30 Sleepover Games: Fun, Spooky, and Competitive Ideas

Whether your child adores sleepovers or finds them a tad overwhelming, I’ve got you covered! Making slumber parties more enjoyable is as easy as introducing a variety of fun games.

You’re about to discover a list of 30 exciting sleepover games, perfect for younger kids, teens, girls, and boys. The list includes supplies needed for each game and a quick explanation of how to play. These ideas will not only serve as great ice-breakers but will also create unforgettable memories.

Get ready to become the ‘go-to’ sleepover house that ensures a fun, safe, and memorable time for your child and their best friends.

30 Fun Sleepover Games

The ultimate goal of hosting a sleepover is to ensure every guest is happy and comfortable. Games are a great way to include everybody, and they serve as a brilliant ice-breaker, especially for kids that are a bit nervous.

I’ve compiled 30 sleepover games, with a list of materials needed and a quick explanation for gameplay. I’ve also included a printable guide, so you can print it out, pick a game, and tick it off once you’ve tried it. Which one are you choosing for your sleepover party?

1. The Flour Game

What You’ll Need

• Flour.
• Plate.
• Candy.
• Butter knife.

Pour some flour onto a plate and shape it into a dome using your hands. Place a piece of candy on the top. Guests take turns using the butter knife to slice a bit of flour from the edge.

The person who makes the piece of candy on the top fall loses that round! But they can eat the piece of candy if they wish. Time for round two!

2. Scavenger Hunt

What You’ll Need

• Printed scavenger hunt cards.
• Cameras (optional).

A scavenger hunt is a classic thing to do at a sleepover. Depending on the number of kids, you can split into teams, or the children can play individually.

On the list, there will be things they need to find or photograph. Keep this game inside the house so you don’t have kids trying to sneak outside. Prompts can include a book with numbers, something clear, or a pair of matching socks.

Whoever finishes the scavenger hunt first is the winner. Offer a prize to the winning team to make the game more competitive.

3. Flashlight Tag

What You’ll Need

• One flashlight.

Think regular tag, but in the dark, with flashlights! This is an excellent game for kids who are older and not afraid of the dark. You can play this inside or outside with parental supervision.

Simply turn out the lights and give one child a flashlight. They are “it”; they must run around and tag somebody with their flashlight. If they shine the light upon another child, that child is out. Once there is only one child left, they are “it”, and a new game begins.

You can also play it so that whoever is tagged first automatically is “it”, eliminating the need for kids to be booted out of the game and wait for a new round.

4. Truth or Dare

What You’ll Need

• A list of questions (optional).

Truth or dare is a fun game for kids. I played it at most sleepovers I went to!

One person begins by asking another friend, “Truth or dare?” That friend has to choose to be asked a truth question or be given a dare. Once they’ve completed their challenge, it’s their turn to ask a friend.

Parents, you can create a list of truth questions and dares in advance. This makes it easier for kids struggling to think of questions and ensures the questions and dares are age-appropriate.

5. Would You Rather?

What You’ll Need

• A list of questions (optional).

In the same vein as Truth or Dare, this is a low-prep, equipment-free sleepover classic. One person asks a Would You Rather question to the rest of the group. They discuss and laugh over the silliness before each giving their answer.

You can write down questions in advance to get the group going, but this one is much funnier with spontaneous and ridiculous questions!

6. Charades

What You’ll Need

• Paper.
• Pencil/pen.
• Questions written in advance (optional).
• Bowl.

Each child writes down a phrase or prompt on a piece of paper. This can be vague, like “cat” or super specific, like, “a cat drinking milk, then licking its paws.” The child folds up their paper and puts it in a bowl.

Adults, you can write down a few prompts in advance so that there are more ideas.

Then each person takes a turn acting out one of the prompts as the group tries to guess what they’re doing. You can split the kids into teams to make it more competitive.

7. Spin the Nail Polish

What You’ll Need

• 10+ bottles of nail polish.
• Cardboard or old board game board.
• Nail polish remover.
• Cotton pads.

Painting nails is a classic sleepover activity, but turn it into a fun game with this spinning idea! Place one nail polish bottle on a piece of cardboard and spin it. Whoever it points at has to paint one of their nails that color.

Repeat until every kid has painted their nails. You’re going to end up with some funky crazy manicures!

8. Musical Statues

What You’ll Need

• Speaker.
• Phone with music.

