Halloween Party Games for Adults

By Jim Markus · Published August 14, 2026

Here are the Halloween party games I recommend based on my experience throwing parties. I’m focusing specifically on games for adults, though some of them can be modified for younger crowds.

Halloween parties are in my blood. My father was born on the holiday, and we celebrated with incredible barn parties throughout my childhood. Now I host my own seasonal celebrations.

Snap Apple

I’ve talked about Snap Apple before. It’s a better choice than bobbing for apples, and there’s a version of the game that’s both more traditional and more potentially dangerous than the more common apple-on-a-string version you may have played elsewhere.

Snap Apple is one of the most interesting halloween party ideas for adults because it’s eye-catching, on-theme, and potentially dangerous if you aren’t careful. This is one I’d play early on at the party (before some guests are well into their cups).

What is Snap Apple? It’s a game where you hang an apple from a string and challenge guests to bite the apple without using their hands. The grown up version of the game, the traditional way to play, is by having the apple on one side of a stick and a candle on the other side. Guests would have to deftly bite the apple without getting burned by the candle’s flame.

Here’s how to set it up

The traditional version of snap apple requires a string, a stick, an apple, and a candle. Put one end of the stick into the apple. Put the candle on the other end of the stick. Once you have that simple setup, balance the stick on your finger to see the specific spot where you’ll attach the string. Using a command hook on the ceiling, or whatever method you prefer, hang the string from the ceiling so the apple is at mouth height, and you’re ready to play.

Note that you can play this with an unlit candle and, if you’re at all concerned with the safety of your venue, that’s what I’d recommend for first timers. It’s one of my favorite Halloween party games for adults (and I wouldn’t invite kids to the version with the candle).

The simpler version

The way I usually play is even simpler to set up. Just hang several apples from strings and invite a few guests to try to bite them. If everyone starts at the same time, it becomes a timed game, which adds the thrill of a ticking clock to an already challenging seasonal game. This is still called Snap Apple. It’s just a version with less chance of fire engulfing the party.

Snap Apple can be played with just one person at a time. The challenge is taking that bite of the apple, and if you do the version with the (lit or unlit) candle, it’s incredibly interesting to watch as a party guest. That means one person can play while dozens watch and cheer.

Snap Dragon

The next best Halloween party game for adults, at least in my experience, is Snap Dragon. This is another fire-based game. That’s why I wouldn’t recommend it for kids parties (or even family parties).

The premise for Snap Dragon is just as simple. Add high-proof alcohol into a fire resistant bowl (ideally one that looks ornate or otherwise spooky) and float raisins in it. Light the alcohol, and the challenge is to nab a raisin from the bowl quickly without getting burned.

This game has roots in winter holidays, but I always associate it with Halloween. Because of the fire, the game draws a crowd regardless of how many guests choose to play. Even one person giving it a try provides entertainment for everyone else.

I like an elaborate party with meticulous attention to detail. So when I play Snap Dragon, I use a ceramic bowl (with a matching lid) that I found at an estate sale. I use the lid to extinguish the fire, and I make sure we have a working fire extinguisher nearby just in case we need it.

Playing with fire safely

For both of these party games, I’m always excitedly aware of the risk. It’s important to keep the area clear of anything flammable and to make sure any costumed guests remove anything that could melt or catch fire from their bodies before they’re anywhere near where we’re playing.

With that in mind, I enjoy promoting the games as events. They’re always some of the most memorable moments of the evening, so I make sure the guests know well ahead when to gather for the start of the event.

Dread

Another game worth mentioning, and one I don’t see often enough, is Dread. This game uses a Jenga tower as the centerpiece for building anticipation during gameplay. There are several modules that are on-theme for the holiday (including one I’ve written myself), and like other good Halloween party games, it’s memorable as an event in its own right.

As a game designer, I love Dread because it uses an artifact to add emotional weight to gameplay. I already have a Jenga tower in my game closet, and it can sit on the table as an entertainment option of its own before anyone sits down to play the game.

As a party host, I run Dread for smaller groups in quieter places. It’s a game where you need to hear the people you’re playing with. I wouldn’t run this one in the same room as a horror movie or next to the speakers playing Halloween music. And, because the tower eventually falls, I wouldn’t play this near an open flame.

I give this game enough room to breathe on its own, likely at least 90 minutes. That makes it a good choice for more intimate Halloween parties. Just make sure the person running the game has a module ready and has prepped by understanding the structure before you play.

With that in mind, I’m always excited to play Dread. I like the way it builds tension. Everyone at the table is always invested in every block pull because it affects the story and the characters in real and immediate ways.

My Dread module isn’t something I’ve released publicly. I’ve played it numerous times with a few different groups of friends. I enjoy it, but it’s also really dark. I’ll update this post if I ever release it.

Crypt Kickers

I designed a game called Crypt Kickers a few years ago that’s especially made for Halloween parties. It’s an autumnal committee larp for four to six players. All of the characters have conflicting desires (Dracula and his son can’t attend the party if it’s during daylight, for example) but everyone needs to agree by the end of the session.

I released this game for free, and it’s printable in PDF format. It can be played at a Halloween party of any size, but with more than six people you’ll have some spectators. For the player characters, look for guests who are outgoing and excited to interact. I’m a sucker for dramatic exchanges, and argumentative players tend to love the challenge.

In terms of runtime, gameplay is about 90 minutes and prep is simple. Read through the instructions once before you play as Boris, the host, and nobody else needs to do anything before joining the table.

Note that Crypt Kickers can also be played at an online Halloween party, which is a fun way to connect with more distant friends during the season.

Fortunes

A quieter Halloween party game for adults is Fortunes. It’s a storytelling game for up to five players that uses Tarot cards to guide the story. It’s my favorite for quiet rooms at larger parties or more intimate gatherings.

Unlike Crypt Kickers, which encourages disagreement and thrives on dramatic interactions around a table, Fortunes is collaborative.

Games I’d skip at a Halloween party

I’d skip playing Monster of the Week, Dungeons and Dragons, or Pathfinder at most Halloween parties. These are all some of my favorite games, but they’re also usually events of their own. I’ve played in a Halloween one-shot with a DnD group and it was one of the most exciting adventures we ran together. Still, I wouldn’t classify it as a Halloween party. I’d call it Dungeons and Dragons night in October.

What makes a good Halloween party game for adults

At my Halloween parties, I’m looking for games players can pick up and play with minimal prep and, ideally, that double as entertainment for guests who want to watch. That’s true for Snap Apple, Snap Dragon, Crypt Kickers, Dread, and Fortunes.

It also works for tabletop games like Inhuman Conditions, which I admit to playing extensively. It works well for people in costume, especially those who enjoy improv, and it doesn’t require much setup. I’m also a fan of games like Codenames and, depending on the crowd, Cards Against Humanity.

Like Crypt Kickers, there’s a way to play Inhuman Conditions for free. I prefer the boxed set though. It has everthing needed to play the game and I’ve seen it everywhere (including at Secret World Books in Highland Park).

I also recently wrote about social deduction games that work with various group sizes.

There are plenty of Halloween games for adults. These are a few of my favorites. I usually have at least a few of them set up as options for guests to choose from, and I’m always excited to see them played.

More from Autumnal Games

• Halloween Party Games
• Crypt Kickers
• Fortunes
• Artifact Games

Jim Markus

Jim makes games and events that invite people to embrace a shared fiction.