Party Games for Adults: Beyond Cards Against Humanity

We’ve all been there. Someone pulls out Cards Against Humanity, and while it was hilarious the first few times, now you’re playing it for the fifteenth gathering in a row. The jokes feel stale, half the group has memorized the funniest combinations, and you’re secretly hoping someone suggests literally anything else.

The Quick Answer: The best party games for adults combine accessibility (anyone can play with minimal explanation), social interaction (talking, debating, or deceiving each other), and replayability (different every time). Games like Codenames, Wavelength, Telestrations, and social deduction games offer that perfect party energy without relying on shock-value humor.

I’ve hosted enough game nights to know that the right party game can make or break an evening. Here’s my deep dive into the games that consistently deliver—organized by what kind of party vibe you’re going for.

Why Cards Against Humanity Gets Old

Before exploring alternatives, let’s understand what makes CAH lose its spark:

• It’s a one-trick pony: The humor comes from the shock value, which diminishes with exposure
• The “funniest” person doesn’t always win: The judge’s taste matters more than clever card play
• Participation is passive: You’re dealt random cards and pick from them
• Limited interaction: You don’t actually engage with other players much

The best party games fix these issues by creating genuine moments of creativity, deduction, or cooperation. Let’s explore the alternatives.

Team-Based Word Games

These games split your group into teams and create natural competition without anyone feeling singled out.

Codenames

Players: 4-8+ (best at 6-8)
Time: 15-30 minutes
Why it works: One person gives clues, their teammates guess—it creates memorable moments when clever connections work (or hilariously fail)

Codenames is the modern party game standard for good reason. Each team has a “spymaster” who gives one-word clues to help teammates identify their team’s words from a grid. The catch? Your clue needs to connect multiple words, and giving anything too obvious helps the opposing team.

What makes it great is the shared vocabulary you develop with friends. Inside jokes, references to shared experiences, and creative wordplay all become part of the game. I’ve seen “BREAKFAST: 3” work perfectly because the clue-giver knew their friends’ specific morning habits.

Pro tip: Codenames: Duet works for exactly 2 players if you want a cooperative version for date nights.

Just One

Players: 3-7
Time: 20 minutes
Why it works: Cooperative word-guessing with a cruel twist—duplicate clues get eliminated

Everyone writes a one-word clue to help one player guess a mystery word. Here’s the catch: if two people write the same clue, both are removed before the guesser sees anything. It creates tension as you try to be helpful but not obvious.

The word is “APPLE,” and everyone writes “FRUIT”? Those clues vanish. Now the guesser only sees “PIE,” “TEACHER,” and “NEWTON.” The groans when obvious clues get eliminated are half the fun.

Wavelength

Players: 2-12
Time: 30-45 minutes
Why it works: Sparks incredible debates about where concepts fall on a spectrum

One player gives a clue to help their team guess where a hidden target falls on a spectrum between two concepts (like “Hot—Cold” or “Good Movie—Bad Movie”). The clue-giver might say “a freshly baked cookie” to indicate “pretty warm but not the extreme.”

The magic is in the debates. “Wait, is that HOT or just warm?” “No way, that’s at least 80%!” You learn surprising things about how your friends think.

Drawing and Acting Games

These games reward creativity and create hilarious moments—no artistic or acting talent required.

Telestrations

Players: 4-8
Time: 20-30 minutes
Why it works: Telephone meets Pictionary, and the results are always ridiculous

You draw a word, pass your book, the next person guesses what you drew, passes it, the next person draws that guess… by the time it comes back to you, “Birthday Cake” has become “Sad Robot in a Volcano.”

Bad drawings aren’t a bug—they’re the feature. The worse you draw, the funnier the transformations. I’ve never played a round of Telestrations that didn’t produce at least one chain everyone needed to see.

Note: Get the 8-player version minimum. The game gets exponentially funnier with longer chains.

A Fake Artist Goes to New York

Players: 5-10
Time: 20 minutes
Why it works: One person doesn’t know what everyone’s drawing—and has to fake it

Everyone draws on the same picture, adding one line per turn. One player is the “fake artist” who doesn’t know the subject and must blend in. After everyone draws, players vote on who they think was faking.

The tension of adding a line when you have no idea what the picture is supposed to be is incredible. And watching someone confidently add to “elephant” when it’s actually “pizza”? Priceless.

Monikers (or Time’s Up)

Players: 4-16
Time: 45-60 minutes
Why it works: Three rounds with the same cards—clues, one word, then charades

Round one: describe the person/thing on your card using any words. Round two: one word only. Round three: charades. The same cards cycle through all three rounds, so inside jokes develop as the game progresses.

Someone struggling to act out “Genghis Khan” in round three while everyone remembers the elaborate story from round one creates the kind of shared laughter that makes parties memorable.

Social Deduction Games

These games involve hidden roles, lying, and figuring out who to trust. They create dramatic moments and memorable stories.

The Resistance (or Avalon)

Players: 5-10
Time: 30 minutes
Why it works: No player elimination, pure deduction and deception

Players are secretly divided into Resistance members and Spies. Teams go on missions, and spies can sabotage. The Resistance wins by completing missions; spies win by causing failures. The game becomes a social puzzle of reading reactions, building trust, and (if you’re a spy) convincing everyone you’re innocent.

