Looking for Halloween party games ideas? Whether you’re hosting a kids party in your “haunted house”, or just looking for some fun games to play with the family, here are 20 Ghoulishly Great Halloween Party Games for Kids, that the little monsters (and you) will be sure to enjoy!

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The great thing about most of these games is they are suitable for different ages so you can mix and match depending on which ones you think they’ll love.

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Halloween Party Games for Kids

#1. Bobbing for Apples

Apples are so synonymous with Autumn, it’s no surprise that they feature as one of the classic Halloween party games. Bobbing for apples is a fun game for all ages.

You will need:

• a basin or shallow wide bucket
• apples
• towels

How to Play:

1. Put water in a basin/bucket, but don’t fill to the top as water will be displaced when biting into apples. It’s a good idea to put a towel on the floor underneath to deal with the splashes!
2. Add some apples
3. Now the kids take it in turns to try and take a bite from an apple, with their hands behind their backs. Younger kids could be allowed use one hand to move the apple to them, but not to actually pick it up. Make sure to have towels nearby to dry those wet faces!

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Looking For More?

Are you planning a Halloween party for kids? Do you have a child with a birthday on or near October 31st? Coming up with enough fun games for them to play at the party can be a bit of a chore, so help is at hand!

Download your FREE Fun Halloween Games for Kids sheet now, gather a few items together for the games and enjoy!

Download now!

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#2. Diving for Gold

This is another water game, and is more suited to older kids, who don’t mind ducking their faces into/under water.

You Will Need:

• a basin
• coins
• towels

How to Play:

1. Half-fill a basin with water, and drop in some coins, which will sink to bottom of basin.
2. The players must duck their head into the basin, and try retrieve a coin by biting them.
3. Each successful “diver” gets to keep the “gold” that they retrieve!

#3. Apples/Donuts On a String

A drier version of bobbing for apples, this game suits all ages. You can choose to have apples or donuts swinging, but the donuts might be easier for younger kids.

You Will Need:

• string
• apples or donuts

How to Play

1. Hang apples/donuts, using string, from tree branches/washing line/stair banisters. If using apples, choose apples with stalks to attach the string. Allow an apple/donut per child.
2. Each child stands with their hands behind their back and tries to bite and eat the swinging apples/donut.
3. Winner is first player to finish their apple/donut.

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#4. Dress the Mummy

One of the funniest Halloween party games that will suit kids of all ages.

You Will Need:

• a large supply of toilet rolls/kitchen towels.

How to Play

1. Divide the kids into teams, and one person in the team is the designated “Mummy”.
2. The other members in the team must race against the clock and “dress the Mummy” by wrapping them up in the paper.
3. The winning team is the one that has the most wrapped/the best Mummy, in the given time.

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#5. What’s the Time Mrs. Witch?

A Halloween themed variation of “What’s The Time Mr. Wolf”, you will need a spacious room/hallway or, if weather permits, play outdoors.

You Will Need:

• a witch’s hat and broom

How to Play

1. Someone is designated ‘on’ and is Mrs. Witch – they put on the witch’s hat and hold the broom – and stand with their backs to the rest.
2. Assemble the rest of the children at the start line, and they call out “What’s the time Mrs Witch?
3. If Mrs. Witch says 7 o’clock, they take 7 steps closer to her, and so on.
4. Once they get close enough, the witch can answer “Midnight”, and turn around and chase them.
5. The person she first catches is now Mrs. Witch.

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#6. Pin the Tail on the Black Cat

This is a Halloween variation of “Pin the tail on the Donkey”, and good for all ages.

You Will Need:

• a large cut out of a black cat, with no tail
• a cut-out tail
• blu-tack
• scarf or blindfold
• stickers/pen to note each child’s attempt.

How to Play

1. Blindfold each player one by one, and turn them around (you can turn older kids around a few more times for some added confusion!)
2. Each player then attempts to pin the tail on the black cat
3. Note each child’s attempt with a marker/sticker and winner is child that pinned the tail closest to where it should be.

#7. Freaky Halloween Feel Box

Are they brave enough to put their hands into the Freaky Feel Box? Guaranteed fun and much squeals!

You Will Need

• a large cardboard box
• Creepy things for the compartments, e.g. fake fur, peeled grapes for eyeballs, cold spaghetti for worms, slime, damp rough sponge for brains, tines of a plastic fork for vampire teeth, hairy fake spiders, etc.

How to Play

1. Divide into 4/more compartments internally (you could use flaps from top of box for this)
2. Cut holes on sides of box to access each compartment, ensuring they are just large enough to fit in their hand, but not see in. Decorate the top and side of box creepily, using cobwebs, plastic spiders etc.
3. You could also leave another hole at back of box, for you to reach your hand in and grab theirs – sure to cause high-pitched screams!
4. Place “creepy” items in each compartment
5. Turn the lights down low to add to the spook factor, and get the kids to take it in turns to put their hands into the box and try to guess what they are feeling.

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#8. Halloween Treasure Hunt

Get all creative and set up a Halloween treasure hunt before the party starts. This is one of those really adaptable Halloween party games, that you can tailor to whatever age your guests are.

You Will Need

• Halloween treats or “treasure”
• Clues on pieces of paper if going for a clue-based hunt

How to Play

1. Decorate the house/a room in Halloween decorations. You can be as creative as you like here – hang bats from ceiling, scary fake cobwebs with spiders hanging over door entrances, cardboard headstones, use Halloween props (fake hands, masks, broomsticks), etc.
2. Hide your Halloween themed treasure/treats around the house/room.
3. Let the children loose to find the “treasure” or to follow the clues to find it.

