades, players can actively participate in guessing without taking a turn at acting. Sports often make poor party games as limitations in a player's physical abilities may preclude participation though some party games, such as: relay racing andRed light/Green light,involve a significant physical aspect and are especially suitable for groups similar in age and ability.
  • Players participate in gameplay frequently, sometimes on an impromptu basis. Games in which each player has their own independent turn generally make poor party games, especially if a turn takes a long time.
  • A game should also have entertainment value for spectators. Many party games involve at least some level of humor, whether inherent in the game or introduced by players. In this way, players not taking a turn can still enjoy the gameplay, whilstparty favorscan embellish the party atmosphere.
  • Player elimination is rare.Monopolymakes a poor party game, because bankrupt players must sit out while the remaining players continue to the game's conclusion, which can take several hours. In contrast, no matter how far behind a team is inPictionary,all players can participate until the end.
  • The amount of specialized equipment needed is not dependent on the number of players. Games such asLiar's Dicemake poor party games because each player needs a cup and five dice to start the game. By contrast,Yahtzeeneeds only one cup and set of dice regardless of the number of players (the basic Yahtzee game does have other practical limitations).
  • The game usually does not involve spending real money as a prerequisite or consequence of playing. Games that require each player to purchase consumable items or specialized equipment are usually poor party games. Casino games are a notable exception. Examples include "casino nights" with a token door charge or buy-in for charity or to defray costs and poker tournaments with a similar small buy-in.

Common party games[edit]

Musical chairs

Children's party games[edit]

A nine-pointed star piñata

Traditional children's party games include:

Video games[edit]

See also:List of party video games

Party video games are commonly designed as a collection of simpleminigames,designed to be intuitive and easy to control, and allow for competition between many players. Some games are played on simulated game boards, like theItadaki Streetseries,Mario Partyseries andSonic Shuffle.

BYTEin 1981 called theOlympicsportsgameOlympic Decathlon(1980) "the first true party game formicrocomputers".[5]Another early example isStarpath'sParty Mix.

Modern examples includeTower Unite(2016), a virtual community party game played online, andThe Jackbox Party Packseries which offers minigames that can be played both online and with people in the same room.

Large group games[edit]

Large group games are played by many participants and are often used as planned activities in structured environments, especially as educational activities. They are similar to party games, except that large group games are typically planned for larger numbers (perhaps even hundreds) as part of an event.

Large group games can take a variety of forms and formats.

Some are physical games such asBuck buck.

Some are modeled on the TVgame showformat, offering points for teams who can answer questions the fastest. Trivia-type games might have questions posed from the stage and each tabletop writing their answers to be collected and scored. Others may take on some of the qualities of Open Space environments and allow participants to wander in a less structured way.

Some are modeled on TV reality shows such asThe Amazing RaceorSurvivor.Participants compete as individuals or in teams to complete challenges that move them towards victory in a competition spanning the entire party. The TV shows on which such parties are based are normally competitions involving elimination, so such events require significant planning to avoid exclusion or boredom.

There is also now electronic party games such as Cards Against Humanity or Appyshot App, that can be played on the phone or computer.

Groupboard gamescan take on the design of small groups of players, seated at tables of 4 to 6 people, who work together on a problem. There can be large numbers of people (and thus many tables). If properly designed, these scalable exercises can be used for small groups (12 to 20 people) as well as very large events (600 people or 100 tables).

Generally, for these larger exercises,multimediaprojectors, large screens and microphones are required for instructions and communications.

A search for team building events can turn up millions of links to exercises, companies, and various offerings ranging from paintball competitions to fire walks to outdoor climbing or whitewater adventures. The impact on actual team building can vary widely - a golf outing for corporate executives does not generally accomplish much in the way of organizational improvement while a business simulation might be directly focused on linking the play of the game to issues for corporate improvement.

Holiday groups use a gift exchange party game such aswhite elephant gift exchangefor socializing and sharing gifts. New online party games, based on these holiday games, allow larger groups to gather on the internet to save travel expenses.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Frankel, Lillian; Frankel, Godfrey; and Anderson, Doug (2007).Party Games for Adults,p.7. Sterling.ISBN9781402746864.
  2. ^abSheila Anne Barry (1987).The World's Best Party Games,p.3. Sterling.ISBN9780806964843.
  3. ^Meyer, Ben (2009). "Fort Ancient: Ohio",Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference on Game Based Learning,p.259. Academic Conferences.ISBN9781906638474.
  4. ^McGonigal, Jane (2011).Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World,unpaginated. Penguin.ISBN9781101475492.
  5. ^Williams, Gregg (December 1981)."New Games New Directions".BYTE.pp. 6–10.Retrieved19 October2016.
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