Fun 50th birthday party games

Turning 50? Congratulations! You've hit a milestone that calls for celebration, reflection, and—yes, you guessed it—games! So, dust off those dancing shoes, stretch those bingo arms, and let's get this party started. Below are 25 of the most entertaining games to spice up your big 5-0.

1. Classic Bingo

The age-old game of bingo just never gets old, especially when you can personalize it for your milestone birthday.

How to Play:

Take your classic bingo game up a notch by customizing your own bingo cards. With our handy bingo card generator, you can customize cards with your own terms and themes. Maybe include a few 'over-the-hill' jokes, why don't you?

Top Tip: Make the game even more engaging by including picture, custom text, and emoji cards. The right tools allow you to support these elements effortlessly.

2. Charades: Memory Lane Edition

Charades is a tried-and-true party staple, but let's add a twist—every phrase or word should relate to the past 50 years!

How to Play:

Split into teams and try to act out phrases or memories that span the last five decades. The catch? No talking, just acting.

Top Tip: Use an empty bottle as your spinning device for selecting teams. It's just like the good ol' days.

3. Trivia: Flashback to the 70s

It’s trivia time, but let’s make it all about the decade the birthday star was born.

How to Play:

Create or download trivia questions that pertain to the 1970s. Think fashion, politics, and pop culture. Whoever answers the most questions correctly wins a prize.

Top Tip: Make the game more immersive by playing some 70s music in the background.

4. Musical Chairs for Adults

Who says musical chairs is for kids? This game brings out the competitive spirit in everyone, no matter their age.

How to Play:

Set up chairs and play snippets of popular songs from various decades. When the music stops, grab a chair. Last one standing is the winner.

5. Who Am I? The Vintage Edition

This classic guessing game gets a vintage makeover, where everyone gets the name of a famous person or item from the past.

How to Play:

Stick the name on each person's forehead and let them ask yes-or-no questions to figure out who or what they are.

Top Tip: Use an ice-breaker like this game to kick off the night. It helps set the tone for a fun, nostalgic evening.

6. Pictionary: "Over the Hill" Theme

Bring out the Pictionary, but with a twist—all words and phrases must relate to aging or the past 50 years.

How to Play:

Divide into teams and sketch your clues, aiming to guess the word before time runs out.

Top Tip: Opt for a digital drawing pad if you want to bring the game into the 21st century!

7. Pin the Wig on the Bald Guy

Bald is Beautiful! This is pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, but make it 50-ish.

How to Play:

Blindfold players and spin them around, then let them try to pin a wig on a bald guy’s poster.

Top Tip: Opt for Velcro instead of pins for a safer play.

8. Karaoke: Golden Oldies

Sing Like Nobody's Listening! Nothing says party like belting out your favorite tunes from yesteryears.

How to Play:

Choose your favorite oldies and let the singing competition begin!

Top Tip: Prepare a playlist beforehand to avoid spending time scrolling through songs. Spruce this game up by turning it into a game of music bingo.

9. Bean Bag Toss

A throwback in the literal sense! Your aim might not be what it once was, but that makes it even more fun.

How to Play:

Set up a board with holes and assign points, then let the bean bags fly!

10. Scavenger Hunt: Decades Edition

An adventure 50 years in the making! Hide items related to the last five decades and set your guests loose.

How to Play:

Give out clues that lead to various items. First one to find all items wins.

11. 50 Facts About the Birthday Star

Who's Counting Anyway? Test how well the guests know the guest of honor.

How to Play:

Ask a series of true-or-false questions about the birthday person. The one with the most correct answers wins.

Top Tip: Ask the birthday star to participate by sharing the correct answers after each question.

12. Old School Dance-off

Crank up the tunes and let's see who can still shake a leg. Groovy, Baby!

How to Play:

Pick songs from various decades and have a dance battle.

13. Hot Potato: Hot Flash Edition

The Ultimate Game of Catch! The classic game you loved as a kid, now with a middle-aged twist.

How to Play:

Sit in a circle and toss a "hot flash" bean bag while music plays. When the music stops, you don't want to be holding the bag!

14. Couples Trivia

How Well Do You Know Your Partner? Put your knowledge of your better half to the test.

How to Play:

Ask couples to answer questions about their partner. Whoever gets the most answers right, wins.

15. Jigsaw Puzzle Race

Who can complete a jigsaw puzzle the fastest?

