halloween games for kids

Throwing a Halloween party for kids is fun. Until you realize you have twelve sugar-loaded children running around your living room and absolutely no idea what to do with them.

That’s where this list comes in.

I’ve put together 29 Halloween party games for kids that actually work — the kind that keep little ones busy, get the older kids laughing, and don’t require you to spend a fortune at the craft store. Most of these games use stuff you already own. A few need a quick trip to the dollar store. None of them need an Instagram-perfect setup to be a hit.

Whether you’re hosting a backyard bash, a classroom party, or a small get-together with the neighborhood kids, you’ll find something here that fits. Toddlers, tweens, indoor games, outdoor games, messy ones, calm ones — they’re all in the mix.

Let’s get into it.

Why Halloween Party Games Matter (A Quick Word)

Here’s the thing about kids’ parties: candy and costumes are great, but they only carry the energy for about ten minutes. After that, you need games. Real games. Games that pull kids away from their parents’ phones and pull them into the party.

Good Halloween party games do three things. They burn off the sugar. They give shy kids a way to join in without feeling awkward. And they create the kind of memory your kid will still talk about next October.

You don’t need to be a Pinterest mom to pull these off. You just need a plan. Pick five or six games from this list, prep what you need the night before, and you’re set.

Tips Before You Start Planning

Before we jump into the games, a few quick pointers from someone who’s hosted way too many of these parties:

Match the games to the age group. A four-year-old will love a ring toss. A ten-year-old will roll their eyes at it. Mix and match if you’ve got a wide age range — pair the older kids with little ones as teammates so everyone feels included.

Have backup games ready. Some games flop. Kids will surprise you by loving the one you thought was lame and ignoring the one you spent two hours setting up. Be flexible.
Keep prizes simple. Stickers, mini candy bars, glow sticks, or temporary tattoos work great. You don’t need to hand out something fancy after every round.
Now let’s get to the fun part.

29 Halloween Party Games for Kids

1. Mummy Wrap Race

This one is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Split the kids into pairs and give each team a roll or two of toilet paper. One kid stands still while the other wraps them head-to-toe like a mummy. Set a two-minute timer and let the chaos begin. The best-wrapped mummy wins.
Keep extra rolls nearby — someone will always tear through theirs too fast. Cheap toilet paper actually works better here because it tears more easily.

2. Pumpkin Bowling

Grab six empty water bottles, fill them with a little sand or water for weight, and slap a ghost face on each one with a marker. Use a small pumpkin as the bowling ball. Kids take turns rolling and try to knock down as many “ghosts” as they can.
Works indoors on hardwood floors or outdoors on a flat patio. Smaller pumpkins roll better than the big lumpy ones.

3. Halloween Bingo

Print out free Halloween bingo cards (you can find dozens online) with pictures of pumpkins, bats, witches, ghosts, and candy. Use candy corn or chocolate as bingo markers. Call out the items one by one until someone gets five in a row.
This is the perfect chill-out game between the louder ones. Great for ages 4 and up.

4. Pin the Spider on the Web

 

The Halloween version of pin the tail on the donkey. Draw a big spider web on a piece of poster board and tape it to the wall. Cut out paper spiders and stick a piece of double-sided tape on each one. Blindfold the kids and let them try to stick their spider on the web.
The closest spider to the center wins. Easy to set up, easy to win.

5. Witch’s Hat Ring Toss

Buy a few cheap plastic witch hats from the dollar store and place them on the floor in a triangle shape. Use glow-in-the-dark bracelets or plastic rings as the rings. Each kid gets three tosses. Closer hats = fewer points, far hats = more points.
Add a difficulty curve by moving the hats farther back for older kids.

6. Donut on a String

A classic for a reason. Tie pieces of string to a long horizontal pole or clothesline, and hang a donut from each string at face height. Kids put their hands behind their backs and try to eat the donut without using their hands.
It’s messy. It’s hilarious. Have wet wipes ready.

7. Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Hide small Halloween-themed items around the house or yard — plastic spiders, mini pumpkins, candy corn, fake eyeballs, glow sticks. Give each kid a list (with pictures for the little ones) and let them race to find everything.
You can do a team version where they collect items together. Whoever fills their list first wins a small prize.