One person stands at the speaker and starts playing the music. Everyone else begins dancing.

When the person at the speaker randomly stops the music, everyone must freeze, becoming a statue! If anybody hesitates or wobbles, they are out of the game.

The game continues until there is one person left standing. They are the winner!

9. Hide and Clap

What You’ll Need

• Blindfold.

This easy game is a twist on hide and seek, and it’s a big hit with boys and girls of all ages. One person stands in the middle of the room and puts on a blindfold. They count to 20 while the other kids hide.

Typically, I recommend hiding within the same room as the person, but you can hide on the same floor of the house. Don’t go upstairs or downstairs, as the blindfolded person shouldn’t navigate stairs while they cannot see!

Once the counting is over, the hidden players must keep one foot planted in their hiding spot. They can’t move around more than that. The blindfolded player can search the room, trying to listen and feel for the other players.

The hidden players can try to dodge the seeker, but remember — they have to keep one foot planted.

The seeker is allowed to shout “Clap!” three times during the game to help them out. When they shout, “Clap!”, the hidden players must clap loudly twice to give the seeker a clue.

The last player found is the winner. They can be the seeker in the next round.

10. Escape Room

What You’ll Need

• Escape room kit (DIY or store-bought).
• A timer.

Escape rooms are epic, especially when done with friends! An escape room is a fantastic idea if you’re hosting a sleepover, particularly a themed one.

You can make your own escape room or buy a kit online, like the Werewolf Experiment Kit. Simply follow instructions for gameplay, trying to escape the room before the time is up. Usually, this is about one hour.

11. Who Am I?

What You’ll Need

• Sticky notes or blank name tags.
• Pens.
• Bowl.

Children brainstorm well-known people (their friends, celebrities, fictional characters) and write them down on a sticky note or blank name tag. Make sure not to peel off the back paper; you don’t want the paper to be sticky yet!

Put the pieces of paper into a bowl and shuffle them around. One by one, peel the back paper off and stick a piece of paper to each child’s forehead, ensuring they don’t see their own nametag.

Everyone will be able to see all the names except their own. Sitting in a circle, start with the youngest player and go clockwise. Each player gets to ask a question about their character, such as, “Am I male or female?” or “Am I older than 30?”. They must be yes or no questions.

Once a player thinks they know who they are, they can take a guess on their next turn. Once everyone has figured out who they are, the game is over.

You can also switch this up by letting the kids mingle amongst themselves while trying to figure out who they are. They can walk around the room, talking to their friends, and asking a person one question before moving on to someone else in the room.

12. Blindfolded Makeovers

What You’ll Need

• Blindfold.
• An assortment of makeup.
• Makeup remover wipes.
• Mirror.

This is a hit for young gals who like experimenting with makeup! Pair the kids up, blindfolding one person in each group. They must do a makeover on their partner, completely blindfolded!

This will end up in some wild makeovers! Make sure to take some pictures so the girls can look back in a few years’ time. Once the game is over, the girls can remove their makeup and opt for a real makeover if they’d like.

13. Sardines

What You’ll Need

• Good hiding spots!

Another twist on Hide and Seek, this game is a real thrill. We played it so often growing up!

Instead of one person seeking and everyone else hiding, you do the opposite. One person hides, and everyone else seeks.

Once someone has found the hider, they join them, packing themselves into the hiding spot like sardines. The last person left seeking is the loser. The first person who found the hider gets to hide in the next round.

14. Pillow Fight

What You’ll Need

• One pillow per person.

Is it even a sleepover if you don’t have a pillow fight? Okay, the movies make them look more fun than they are, but it’s still a great way to have a good time with friends, no matter your age.

Everyone grabs a pillow and starts fighting each other. Make sure you have soft ground in case people fall over!

15. Project Runway

What You’ll Need

• Dress up clothes.
• Tissue paper.
• Toilet paper.
• Aluminum foil.
• Music.

Love dressing up? Love designing clothes? Combine these two passions in the Project Runway game!

Each kid designs their unique outfit using dress-up clothes, toilet paper, tissue paper, and/or aluminum foil. They can create a wedding dress, a beachy outfit, or a space alien fit!

Once everyone has created their outfit, blast some music and walk the runway, strutting your style!

16. Right, Left, Eat

What You’ll Need

• Three pieces of candy per child.
• Dice.

Everyone sits in a circle with three pieces of candy each. In the middle, there is a dice.