Unlike Werewolf, nobody gets eliminated—everyone stays engaged until the end. And the debates about who to trust get heated in the best way.

Experience level: Avalon adds special roles that make the game more complex. Start with The Resistance if your group is new to social deduction.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

Players: 3-10
Time: 10 minutes
Why it works: Werewolf compressed into one round with no elimination

Everyone gets a role, a “night phase” happens where roles interact (some players’ cards might get swapped), and then everyone has a few minutes to discuss and vote. One round, ten minutes, maximum chaos.

The free app handles the night phase narration, making it smooth to run. Because rounds are so quick, getting eliminated (by vote) doesn’t matter—you’re back in the next game immediately.

Blood on the Clocktower

Players: 5-15+
Time: 60-90 minutes
Why it works: The most elaborate social deduction game—players stay engaged even after dying

This is for groups that want to go deep. It’s like Werewolf, but dead players can still participate (with limited information), roles are more complex, and the Storyteller (moderator) actively balances the game. It’s a commitment, but fans consider it the pinnacle of the genre.

Fair warning: Blood on the Clocktower requires a dedicated Storyteller who knows the rules well. Great for regular game groups, less ideal for casual parties.

Conversation and Connection Games

These games use questions and prompts to drive interesting conversations—perfect when you want something lower-energy but still engaging.

We’re Not Really Strangers

Players: 2-6
Time: Open-ended
Why it works: Thoughtful questions that create genuine connection

Three levels of questions progress from perception (“What do you think I do for fun?”) to connection (“What about me made you want to be my friend?”) to reflection (“What’s something you’ve been afraid to tell me?”).

This isn’t competitive—it’s about conversations that rarely happen otherwise. Works best with close friends or on dates. Probably not ideal for the wild party energy, but perfect for smaller, more intimate gatherings.

Herd Mentality

Players: 4-20
Time: 20-30 minutes
Why it works: Write what you think MOST people will write

A question is asked (like “Name a famous bald person”), and everyone writes an answer. You score points for matching the most popular answer. Sounds simple, but debates about what constitutes “famous” or “bald” are inevitable.

The game works because it reveals group dynamics. Does everyone know your friend group’s cultural references? Are you the weird one who thinks “Mr. Clean” is more famous than “The Rock”?

Quick and Chaotic Games

Sometimes you need fast, silly energy that doesn’t require deep thinking.

Throw Throw Burrito

Players: 2-6
Time: 15 minutes
Why it works: Card game meets dodgeball

You’re collecting sets of cards, but when certain combos are played, foam burritos get thrown across the table (or room). It’s absurd, active, and impossible not to laugh.

Not for: Careful people, rooms with fragile items, anyone who takes games too seriously.

Anomia

Players: 3-6
Time: 30 minutes
Why it works: Brain freeze under pressure

Flip cards showing symbols and categories. When symbols match with another player, race to shout something in their category first. “NAME A COUNTRY THAT STARTS WITH P”—suddenly your brain empties completely as you stammer “um… Portugal? France? Wait—”

The moments when someone blanks on the easiest possible category are comedy gold.

Happy Salmon

Players: 3-8
Time: 2 minutes (seriously)
Why it works: Pure chaos, no thinking required

Everyone shouts their card type (“Happy Salmon!”), finds someone with the same card, does the action together, discards, and grabs the next card. First to empty their hand wins. It’s loud, physical, and over before you know it started.

This is an opener or closer, not a main event. But for breaking ice or burning off energy, nothing beats it.

How to Pick the Right Game for Your Party

Here’s my decision framework after years of hosting:

Consider Your Group

Match the Energy Level

• Chill gathering: We’re Not Really Strangers, Herd Mentality, Wavelength
• Moderate energy: Codenames, Just One, Telestrations
• High energy: Monikers, Anomia, Throw Throw Burrito
• Wild chaos: Happy Salmon, One Night Werewolf, Anomia

Plan for the Night

A good game night flows. For a full evening with 6-8 people, I might structure it like:

1. Opener (15 min): Happy Salmon or Just One while people arrive
2. Main event #1 (45 min): Wavelength or Codenames
3. Main event #2 (30 min): Telestrations or Monikers
4. Closer (optional): One Night Werewolf or wind down with Herd Mentality

For more inspiration on structuring your evening, check out our guide to board game night ideas for every group size.

Common Mistakes When Picking Party Games

• Rules too complex: If it takes more than 3 minutes to explain, engagement drops
• Too competitive for the vibe: Some groups want laughs, not cutthroat competition
• Player count mismatch: A 4-player game with 8 people means half are sitting out
• Ignoring social dynamics: Don’t force quiet people into performance games
• Only bringing one game: Have backups—sometimes a game just doesn’t click

Final Thoughts

Cards Against Humanity had its moment. It introduced millions of people to the idea that adult game nights could be more than Monopoly. But the genre has evolved dramatically, and there are now dozens of games that create better stories, more genuine laughter, and actual interaction with your friends.

The games in this guide represent different flavors of party fun—from thoughtful to chaotic, competitive to cooperative. Try a few, see what resonates with your group, and build a collection that gives you options for any mood.

Your friends will thank you when game night stops being the same predictable jokes and starts being genuinely surprising.

Want to add some classic nostalgia to your game nights? Check out our guide to the best 80s board games that still hold up today, or browse our trivia questions collection for another take on party entertainment.