With the holiday season just around the corner, it might be time to catch up with those friends you’ve been avoiding. Oops! I mean too busy with work to catch up with.

We’ve got a soft spot for party games since we’ve played a lot of them with family growing up as well as with friends over the years. There are so many options around when it comes to party games. There are board games, competitive games, and card games.. where do we start? Here are some of the best party games to try out friends!

Lethal Company

Developers: Zeekerss
Platforms: PC via Steam
Players: 1-4

Lethal Company shares some thematic elements with Phasmophobia but takes chaos and danger to a whole new level. This first-person co-op horror game thrusts up to four players into the shoes of expendable interns. Confronted by perilous climates, menacing creatures, and numerous challenges, you must persevere to collect resources. In just over two months since its release, the game has skyrocketed in popularity, amassing a substantial player base globally. It is the current game everyone’s talking about. It will ensure you some good old laughs, a little jump scares here and there but most importantly a good time.

Overcooked 2

Developer: Ghost Town Games
Platforms: PC via Steam, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Players: 1-4

Overcooked looks like a fun cooking game where you can chill with friends. Except… it’s not. It is chaotic and friendships may or may not be lost. You will cook up and serve a whole variety of food in the most bizarre kitchens. Do you think your communication skills are great? Well… It’s time to put it to the test.

Ultimate Chicken Horse

Developer: Clever Endeavour Games
Platforms: PC via Steam, PS4, Xbox One
Players: Up to 4 players

You’ve probably never heard of this game. The first time I did play it was years ago with a bunch of friends, and I laughed for hours. It is a fun yet deadly platformer. You will race through risky levels, and at the same time set traps to slow down your friends. Honestly, the game is all about failing together, and it makes for a pretty good time. We love silly games here!

Pummel Party

Developer: Rebuilt Games
Platforms: PC via Steam
Players: 4-8

Think Mario Party but more intense. You roll a dice on a big board and gather keys for golden goblets. The one with the most goblets at the end wins. There are different spaces with special effects on the board, and you can use items to mess with your friends in a truly friendship-testing way. After each round, you will compete in a random mini-game for keys and items, and to decide the turn order for the next round. Basically, screw your friends over as much as you can. The board game aspect throws you back Monopoly-style and the mini-games are truly where blood will be drawn.

Tricky Towers

Developers: Weirdbeard Games
Platforms: PC via Steam, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Players: 1-4

A cute little spin-off of old classic Tetris. And who doesn’t like some Tetris? The game adds a twist of magical abilities and real-world physics which makes it all the more challenging. The game brings competitive Tetris to a whole new level.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central

Developers: SEGA
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, iOS via Apple Arcade
Players: 1- 8

Get that maracas shake with friends in Samba de Amigo: Party Central! With its support for Online VS Multiplayer, this rhythm motion game allows players to engage in thrilling multiplayer battles with up to eight players simultaneously. Players must strive to take their play to new heights by hitting the floor with twelve Amigos and up to seven online friends in World Party mode. Additionally, players have the opportunity to showcase their talent by competing against their friends on online leaderboards.

Party Central features over 40 songs from popular artists such as Ricky Martin, Ariana Grande, Kesha, and a whole lot more. The game offers tonnes of randomized challenges to keep you and your friends on your toes. For instance,  your Joy-Cons will turn into a virtual baseball bat which requires you to hit beats that appear like fastballs. Plus, the local co-op offers a mini-game where you can test your compatibility and partner with a virtual ‘love checker’. Whether you are with loved ones or friends, this game will surely hype the party vibe even more. Find out more on our review here.

Among Us

Developers: InnerSloth
Platforms: PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Mobile (iOS & Android)
Players: 4 – 15

The premise is relatively straightforward. Players are assigned the roles of either a crewmate or an impostor. The crewmates are responsible for completing a set of tasks on a spaceship, with the aim of preparing it for departure. However, amidst the flurry of activity, there is at least one impostor present, whose goal is to disrupt the ship’s operations and eliminate the rest of the crew. To win, crewmates must complete all the tasks or discover the impostor. The impostor will win if they can avoid detection and kill off the whole crew.

Among Us’ standout feature lies in its fast-paced gameplay and simplicity, as well as the ability to foster teamwork and social interaction. The game’s communication tools and the option to play with friends add to its appeal, while the excitement and challenge of playing the impostor make it a highly engaging and entertaining experience.

Bish Bash Bots

Developers: Catasthropic_Overload
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Steam.
Players: 1 – 4

Bish Bash Bots offers a unique blend of casual tower defence strategy and all-out brawling action. You can play online or couch co-op with friends and even solo play to save the world from hordes of menacing robots. The game involves building upgradable turrets, unlocking various gadgets, and bashing bots with giant hammers. By combining tower defence gameplay with intense brawling action, Bish Bash Bots offers four characters, each with different sets of skills.

Whether playing alone or with friends, players can enjoy a dynamic and challenging experience that keeps them engaged and entertained throughout in a quick gameplay session. Not sure if this is up your alley? Check out our Bish Bash Bots review.

Gang Beasts

Developers: Boneloaf
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam
Players: 1- 4

Do you enjoy smashing, bashing, and crashing your way through hilarious levels with your friends? If yes, then Gang Beasts is the perfect choice!

Gang Beasts allows players to take control of gelatinous characters engaging in slapstick-style combat within various arenas. Players utilize punches and grabs to hurl their opponents off platforms or into hazardous areas, such as firepits, grinders, or train tracks, with the goal of eliminating them by any means necessary. The gameplay features a “Waves mode” where players must confront waves of cartoony characters in a brawling-style battle. Additionally, there is also a “Soccer mode” where players engage in a game of soccer while engaging in brawls.

The game provides a diverse range of options and a high level of replay value due to its various modes and stages. The brawl mode allows for intense battles against up to seven other players, either individually or in teams. In gang mode, players can join forces with up to three others and challenge another team in a series of rounds. The waves mode encourages cooperative gameplay as players work together to overcome waves of enemies controlled by the AI.

This game will undoubtedly elicit laughter due to its absurd physics and the humorous situations that unfold. Perfect for enjoying with friends or family, either online or locally. If you prefer solo play, Gang Beasts offers that option as well.

Party Animals

Developers: Recreate Games
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Steam
Players: 1 – 8

Party Animals is an exhilarating co-op brawler (similar to Fall Guys) that challenges you to master floppy characters and unpredictable physics. Whether you win or lose, the game ensures that frustration takes a backseat to the sheer enjoyment of the experience. With a cast of adorable playable characters, including cute dogs and crocodiles, and the game’s ragdoll physics, the outcomes are not only delightful but also highly amusing.

The game offers various modes that necessitate distinct approaches, as well as “a diverse range of distinctive maps” where the objective is to outlast all opponents and become the last player standing. Plus, you can even use a variety of weapons, including bats, shovels, and flying arrows.

Which of these party games will you be looking forward to playing? Let us know by commenting on our social platforms on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.