Each number on the dice corresponds with a meaning. One and four mean keep your candy.

Two means pass one piece to the right. Five means pass one piece to the left. Three and six mean to eat your candy.

Each child gets a turn rolling the dice and doing what the number prompts them to do. The last person left with a piece of candy wins a prize.

17. Glow Bowling

What You’ll Need

• 10 water bottles.
• 11 glow sticks.
• Hamster ball.

Place 10 glow sticks inside 10 water bottles and arrange them like bowling pins. Then open up the hamster ball and place a glow stick inside. You can also get extra glow sticks for the kids to wear, like bracelets and necklaces.

Now kids take turns trying to knock down the pins, following the same rules as bowling! The winner gets a prize.

18. Paper Plane Landing

What You’ll Need

• Paper for paper planes.
• Big poster board.
• Black paint.
• White paint.

In advance, create a runway from your poster board and paint. Paint the whole thing black. When the black paint has dried, draw a runway with white paint, marking different areas with different points.

For instance, a perfect landing in the middle is worth 10 points. A little to the left or right is worth eight points. A landing near the edge is worth five points. And a landing off the board costs players two points.

Each player stands about 10 feet from the board and throws their planes, tallying their points. You can play a few rounds. In the end, count all the points — whoever has the most wins!

As an extra challenge, blindfold the players before they throw.

19. Commercial Challenge

What You’ll Need

• A few random objects (like a box of tissues, helmet, or toothpaste).
• A list of random themes (like a home for the elderly or a hospital).

Split the kids into teams of three to four people each. Give each team a random object and their theme: this could be a hairbrush at the Olympics. The team then has to create a 20 to 60-second commercial for the object.

Give them some time to create their commercial in separate areas of the home. When the time is up, they must come together to perform their commercial to the other guests. The most creative and funny commercial wins!

20. M.A.S.H.

What You’ll Need

• Paper.
• Pen/pencil.

This game brought me right back! On a piece of paper, write down five categories, such as Spouse, House, Number of Kids, Pets, Job, Car, Money, Honeymoon, Best Friend, etc. Under each category, put five options.

For instance, under pets, you could write dog, shark, blue cat, ugly mouse, and horse. Then, draw a spiral on the paper.

One of the other players shouts, “Stop!” However many rows the spiral has is how you determine when to cross off items.

For example, if the spiral has four rows, you cross off every fourth item until you have one item left in each category. Then you read out your friend’s fortune!

21. Chocolate Game

What You’ll Need

• Chocolate bar.
• Plate.
• Knife.
• Fork.
• Dressing up clothes.
• Dice.

Place a chocolate bar in the middle of a circle alongside a knife, fork, dressing-up clothes, and dice. Kids take turns rolling the dice, and when they get a six, they must put on the dressing-up outfit and cut up the chocolate before taking a bite. One square at a time.

The other kids continue rolling the dice as the person in the middle attempts to get a bite of chocolate. But if someone else rolls a six, they must interrupt the other person’s turn, don the clothes, and attempt to get the chocolate before the next person rolls a six.

The game is over when the chocolate bar is finished. There’s no specific winner; it’s just a bit of fun!

22. Balloon Stomp

What You’ll Need

• One balloon per person.
• String.

Tie a balloon to each person’s ankle. Players must stand in a circle, and after “Ready, Steady, Go!,” they can run around, trying to stomp other people’s balloons while protecting their own. The last person with an inflated balloon is the winner.

23. Nose Dive

What You’ll Need

• Two tables or one long table.
• Two stools.
• Four large bowls.
• Two plates.
• A large tub of Vaseline.
• Cotton balls.

Split kids into two teams. On the two tables (or one large table), set up two plates and two bowls. Place a large mound of Vaseline on both plates and fill the bowls with cotton balls.

On the opposite end of the room, place one large empty bowl on either stool. When the timer begins, one player from each team must place their hands behind their back and dip their nose in the Vaseline before picking up a cotton ball with their nose. Then they run to the stool and drop the cotton ball into the bowl without using their hands.

The next player on the team goes, repeating until the two-minute timer is up. Whichever team has the most cotton balls in the bowl at the end wins!

24. Pass the Parcel

What You’ll Need

• A few gifts that are age-appropriate for the guests.
• Wrapping paper.
• Scissors.
• Tape.
• Music.

Before the party, wrap the gifts in a few layers of wrapping paper. I recommend five to 10 layers.

