Best Party Games for College Students

College, admittedly, may be more difficult than high school. But without the many restrictions, parental oversight, and class load as high school, college provides young adults an opportunity to find themselves, make their own decisions, and mature into contributing members of society.

And, perhaps, one of the best parts about college are the sheer number of parties and social functions which take place. From ones run by sororities and fraternities, to social clubs, to just a party amongst friends in a dorm or a common area.

These parties, typically loud and rambunctious, are the highlight for many college-aged students and are a great way to meet new people, make new friends, and liven up your social life.

And whether you’re hosting a college party or looking to attend one, you may be wondering, what are the best party games for college students?

Below, we are going to review and discuss the best party games for college students, from silly and whimsical ones, to ones that will require dexterity and athleticism, to classic college games that students across the country partake in.

These college games will not only help to make the party more lively and enjoyable but will also make your party the talk of the campus.

What is a College Party?

A college party, unlike one thrown in high school or by adults well-past their college years, is quite unlike any other event. With many of the parties being rambunctious, wild, and unsupervised, these parties typically attract many of the students on campus and can run well into the early morning hours.

However, not all college parties are similar.

In fact, there are a few different types of college parties that you will likely encounter during your time in college. The most common ones are listed below.

• Theme party – a theme party is one of the most common types of parties in college. These parties typically require a little bit of creativity and will center on a theme, such as a toga, beach, or costume party. Attendants are expected to adhere to the theme and may not be allowed entry without proper attire.

• Tailgate parties – tailgate parties are more commonly found in large, well-established colleges and universities with a loyal, diehard sports following. Whether it’s football or basketball, tailgate parties typically occur before the start of the mash and is a great way to enjoy food and drink with likeminded fans.

• Frat parties – frat parties are one of the most stereotypical parties in college. Typically hosted by a fraternity on or off campus, these parties are typically large and feature loud music and all-night partying. However, not all frat parties are the same, with many being more subtle and enjoyable than their larger counterparts.

• Dorm room parties – one of the most common parties are the dorm room parties. Typically hosted by close friends, these parties are informal get-togethers and generally more intimate and personal than the other parties on this list.

• Social club parties – lastly, many social clubs will throw parties throughout the year. Whether it’s the engineering team, the debate one, or even an anime club, these likeminded individuals may throw an informal party to celebrate an achievement, the end of the semester, or for no reason at all.

How to Stay Safe at a College Party

While college parties are some of the most fun and eventful parties on campus, safety should always be your main concern. As such, be sure to follow the guidelines below to ensure you have a safe and fun night at any of the parties you may choose to attend.

• Eat and drink water before you go to a party – if you decide, and are of a legal age, to consume alcohol, be sure to eat and drink beforehand. Doing so will ensure you have the energy needed for the party and will help to mitigate the negative side effects of alcohol.

• Always use the buddy system – before heading out to a college party, buddy up with a trusted friend. Doing so ensures that no one gets left behind and that everyone is accounted for at the end of the night.

• Never leave your drink unattended – whether you’re drinking alcohol, water, or soda, never leave your drink unattended. Many substances dropped into drinks are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. An unattended drink is at risk of being manipulated with. If you happen to leave your drink unattended, be sure to spill it and order a new one.

• Never accept drinks from someone you don’t know – similarly, accepting drinks from someone you don’t know can be a dangerous proposition. You should never accept a drink from anyone you don’t know and firmly refuse to accept one.

• Charge your phone before you go – your phone is your lifeline and should be used when you feel unsafe or in a dangerous situation. But a dead phone is useless. That’s why you should charge your phone before heading out so that it is fully charged and will last the full length of the party.

• Let your friends and family know where you are going – similarly, be sure to let someone know where you are going before going to a college party. These individuals will be able to do proactive checkups to ensure your safety and you will have better peace of mind knowing someone is aware of where you are.

• Consider sharing your phone’s location with a trusted individual – in addition, consider sharing your phone’s location with a trusted individual. That individual will then be able to track your location in the event of a mishap, accident or emergency situation.

• Always carry the essentials with you – be sure to bring your ID, your phone, your keys, and any cash or credit cards that will fit snugly in a pocket. You don’t want to get stuck somewhere without the money needed to get home or a way to contact help.

• Set a speed dial contact – further, consider setting up an individual contact as a speed dial. Doing so will ensure you are able to contact that individual as easily and as quickly as possible and can be make all the difference in an emergency.

• Don’t give into peer pressure – A good way to stay safe is to stop and think about what you’re doing or what you’re being asked to do, and make sure that those actions align with your core values. If not, don’t be persuaded by others. Don’t be afraid to firmly say no if something is making you feel uncomfortable. Additionally — if you feel safe doing so — speak out if you witness suspicious behavior or a concerning situation at a party.

Top Party Games for College Students

While not every college party will feature, or be appropriate, for games, many of the more quiet, relaxed, and intimate ones are a perfect setting to bring along or bring out a board, card, or puzzle game. As such, try to speak to the host of the party before bringing along a board or puzzle game with you, as you don’t want to lug around the game with you if it will only sit on the side unplayed.

• Bounce Battles – part beer pong, part tic-tac-toe, part Jenga, Bounce Battles is one of the best college party games. Easy to learn but difficult to master, the games can be played one-on-one or with team’s of two or three. The objective of the game is simple, bounce your colored ball into the wooden game cube. Stack a row of three, similar to tic-tac-toe, to win.

• Sling Puck Board – a two-player game, the objective of the game is to sling as many pucks from your side through the opposing players goal. Utilizing the attached elastic rope, this game takes skill and accuracy to master. Loads of fun and great for a college party amongst friends.

• Wheel of Odds – Wheel of Odds seems to be a game specifically created for college parties. The rules of the game are simple. Each player takes turns spinning the wheel, pulling the card from whichever color it lands on, and doing what the card says. Three levels of dares: easy (white), medium (black), and hard (red).

• What Do You Meme? – who doesn’t love memes? What Do You Meme? takes that love to a new level. The objective is simple, try to create the funniest meme. You are tasked to do this by using one of your dealt caption cards to caption the photo card in each round. The winner of each round is decided by a rotating judge.

• Drunk Stoned or Stupid – looking to play a game with some close friends at a college party? Then you can’t go wrong with Drunk Stoned or Stupid. But be prepared, this game gets real, really quickly. Drawing from the deck of card, you and your friends will have to decide which one of you the card most accurately describes. With examples such as, “is going straight to hell” and “touches everyone excessively for no reason”, this game is hilarious and a bit personal.

• If You Had To – similar in scope to Drunk Stoned or Stupid, If You Had To tasks each participant to convince the judge that their card is the worse situation from the group picked. From “wear full scuba equipment whenever you leave the house”, to “Have hooves”, to “Live webcams are on you 24/7”, If You Had To is hilarious and a great party game due to its heavy social interaction and exchanges.