10 Epic Birthday Games For Teens To Energize Your Party

Planning a birthday party for teens can be tricky—how do you keep them entertained, active, and engaged? The answer lies in choosing the right activities! If you’re looking to create an unforgettable celebration, these birthday games for teens are the perfect way to bring energy, laughter, and friendly competition to the party.

Last Updated: October 28, 2024  |  10 min Read

Find detailed breakdowns for each game, including the benefits they offer, the intensity level of physical exertion, age appropriateness, suggested playtime, number of players, and the materials needed.

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1. Balloon Time-Capsule

Objective: Create a fun, shared time capsule of memories about the birthday guest of honor.

Setup: Give each guest a small piece of paper and pen. Have balloons and a pump nearby, along with a permanent marker.

How to Play: Each guest writes a memorable moment or a wish for the birthday teen on the paper. They fold it and put it inside a balloon. Once everyone has done this, the balloons are inflated. Each balloon is numbered with a marker.

Throughout the party, randomly pop a balloon, and the birthday guest reads the message. The goal is to collect memories while enjoying the suspense of popping balloons.

2. Birthday Bucket Brigade

Objective: Transport as many “birthday treats” as possible using an assembly line.

Setup: Prepare buckets or containers and slots of candy treats.

How to Play: Split the group into two teams. Each team lines up in a row with a bucket of treats at the front and an empty one at the back. Using spoons, the players pass the treats down the line from one person to the next. The team with the most treats in their final bucket after 2 minutes wins. This can get chaotic and fun!

3. Birthday Message Relay

Objective: Send a secret birthday message from one end of the line to the other, unchanged.

Setup: Arrange players in two lines facing each other. Each team receives a different message related to the birthday.

How to Play: The first person from each team whispers a birthday message to the next person in line, and so on. The last person says the message aloud. The team with the most accurate message wins, but expect hilarious miscommunications.

Sample messages to get you going: “Happy birthday to the one who always makes us laugh! May your day be full of fun and cake!” “Wishing you a year filled with adventures, new friendships, and endless joy! Happy birthday!” “On your special day, may you be surrounded by love, laughter, and all your favorite things! Happy birthday!” “Here’s to another year of amazing memories and exciting opportunities! Happy birthday, superstar!”

4. Balloon Birthday Trivia Blitz

Objective: Score the most points by answering trivia questions about the birthday person correctly.

Setup: Prepare trivia questions about the birthday guest of honor, covering topics like their favorite food, hobbies, or funniest moment. Write them on small slips of paper and place them inside balloons. Inflate the balloons and write a number on each.

How to Play: Teens take turns picking a balloon, popping it, and answering the trivia question inside. They earn points for correct answers, with harder questions being worth more points. The player with the highest score wins. This is a great icebreaker that also helps guests learn more about the birthday teen.

5. Candle Dash

Objective: Blow out the most candles in the shortest amount of time.

Setup: Place tea light candles on a table and assign each player a straw.

How to Play: Using only their breath through the straw, players must blow out as many candles as possible within a time limit of 1 minute. The player who blows out the most candles wins. This active game is perfect for bringing birthday cakes to mind!

6. Birthday Balloon Volleyball

Objective: Keep the balloon off the ground while playing a form of volleyball.

Setup: Hang a ribbon or rope across the middle of the room to act as a net. Use a large birthday-themed balloon.

How to Play: Split into two teams, and use the balloon as the “ball.” Players must keep the balloon in the air and over the “net.” Teams score points when the other team fails to return the balloon before it hits the ground. First team to reach 10 or 15 points wins. It’s an active game that builds team spirit!

7. Super Skills Birthday Challenge

Objective: Be the first player or team to complete exciting skill-based challenges and claim the ultimate bragging rights.

Setup: You’ll need Super Skills – Action Game for Competitive People. All the items needed for any of the 120 challenges are included in the set. Prepare a playing area with enough space for active challenges.

How to Play: Players or teams take turns drawing a challenge card and completing the task. Each challenge tests different skills, such as coordination, balance, and teamwork.

The game can be played in four different modes: solo, paired, head-to-head, or in teams. The first player or team to complete challenges wins the game. There are 120 challenges in this game set; you need to choose which ones best suit your party.

8. Pass the Present (with a Twist)

Objective: Unwrap layers of a gift by completing fun birthday-related challenges.

Setup: Prepare a gift with multiple layers of wrapping paper. Between each layer, include a small task or challenge.

How to Play: Sit in a circle and play music. Players pass the present around the circle, and when the music stops, the person holding it unwraps one layer and completes the challenge inside (e.g., sing a birthday song, share a funny memory of the birthday person). The last player to unwrap the final layer keeps the gift.

Examples of Challenges you may use:

• Sing “Happy Birthday” In A Funny Voice
• Do A Quick Dance Move
• Share One Funny Memory With The Birthday Person
• Act Like You’re Blowing Out Birthday Candles
• Compliment The Birthday Person
• Hum Your Favorite Song For 10 Seconds
• Make A Wish Out Loud
• Mimic An Animal Sound For Others To Guess
• Tell A Joke
• Give The Birthday Person A High-Five
• Do 5 Jumping Jacks
• Say Three Things You Love About Birthdays
• Do A Silly Walk Around The Circle
• Imitate The Sound Of A Party Horn
• Pretend You’re Opening A Huge Birthday Gift
• Create A Funny Birthday Cheer
• Pretend You’re Blowing Up A Giant Balloon
• Say Your Favorite Birthday Cake Flavor
• Name As Many Party Games As You Can In 10 Seconds
• Pretend You’re Cutting A Giant Birthday Cake

9. Human Gift Wrap Challenge

Objective: See who can wrap their “human gift” the best.

Setup: You’ll need wrapping paper, bows, tape, ribbons, and scissors.

How to Play: In pairs or small teams, one person volunteers to be the “gift,” while the others use wrapping materials to decorate them. Set a timer for 3-5 minutes. At the end, the birthday teen judges which “gift” is the best-wrapped. This game encourages creativity and laughter as teens try to work quickly with limited materials.

10. Cake Decorating Competition

Objective: Create the best-decorated mini birthday cake.

Setup: Provide small pre-baked cupcakes, frosting, and various decorating tools like sprinkles, candies, and colored icing.

How to Play: Teens are given a set time (e.g., 10 minutes) to decorate their cupcake as creatively as possible. The birthday guest of honor can act as the judge, picking the most beautiful, creative, or funny design. It’s a perfect way to calm down after more active games, with an edible reward!

Conclusion to Birthday Games for Teens

As the candles are blown out and the cake is served, the memories created during the party will be the highlight of the day.

Incorporating any of these 10 birthday games for teens into your celebration not only adds excitement but also fosters connections among friends, making the occasion even more special.