When you’re ready to play, sit the guests in a large circle. Hand out the gifts to a few players, ensuring they are evenly spaced out. When the music begins, the kids start passing around the gifts clockwise.

When the music stops, whoever is holding the gift, unwraps a layer. Then the music begins again. Whoever unwraps the final layer of paper is the winner and they keep the gift.

You can also play a few separate rounds, with one present per round. Make sure that the same child doesn’t get a present twice. If it lands on them, they must pass it back to the person who handed it to them in the final round.

25. Cheese Ball Toss

What You’ll Need

• Cheese balls.
• Shaving cream.
• Shower caps (optional).

Split guests into teams of two. One player must be the cheese puff tosser, while the other person is the cheese puff collector. The collector must cover their face or head in shaving cream — they can wear a shower cap if they’d like to protect their hair.

When the game begins, the players must stand about eight feet apart and start throwing cheese puffs at their teammate. After two minutes, whoever has the most cheese puffs stuck to them is the winner!

26. Movie Night Bingo

What You’ll Need

• DIY bingo cards.
• Pens or stickers.

If your child is having a movie marathon at their sleepover or pajama party, add to the fun with a movie night bingo card. In advance, prepare or download bingo cards that have common themes you might see in movies, including falling in love, a character running, or a laugh-out-loud moment.

During the films, players can knock off things they see in the movies either with a pen or stickers. If you want to reuse the cards, I recommend stickers. Whoever gets five in a row first is the winner.

27. Two Truths and a Lie

What You’ll Need

• Pens or pencils.
• Paper.

Have each child write down their two truths and a lie: two honest facts about them and one thing completely made up. When everyone is ready, the first child reads out their three points. The other kids must guess which one is the lie.

This is a fantastic ice-breaker, especially if your child is merging a few friend groups. This allows strangers to become pals.

28. Musical Sleeping Bags

What You’ll Need

• Sleeping bags.
• Speaker.
• Phone with music.

Lay out all sleeping bags apart from one. There should be one less sleeping bag than there are people. One guest is also in charge of the music.

When the music starts, the players must circle around the sleeping bags. When the music stops, everyone must get into a sleeping bag. Whoever is left is out of the game.

One sleeping bag is removed before the next round begins. Whoever gets into the final bag is the winner. Just make sure everyone has a sleeping bag for nighttime!

29. Toss and Talk Ball

What You’ll Need

• Inflatable ball.
• Permanent market.

Pass the inflatable ball around and ask each kid to write interesting questions or dares onto the ball. Make sure they are evenly spaced out, and there is a question for every inch or two. You don’t want big blank spaces!

When everyone is ready to play, stand or sit in a circle and toss the ball between players. When you catch the ball, check what question is closest to your right index finger. You must answer the question or do the dare before passing to the next player.

30. Board Games

What You’ll Need

• Board game of choice.

If you’re still wondering what to do at sleepovers, why not bring out a few board games? There are some fantastic options for all ages.

Some of my favorite sleepover board games include Exploding Kittens, UNO, Sorry!, and Yeti In My Spaghetti.

Whatever your favorite games are, they’re probably suitable for a sleepover party. Simply familiarize everyone with the rules, then let the kids enjoy the hilarity of the chosen game.

Expert Tips When Choosing Sleepover Games

As a parent and a sleepover connoisseur, there are a few things you want to consider before choosing a game. Below are five helpful tips.

1. Ensure the Game Is Age-Appropriate

Consider the age of the children and choose age-appropriate games. For instance, teenagers probably won’t have much fun playing Pass the Parcel, whereas little kids might be too scared for Flashlight Tag.

Chat with the kids before choosing a game to ensure everyone is comfortable playing it.

2. Include Everyone

Choose games that include everyone, especially kids that are a bit more nervous about the sleepover. If someone is apprehensive about attending the sleepover, they might not enjoy games that separate everyone, such as Sardines or Hide and Clap.

Instead, stick to games like Spin the Nail Polish or Right, Left, Eat. During these games, kids stick together, and there is less chance for drama.

3. What Do Kids Want To Play?

Parents, you might be excited for a nostalgic night introducing your child to all your favorite sleepover games. But it’s important to gauge what the kids want to play. So ask your child what games they are interested in and prepare a few in advance.

4. Respect the Parents

Run the game options past the parents before getting the kids involved. Some parents might not be comfortable with certain games.