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#9. Zombie Tag

A Halloween themed version of tag, one person is designated zombie and they are ‘on’. They must try and catch all the other kids. First one caught is the next zombie. This is even more fun if played outside, and other variations include Zombie Hide & Seek, and Zombie Tip the Can.

#10. Ghost Stories

It wouldn’t be a Halloween party without some ghost stories, so turn off the lights, light some candles (or pass out torches), and tell some spooky tales.

For added fright-factor you could have someone nearby making some spooky sounds (creaking door, distant footsteps, breathing). This party game is definitely best suited for older kids.

Another alternative is pass-it-on ghost stories, where the first child starts the story, and the next child adds to it, and so on.

#11. Make Toffee Apples

This is a great activity to get all the kids involved, and they can take home their apples at the end of the party.

How to Make Toffee Apples:

• Skewer some apples on sticks, and prepare bowls of sprinkles, small jellies/sweets.
• You will need melted toffee (shop bought, or make your own using butter, sugar and salt), ensuring it’s not too hot when the kids are making their toffee apples.
• Let each kid dip their apple into the melted toffee and then dip in sprinkles.
• Stand on greaseproof paper to cool.

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#12. Halloween Bingo

A fun Halloween party game for all ages. Also ideal if your youngest is too young to go trick or treating but would enjoy playing a game with the spooky visitors to the house!

Download and print out our free Halloween Bingo Game.

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#13. Zombie Says

This is a Halloween themed version of “Simon Says”, that suits kids of all ages.

How to Play

1. Arrange the children in a circle or group.
2. One child is designated “Zombie”. The Zombie then orders all the others to follow commands, like “Zombie says, stand on on one leg”, etc – the funnier the better.
3. The children only obey the command if starts with “Zombie says…”. If a child follows a command which doesn’t start with “Zombie says..” then they are out of the game. Play continues like this until there is only one child left, who is the winner.

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#14. Monster Style Dance Off

Watch Michael Jackson’s Thriller video to let the kids get some inspiration, then put on some Halloween music and have a Monster Style Dance Off to see who has the best “monster moves”!

#15. Balance the Grape on the Flour

A fun messy game that kids will love!

You Will Need

• a plate
• flour
• a large flat knife
• some grapes

How to Play

1. Put one grape balanced on top of a mountain of flour.
2. Each child has to take a turn to slice away chunks of flour without knocking the grape.
3. The loser who knocks the grape ends up with their face pushed into the flour!

#16. Broomstick Races

This is one of the Halloween party games that is best played outside, or in a spacious room.

You Will Need

• 2 broomsticks

How to Play

1. Divide the kids into two teams.
2. Each player on the team takes it in turn to run to the end line and back on the broomstick. They then pass the broomstick to the next player on their team.
3. The winning team is the one that finishes first.

#17. Halloween Scavenger Hunt

A Halloween scavenger hunt is easy to organise and can be tailored to suit any age group. You can choose to play indoors, outdoors, or both. Here are some tips on organising a scavenger hunt.

You Will Need

• Paper either to write out or print off your typed list

How to Play

1. Prepare your Halloween scavenger hunt list in advance either writing or typing it out on a list to print off. You might want to include seasonal items, like a witches hat, an orange crayon, a plastic spider, a plastic bat, a mask, a trick or treat bag etc. For older kids, increase the difficulty by adding some items they might see on their trick or treating, like a red leaf, anything with #13 on it, a black cat etc.
2. Split the kids into teams or do enough sheets for individual use
3. Winner is the first one/team back with a completed scavenger hunt.

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#18. Pass the Pumpkin

A Halloween themed variation on “Pass the parcel”, this game suits kids of all ages.

You Will Need

• a hollowed out pumpkin (a plastic version will also do)
• some themed gifts/treats
• music player

How to Play

1. Arrange the kids in a circle.
2. Once the music starts they pass the pumpkin to each other.
3. When the music stops, the child holding the pumpkin can dip into pumpkin and get a treat. This child then moves back from the circle.
4. The play continues like this until every child has gotten their treat.

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#19. Halloween Relay Race

A fast-paced game suited to all ages, though younger kids will probably need some help getting “dressed” and “undressed”.

You Will Need

• A selection of Halloween costumes (preferably larger/adult size). You could also use some larger size clothes and witch’s hats.

How to Play

1. Divide the kids into two teams.
2. They have to take it in turns to put on the Halloween costumes, run up to the top of the room and back, take everything off, then the next person dresses and so on.
3. The winning team is the one that completes the relay first.

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#20. Ghost Poop Race

Halloween party games can have the ‘scare’ factor, or they can have the ‘gross’ factor… this one is the latter. This game is a relay race to see which team can transfer their “Ghost Poop” to their bowl at the finish line.

You Will Need

• White marshmallows (ghost poop!)
• 2 large spoons
• 4 large bowls
• masking tape

How to Play

1. Mark a starting line using the masking tape.
2. Put a bowl at the start line and the finish line for each team. Fill the 2 starting line buckets with marshmallows and lay a spoon next to or in each bowl.
3. The first child on each team will pick up one “poop” and place it on their spoon, they will carefully walk their peanut to the finish line. They are not to hold the poop on the spoon, but if they do drop it, then they may use their hand to pick it up (eugghh!) and put it back on the spoon and continue on. Once they get to the finish line they are to drop the poop in their bucket and walk back to their team, handing the spoon back to the next person in line and the first child will go to the back of the line.
4. The winning team will be the one that transfers all the ghost poop first!

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