50th Birthday Party Games for Adults: Best Ideas [2023]

While I love a good game night, playing board games with a large group of people can be tricky.

Party guests may not always be gamers, and learning a new complicated game can be intimidating for many people.

This hesitancy to learn something new may make your guests not want to participate, so it’s always a good idea to keep any party games or activities simple, fun and easy to learn.

What can you do at a 50th birthday party?

Even though it may not be the best time to break out a ton of board games, there are still so many fun, simple activities you can do that will be memorable for your guests.

When planning any party, it’s important to consider the birthday honoree and his or her preferences. Depending on what type of party you want to have, some activities may be a better fit than others.

Read Also: Date night games for married couples: Best ideas for 2022

With that in mind, here are my favorite 14 ideas for 50th birthday party games for adults:

14. Bingo cards

There’s nothing that makes me happier than shouting Bingo.

If you don’t want the generic (and sometimes dull) numbered cards, consider ordering some custom cards through a site like Etsy.

Have some fun with it and have spaces that say things like, “Bob tells the same story about his boat”.

A lot of people can participate if you play this way since you can keep the game going throughout the length of the party. Select a moderator for players to check in with if they score a Bingo.

Keep it friendly and, shall we say, inoffensive, if you get custom cards.

Be sure to include some prize packs for the winners.

13. Birthday speeches

While this isn’t exactly a game, I enjoy setting aside some time for speeches.

If family members or friends are willing, schedule a time for speeches where guests can share funny stories or a favorite memory about the honoree.

12. Birthday trivia

Playing a round of trivia is always a simple, tried and true game that is a lot of fun.

Again, if you want to make it personal, have your birthday honoree fill out an answer sheet from a list of questions.

Questions can be about anything, such as their favorite foods or favorite songs or where they grew up.

Have your guests fill out an answer sheet and give a prize to the winner. You can also play a “live”, game show-style version if you have a moderator.

11. Birthday true or false

Curate a true or false list for the birthday boy or girl.

This works similar to a trivia game, but a little more simple.

Consider ordering some paddles where a moderator can read off the prompt and guests can hold up a paddle for their predicted answers.

The person with the correct answer, or the most correct answers, can win a prize.

10. Prize wheel

Speaking of prizes, having a prize wheel can be a fun way to integrate a prize system into your party.

You can find a prize wheel on Amazon for about $40 and customize it to your needs.

Each time someone wins a game, give them a spin on the wheel or even make it its own game.

9. Bucket list

Having a “bucket list” at the party is a fun and passive way for your guests to participate in the birthday fun.

And the best part is, it’s incredibly easy to set up.

Get a bucket and have some pens and index cards. Have your guests write down suggested bucket list items for the birthday boy or girl and place them in the bucket.

Guests of all ages can participate and offer advice, even the little ones!

It will leave the birthday honoree with a nice souvenir from the special occasion.

8. Lawn games

If the weather is nice, lawn games are a great way to entertain large groups of people.

Put out a set of giant Jenga, cornhole or a Ladder Toss.

7. Guess the price

This is one of my favorite games because it’s also a fun way to walk down memory lane.

Make a list of common household items and make a note of how much it costs today compared to 50 years ago.

Activities that spark nostalgia make for some of the absolute best adult birthday party games.

Poll the audience and have a prize pack for the person who is closest to the right price without going over. It’s a ton of fun.

6. Scratch off cards

There are a variety of printable games available online these days.

One simple game idea is scratch-off cards. It works similar to a lottery system, where you hand tickets to your guests as they arrive or gift them in a gift basket.

Have a prize ready for your winner.

5. Karaoke

A karaoke birthday party can be another fun way to entertain a large group of people.

It’s important to have the right crowd for this one, so be sure you know who your audience is. But if you know your group of friends enjoys a night of karaoke, it’s a solid option for a fun party.

You can get a Karaoke machine from Amazon for about $100-200.

4. Birthday Balderdash

Order some birthday Balderdash cards Etsy or print your own.

In this game, guests will write down a brief story about the birthday honoree.

Guests will guess whether or not the story is true, and the birthday boy or girl can guess who wrote it.

3. Name tag matching game

I’ve played this game at a work function once and it was a great way to get guests to co-mingle with each other outside their normal friend group.

Make sets of name tags with “pairs” that go together, preferably to match your party theme.

Guests will put a nametag on their back. As they talk to other party guests, they can receive clues about what their own name tag says (without saying it outright) and then they look for their matching “pair”.

For example, I did this close to Halloween. I had iconic duos like “Luigi” and “Mario” or “Batman” and “Robin”.

This is completely customizable and a fun way to meet new people.

2. Scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt is one of the most unique party games.

During the party, hold a scavenger hunt for party guests or family members.

Hide items around the party scene for your guests to find. Make the items specific to the birthday boy or girl, or better yet, make them specific to the decade they were born in.

This can take more planning than some of the other ideas.

Again, there are some great ideas on Etsy if you go this route.

1. Photo booth

A photo booth may not be a “game” but it’s still a fun activity for your guests and gives them a nice souvenir from the big day.

Set up your own photo booth with some custom props.

Depending on what type of budget you’re working with, it’s a great way to do something for your party guests.

Have you hosted a 50th birthday party celebration? What games did you play? Let me know in the comments below.