For instance, Flashlight Tag or an Escape Room Kit might scare a few kids who are too shy to admit it. So always get the parent’s opinion first.

5. Ensure Your Home Is Suitable

Finally, make sure you have equipment and space for the games you want to play. For instance, Hide and Clap won’t work in every home, especially if you have a smaller home or a unique layout.

Sardines might be a bit adventurous in super large or small homes. After all, you don’t want kids to go missing! So make sure your home suits the chosen games, and you have everything ready in advance.

FAQs About Sleepovers

What Time Should a Sleepover Start?

Ideally, the sleepover would start just before dinner time. If kids are used to eating around 5:30 p.m., invite guests over at 4:30 p.m. That leaves enough time for pizza, games, and a movie before bedtime.

For older kids and teenagers, you might want to push the start time back a bit, maybe to around 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m.

How Many People Can You Invite to a Sleepover Party?

I recommend half the number of guests for how old your child is. For instance, if your daughter is eight, invite four friends.

This also depends on how much space you have. If the sleepover is taking place in your child’s room and there is only enough floor space for two guests, don’t invite six.

The fewer people, the easier. But this might change what games you can play as some — like Pass the Parcel — work better with bigger groups.

What Age Is Appropriate for a Sleepover Party?

It depends on your child and their relationship with their friends. Some kids are ready to have sleepovers with their best friend as young as six years old. This also depends on the parent’s relationship with the friend’s parents.

Typically, most kids are ready for sleepovers around middle school or age 11. But some kids aren’t ready until they are older. There’s no hard and fast rule; just go with whatever you and your child are comfortable with.

How Do You Have an Amazing Sleepover?

Here are 10 tips for ensuring your sleepover is fantastic and fun:

• Make sure kids are ready: Don’t host a sleepover if your child isn’t comfortable yet. Likewise, don’t send your kid to a sleepover if they’re feeling too nervous. Remember, they can always go to a party, stay late, and head home for bed if they’d prefer.
• Limit the guest list: Don’t invite too many guests, and try to keep the guest list contained to children your child is close with. Inviting every girl in the class will only make the event more chaotic. As suggested, invite half the number of guests for your child’s age. For instance, if your child is 12, I don’t recommend more than six guests.
• Plan activities, not a schedule: Offer a variety of activities, games, and movies without a strict schedule. Allow children to move at their own pace and decide what to do as the night goes on since kids enjoy going with the flow.
• Communicate with parents: Make sure you’ve communicated with all the guests’ parents beforehand. Ensure all kids are comfortable; ask about dietary requirements or allergies; let parents know the plan; have emergency contacts for each child. Keep parents in the loop at all times — you might want to make a group chat to update all parents as the night goes on.
• Prepare the home: Prep the sleeping area in advance with comfortable mats, pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags. Have a first aid kit ready in case any of the games get a bit wild. Keep a nightlight on for late-night bathroom trips. Ensure there is enough food and drink for all the guests.
• Minimize the sugar before bed: We know that a sleepover is a fantastic time for sugary treats and junk food. But try and limit it before bed — if you want the children to sleep!
• Check-in often: Let your child know beforehand that you will be checking in on the kids often. You can either pop your head in or hang outside the door, listening in to make sure everyone is okay.
• Put phones away: If your child and their friends have mobile phones, I encourage you to ask them to put them away. Technology makes accessing social media, inappropriate movies, and cyberbullying easy. You can keep in touch with parents on behalf of the children. If the kids want to take photos, provide a pack of disposable cameras instead.
• Create a secret code: If your child is overwhelmed, nervous, or getting upset, create a secret code with them. This eliminates any embarrassment if your child needs your help. The secret code can be simple, like, “Mom, what time is it?”
• Encourage sleep: We used to have competitions about who could stay up the latest, often getting to the point where we’d pulled an all-nighter. But we felt horrible the next day! As a parent, encourage sleep time, offering a lights-out cue or quiet time after a certain point.

Slumber Party Goals

Sleepovers are a rite of passage in many children’s lives, and games can make it even more exciting and inclusive, especially for shy kids. With my list of 30 things to do at a sleepover, there is something for everyone, whether you have a large or small group, girls, boys, or you’re hosting a birthday party.

With that in mind, make sure that your home is set up for the chosen games and that you have the equipment at the ready. And don’t forget to check out my top tips for hosting a successful sleepover that will leave both guests and parents happy.