How to Play:

Each team gets a jigsaw puzzle and the goal is simple: complete it faster than anyone else. It's a fun dash against the clock, with each piece bringing the teams closer to victory.

Top Tip: Opt for puzzles with 50 pieces to keep the theme going.

16. Truth or Dare

Truth or Dare never goes out of style. It's an electrifying addition that can add suspense and revelation to any gathering.

How to Play:

Gather participants in a circle and use a bottle to select the brave soul who'll pick between a truth or a dare. The stakes and the excitement are high, so prepare for some gasps!

17. Sardines

It’s like hide and seek, but in reverse. The more, the merrier!

How to Play:

One person hides and everyone else looks for them. When you find them, you hide with them.

18. Flip Cup: Boomer Edition

The college classic gets a senior discount. It's flipping awesome!

How to Play:

Players try to flip a plastic cup by flicking the rim with their fingers.

Top Tip: Opt for non-alcoholic beer or another drink if your crowd isn’t into alcohol.

19. Beer Pong

A game that requires as much aim as it does drinking skills.

How to Play:

Land a ping pong ball into cups filled with beer.

Top Tip: Use cups shaped like champagne glasses for a classier touch.

20. Simon Says

Put your reflexes and memory to the test. Simon Says: "You're only as old as you feel!"

How to Play:

One person calls out actions to perform or not perform depending on the phrase.

Top Tip: Add in some fun actions like 'Simon says, act like you're 21 again.'

21. The Shoe Game

The Shoe Game is your go-to for unleashing giggles and 'awws'. It's a delightful way to find out how well people know each other.

How to Play:

Just have couples sit back-to-back with one of each partner's shoes. Toss questions at them like "Who is the better cook?", and let them raise the shoe that fits the bill. The audience's laughter will tell you the rest.

22. Limbo: How Low Can You Go?

Test your flexibility and balance with this classic game. A horizontal bar and some peppy music are all you need to get the crowd involved.

How to Play:

Play some catchy tunes, have participants shimmy under a horizontal bar without touching it, and lower the bar after each successful round. It’s a bending, twisting good time!

Top Tip: Opt for a softer ground to minimize the “ouch” factor if someone falls.

23. 50-Second Challenges

Can you complete the challenge in under 50 seconds? Clock's ticking!

How to Play:

Guests attempt to complete silly tasks within 50 seconds.

Top Tip: Use a loud, funny alarm clock to keep time.

25. Heads Up

Dive into "Heads Up", a thrilling game that promises laughter and edge-of-the-seat moments. Got your phone and circle of friends ready? Let's jump right in!

How to Play:

1. App On: Fire up the Heads Up app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Positioning: Hold the device against your forehead with the screen facing out. Remember, sneaky peeks are a no-go!
3. Clues Galore: As the word displays on the screen, your pals should mime, describe, or hint without naming the word directly.
4. Rapid Guessing: Using the clues, try to decipher the word. Shout those guesses!
5. Swiping Skills: Guessed right? Swipe down. If it's too tricky, swipe up and move to the next word.
6. Timer Tolls: Once the timer ends, it's time to tally your correct guesses and let the next player take the stage.

26. Would You Rather: The 50th Edition

Pose difficult or silly scenarios and make your guests choose. Decisions, decisions!

How to Play:

Ask 'Would You Rather' questions that guests have to answer, ideally picking between two tough or hilarious options.

27. Memory Bingo

It’s like bingo, but with a personalized touch featuring significant milestones or items from the past 50 years. Relive the good times!

How to Play:

Instead of numbers, fill your bingo cards with memorable things from the birthday person's life. Our bingo card generator can easily help you customize these cards to the hilt!

Top Tip: Include fun, quirky milestones to trigger interesting conversations among guests.

28. Roast the Host

Celebrate the milestone by letting guests lovingly roast the birthday person. Turning up the heat at 50!

How to Play:

Guests prepare funny, light-hearted roasts that they read aloud. The birthday star gets to pick the best one.

Top Tip: Establish ground rules to keep it loving and respectful.

That's a Wrap!

Time to shake off that "over-the-hill" stigma and show 'em how it's done. Whether you’re an enthusiastic party-goer or the birthday star yourself, these games are sure to make your 50th birthday bash the talk of the town—or at least your social circle.

Cheers to 50 years!