Party games without props: 15 ideas to liven up a night
Updated on October 2, 2026 · 4 min read
In short
15 party games you can play with no cards, no board and no screen: bluffing (Werewolf, the imposter), speed (yes-no game, Zip Zap Boing), imagination and laughs. Each game takes a minute to explain, for 3 to 20 players.
- 3–20 players
- Nothing needed
- No alcohol
Contents
No cards, no board, no screen: to get a party going, all you often need is a group of friends and a good idea. Here are 15 games you can play anywhere, in the living room or on a terrace, with their rules in a few lines. They are sorted by style: bluffing, speed, imagination and pure laughter.
Bluffing games
1Werewolf
- 6–18 players
- 30–60 min
- Nothing needed
At night, the wolves devour a villager; by day, the village votes to unmask them. One person runs the game, and everyone gets their role in secret. Every role is explained in our guide to Werewolf roles.
2The imposter game
- 4–12 players
- 10–20 min
- Nothing needed
Everyone has the same secret word, except the imposter, who has a very similar one without knowing it. Everyone gives a clue, then the group votes. Rules and 50 word pairs in our guide to the imposter game.
3Two truths and a lie
- 3–20 players
- 15–20 min
- Nothing needed
Each player states three things about themselves: two true, one false. The others have to guess the lie. The more surprising the truths, the funnier the game.
4Wink murder
- 6–20 players
- 10–20 min
- Nothing needed
One player is secretly chosen as the killer (by drawing lots, for example). They “kill” the others with a discreet wink; the victim counts to five, then collapses dramatically. The others must unmask the killer before everyone is gone.
Speed games
5Yes-no game
- 2–10 players
- 10–15 min
- Nothing needed
One player fires quick questions at another, who must answer without ever saying “yes” or “no”. At the first slip, swap roles. Whoever lasts longest wins.
6Categories
- 3–12 players
- 10–15 min
- Nothing needed
The group picks a theme (countries, brands, singers…). Taking turns, everyone names an item within a few seconds, without repeating. Whoever gets stuck or repeats is out.
7Zip Zap Boing
- 6–20 players
- 10–15 min
- Nothing needed
In a circle, you pass a “zip” to your neighbour, a “zap” to anyone by pointing at them, and a “boing” sends the turn back the other way. At the slightest fumble, you're out. The pace picks up fast, and so do the giggles.
8Ninja
- 4–12 players
- 10–15 min
- Nothing needed
Standing in a circle, everyone strikes a ninja pose. Taking turns, a player makes a single quick move to touch another player's hand, who can dodge with a single move. A hand that is touched is lost; lose both and you're out.
Imagination games
9One-sentence story
- 3–12 players
- 10–20 min
- Nothing needed
A player starts a story with one sentence, the next adds theirs, and so on. To make it harder, each sentence must start with the last letter of the previous one.
1020 questions
- 2–10 players
- 10–15 min
- Nothing needed
A player thinks of a character, an object or an animal. The others have 20 yes-or-no questions to find the answer.
11Telephone
- 6–20 players
- 10 min
- Nothing needed
The first player whispers a sentence to their neighbour, who passes it on to the next, and so on. The last one says it out loud: it rarely has anything to do with the original.
12Mock trial
- 5–20 players
- 15–20 min
- Nothing needed
A player is accused of a ridiculous crime (“eating the last slice of cake”), another accuses them, and the rest of the group is the jury. Each side pleads for thirty seconds, then the jury votes.
Games for laughs
13Charades
- 4–20 players
- 15–30 min
- Nothing needed
A player acts out a film, a job or a phrase without saying a word; their team has one minute to guess. Teams take turns.
14Straight face
- 2–10 players
- 5–10 min
- Nothing needed
Two players face each other and look each other in the eye. The first to smile or laugh loses. The others may pull faces behind them.
15Truth or dare
- 3–12 players
- 20–40 min
- Nothing needed
The great classic: each player chooses between answering a question honestly or taking on a dare. Ideas in our 100 questions and dares.
Picking the right game
- To break the ice between people who barely know each other: two truths and a lie, 20 questions, categories.
- For a big group: Werewolf, wink murder, Zip Zap Boing.
- For a quiet end of the night: the one-sentence story, the imposter game.
- To make everyone laugh: charades, straight face, the mock trial.
Frequently asked questions
Which no-props game suits a big group?
Werewolf, wink murder and Zip Zap Boing work very well with ten or more. For a group that barely knows each other, start with two truths and a lie.
Can you play Werewolf without cards?
Yes: the game master can hand out the roles on folded slips of paper, or the Partizo app deals them secretly on a single phone that gets passed around.
Which game winds the evening down?
The one-sentence story or the imposter game: little noise, lots of imagination, and everyone can join in from the sofa.
No props, just a phone
A single phone lets you play much more. In the Partizo app, Showtime offers wacky challenges judged by the group (impressions, mimes, voices), Objection! turns the mock trial into a real timed court case, Celebrity has you guess cards over three rounds, and both Werewolf and The Imposter deal the roles in secret.
For more ideas, see our student party games.