2. The Halloween Horror Movie Challenge

Put your teen and all their friends’ scary-movie knowledge to the test with trivia about popular horror movies, iconic villains, famous jump scares, and Halloween classics. Divide everyone into teams and award points for correct answers. Add a bonus round where teams have to guess the movie from a single screenshot, an iconic movie line, or a few clues.

Supplies needed: Prepared trivia questions, paper, pens, small prizes

3. Mummy Wrap Showdown

This classic gets surprisingly competitive when teens are involved! Split everyone into teams and choose one person on each team to be the mummy. Teammates have 10 minutes (you can really make things crazy by only giving them 5 minutes) to wrap them in toilet paper from head to toe (leaving only their eyes and nose clear). The team with the most creative or complete mummy wins.

Supplies needed: Toilet paper, timer, prizes

4. Murder Mystery: Who Did It?

Turn the party into a mini mystery-solving experience. Give each guest a character card, introduce a fictional Halloween-night crime, and scatter clues around the room. Guests mingle, question one another, and work out who the culprit is. You can find free printable mystery games online or create a simple version yourself. Check out this one on AMAZON!

Supplies needed: Character cards, printed clues, pens

5. Pumpkin Carving Face-Off

Give everyone a pumpkin and challenge them to create the funniest, creepiest, or most original jack-o’-lantern. For a safer, simpler option, use paint pens and stickers to decorate pumpkins instead. Let the group vote on categories such as Most Creative, Funniest Face, and Scariest Pumpkin. To make clean-up a breeze, consider having this contest outside if weather permits. 

Supplies needed: Pumpkins, markers or paint pens, optional carving tools with adult supervision, table covering, prizes

6. Guess the Halloween Song

Play a few seconds of Halloween-themed songs and spooky movie soundtracks. The first person or team to name the song earns a point. Mix in recognizable pop hits, Halloween classics, and famous movie themes so everyone has a chance to win. Looking for song ideas? Check out this list from Play Party Plan!

Supplies needed: Phone or laptop, speaker, prepared playlist, score sheet

7. Halloween Costume Awards

Don’t limit costume contests to the usual categories. Add funny awards such as Best DIY Costume, Most Likely to Scare Mom, Best Pop-Culture Costume, Best Duo, and Most Unexpected Costume. Let guests vote anonymously to keep it fun.

Supplies needed: Paper ballots, pens, small prizes

8. Halloween Candy Taste Test

Blindfold willing participants and let them sample a few familiar Halloween candies. They have to identify each one by taste alone. Include a mix of chocolate, gummies, sour candy, and seasonal treats. Check for allergies first and offer alternatives for anyone who doesn’t want to participate.

Supplies needed: Assorted individually wrapped candy, blindfolds, paper, and pens

9. The Donut-on-a-String Challenge

Hang donuts from strings and challenge players to eat theirs without using their hands. The first person to finish wins! It sounds easy until everyone starts laughing and the donuts start swinging.

Supplies needed: Donuts, string, a sturdy hanging point, napkins

10. Halloween Minute-to-Win-It Games

Set up a few quick challenges that take one minute each. Players might stack plastic cups into a tower, move candy corn with a spoon, or bounce ping-pong balls into cups. Keep a running score and crown an overall champion.

Supplies needed: Plastic cups, candy corn, spoons, ping-pong balls, cups or bowls, timer

11. Creepy Cocktail and Mocktail Bar

Supplies needed: Juice, sparkling water or soda, ice, cups, fruit garnishes, drink labels

12. Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of things teams must find around the house or yard: a fake spider, something orange, a skeleton decoration, a candy wrapper, or a hidden Halloween clue. Give teams a time limit and award points for each item. You can also include photo tasks to make it more challenging. For ideas, check out Scavenger Hunt Ideas!

Supplies needed: Scavenger-hunt lists, pens, a few hidden items or clues, small prizes

13. Don’t Say “Halloween!”

Give every guest a few tokens or candy pieces at the beginning of the party. The rule? No one can say the word “Halloween.” If someone catches another guest saying it, they get to claim one of that person’s tokens. The guest with the most tokens at the end wins.

Supplies needed: Candy pieces or tokens, a bowl for collecting them, small prize

14. Guess the Number of Candies

Fill a clear jar with Halloween candy and ask everyone to write down their guess. The closest answer wins the jar or a separate prize. To make it more interesting, use candy corn, mini chocolate bars, or wrapped gummy candies.

Supplies needed: Clear jar, wrapped candy, paper, pens

16. Halloween Charades

Write Halloween-related prompts on slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Players act out the prompts without speaking while their teams try to guess. Include horror-movie titles, costumes, spooky creatures, and funny Halloween situations. Looking for ideas! Check this out! 

Supplies needed: Paper, pens, bowl, timer

17. Halloween Pictionary

Split into teams and have players draw Halloween-themed words while teammates race to guess them. Use a mix of easy and challenging prompts, from “pumpkin patch” to “haunted mansion” to “vampire at the dentist.”

Supplies needed: Paper or small whiteboards, markers, prompt cards, timer

18. The Halloween Roast (Keep It Friendly!)

Invite guests to share funny, harmless observations about Halloween, costumes, scary movies, or the party itself. Think playful jokes about someone taking their costume way too seriously or being scared by a plastic spider. Set the rule that jokes should never target someone’s appearance, insecurities, or anything personal.

Supplies needed: None, or a bowl of optional joke prompts

19. Decorate the Ultimate Halloween Cookie

Set out plain cookies and a few icing colors, sprinkles, and edible decorations. Guests can create creepy, funny, or artistic designs, then vote for the best one. This works especially well as a relaxed activity between games or after dinner. You can also choose a fun Halloween dessert or treat the teens can make if cookies aren’t your thing! Check out this link for more ideas! 

Supplies needed: Plain sugar cookies, icing, sprinkles, paper plates, napkins

20. Halloween Would You Rather?

Read out funny or spooky choices and have guests pick a side of the room or raise their hands to vote. Try questions like, “Would you rather spend a night in a haunted house or get lost in a corn maze after dark?” Let guests defend their choices for a few laughs. Check out this website for fun Would You Rather Questions!

Supplies needed: Prepared questions, optional signs for voting

21. The Mystery Prize Auction

Give everyone the same number of play-money bills or paper tokens. Auction off wrapped mystery prizes without revealing what’s inside. Include a mix of desirable treats, funny novelty items, and silly surprises. Teens will have fun trying to guess which packages are worth bidding on.

Supplies needed: Small wrapped prizes, play money or tokens, a table, optional auctioneer’s gavel

22. Halloween Trivia: True or False?

Read out surprising Halloween facts, urban legends, and spooky movie trivia. Guests must decide whether each statement is true or false. Mix in some silly fake facts to keep everyone guessing, and award points for correct answers.

Supplies needed: Prepared trivia statements, paper, pens, score sheet

A few tips for making the party a hit:

• Don’t schedule every minute. Set up a few activities and let teens choose what sounds fun.

• Mix active and relaxed games. Follow a competitive challenge with snacks, photos, or cookie decorating.

• Offer small prizes. Candy, gift cards, and funny trophies can make even simple games more exciting.

• Let teens help choose. Give them a say in the playlist, prizes, and activities so the party feels less like an event planned for younger kids.

The best teen Halloween parties usually have a mix of friendly competition, funny moments, good food, and plenty of time to hang out. You don’t need an elaborate setup or a huge budget to make it memorable.