8. Monster Freeze Dance

Put on a Halloween playlist (think “Monster Mash,” “Ghostbusters,” “This Is Halloween”) and have the kids dance like monsters, witches, or zombies. When the music stops, everyone freezes. Anyone who moves is out.
The last kid standing wins. Simple, but kids never get tired of it. Bonus points if you call out a specific monster they have to dance like before each round.

9. Pumpkin Toss

Grab a big plastic pumpkin bucket (the trick-or-treat kind) and place it on the ground. Give each kid five small bean bags or rolled-up socks and have them stand behind a line. Whoever gets the most bean bags into the bucket wins.
For older kids, move the line back. For younger kids, count any toss that lands close as a hit.

10. Ghost Bowling

Similar to pumpkin bowling but with a twist. Cover ten empty water bottles or toilet paper rolls with white paper or sheets and draw ghost faces on them. Use a small pumpkin or a tennis ball as the bowling ball.
Set up at the end of a hallway for indoor play. Works great as a solo activity for kids waiting their turn at other games.

11. Spider Web Walk

Use black yarn or string and create a giant “web” in a doorway or hallway, weaving it between walls or furniture. Kids have to crawl, duck, and twist their way through without touching the web.
This one is great for energetic kids who need to burn off some steam. Add bells to the yarn for an extra challenge — if a bell rings, they have to start over.

12. Eyeball Spoon Race

The Halloween version of an egg-and-spoon race. Use ping pong balls with creepy eye designs drawn on them (or buy plastic eyeballs from a party store). Kids balance the eyeball on a spoon and race to the finish line without dropping it.
If they drop it, they go back to the start. First one across wins. Works indoors or out.

13. Halloween Charades

Write Halloween-themed words on slips of paper — witch, ghost, vampire, mummy, black cat, zombie, skeleton, werewolf, pumpkin, broomstick. Kids take turns drawing a slip and acting it out without speaking. Other kids guess.For younger kids, draw little pictures next to the words so they can play too. A timer adds pressure and laughs.

14. Toilet Paper Mummy (Group Edition)

Different from #1 — this one is a group challenge. Pick one volunteer (an adult or older kid) and have all the kids work together to wrap them up as one giant mummy. Time how fast they can do it.

This is a great icebreaker at the start of the party because it gets everyone working together right away. Plus, kids love wrapping up a parent.

15. Candy Corn Guessing Jar

Fill a glass jar with candy corn and have each kid write down their guess for how many pieces are inside. Whoever gets closest wins the whole jar. You don’t even need to do an exact count — just an estimate.

This is a “passive” game kids can do whenever they want, which gives you a breather between active games.

16. Halloween Pictionary

Pictionary, but with Halloween themes. Use a big pad of paper or a small whiteboard. One kid draws a Halloween thing (cauldron, broom, jack-o-lantern, bat) while the others try to guess what it is. The kid who guesses right gets to draw next.

Set a one-minute timer per drawing. This is a calm, sit-down game that’s perfect for the middle of the party when energy needs to dip.

17. Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Skip the carving — too messy and too dangerous. Instead, give each kid a small pumpkin, some markers, paint pens, glitter glue, googly eyes, stick-on jewels, and pipe cleaners. Let them decorate however they want.

You can hand out goofy awards at the end so every kid wins something — funniest, scariest, sparkliest, weirdest. They get to take their pumpkin home as a party favor.

18. Trick-or-Treat Trail Mix

Set up a “trail mix bar” with bowls of candy corn, mini pretzels, chocolate chips, peanuts, marshmallows, M&Ms, and Goldfish crackers. Give each kid a paper Halloween cup and let them scoop their own custom mix.

It’s part game, part snack, part party favor. Use small ice cream scoops at each station so they don’t pour with their hands.

19. Halloween Hot Pumpkin

The Halloween version of hot potato. Kids sit in a circle and pass a small pumpkin (or a plastic one) around while Halloween music plays. When the music stops, the kid holding the pumpkin is out.

The last kid still in the circle wins. Easy, fast, no setup. Works for any age group.

20. Spooky Story Circle

Have all the kids sit in a circle and turn the lights down a bit. One kid starts a “spooky” story with one sentence. The next kid adds the next sentence. Keep going around the circle until the story finishes (or falls apart laughing).

For younger kids, keep it light and silly. For older kids, let them lean into the spooky stuff. Hand out flashlights for extra atmosphere.

21. Witch’s Brew Potion Making

Set up a “potion station” with cups, water, food coloring, glitter, gummy worms, ice cubes, and dry ice (only with adult supervision and only for older kids). Let the kids mix their own potions and name them something gross.

“Eye of newt and toe of frog” is way more fun when you’re seven. They can drink them too if you stick to safe ingredients like juice and gummy worms.

22. Skeleton Bone Hunt

Buy a cheap plastic skeleton (the dollar store kind that comes apart) and hide the bones around the house or yard before the party starts. Kids race to find all the bones and “rebuild” the skeleton on the floor or a table.

You can do this in teams or as a group. The first team to put the skeleton back together wins. Bonus: it doubles as a decoration for the rest of the party.

23. Bobbing for Apples

The OG Halloween game. Fill a big tub or bucket with water and float a dozen apples in it. Kids put their hands behind their backs and try to grab an apple with just their teeth.

Have a stack of towels nearby because there’s no way around it — they will get soaked. If you’re worried about germs, give each kid their own small bowl of water and one apple instead.

24. Halloween Musical Tombstones

Musical chairs, Halloween edition. Use chairs or paper “tombstones” cut from cardboard and arranged in a circle. Play Halloween music while kids walk around them. When the music stops, everyone grabs a tombstone.

Whoever doesn’t get one is out. Remove a tombstone after each round. Keep removing until one winner is left.

25. Pumpkin Roll Race

Each kid gets a small pumpkin and has to push it across a finish line using only their nose. Yes, just their nose. Set up a “track” using painter’s tape on the floor.
This one is gold for parents with cameras. Pumpkins roll in weird directions, kids end up on their hands and knees, and the laughs come fast. Best on a hard floor.

26. Ghost in the Graveyard

An outdoor classic. One kid is “the ghost” and hides somewhere in the yard. The other kids count to a chosen number and then go searching, calling out “What time is it, Mr. Ghost?” When they find the ghost, the ghost yells “MIDNIGHT!” and chases everyone back to home base.

Whoever gets tagged becomes the new ghost. Best played at dusk for max spookiness. Older kids love this one.

27. Halloween Photo Booth Hunt

Set up a Halloween photo booth corner with props — witch hats, fake mustaches, plastic fangs, glasses, capes. Then make it a game by giving kids a list of “photo challenges” — find a teammate, take a scary face photo, take a group jump shot, do a witch pose.

The first kid or team to complete every photo on the list wins. They get to keep the photos as a party favor. Works great with a Polaroid or instant camera.

28. Mystery Box (Feel and Guess)

Get a few cardboard boxes and cut a hole in the side of each one — big enough for a kid’s hand but not their eye. Fill each box with a “creepy” item that’s actually harmless: peeled grapes (eyeballs), cooked spaghetti (worms), a peeled banana (witch finger), dry rice (maggots), a wet sponge (brain).

Kids stick their hand in and have to guess what it is without looking. The reactions alone make this one worth it. Adjust the gross factor based on the age group.

29. Costume Parade

End the party with a costume parade. Line everyone up, play some Halloween music, and have them strut down a “runway” (the hallway works fine) one at a time. Hand out goofy awards — Most Original, Funniest, Scariest, Best Homemade, Cutest.

Make sure every single kid gets some kind of award. No one leaves a Halloween party feeling left out. This is the perfect closer because it gets everyone smiling right before the parents come pick them up.

How to Pick the Right Games for Your Party

You don’t need all 29. You need the right 5 or 6 for your group.

If you’re hosting younger kids (ages 3 to 6), stick to the simpler ones — pumpkin toss, Halloween bingo, freeze dance, pin the spider on the web, and the costume parade. Their attention spans are shorter, so plan for shorter games and more snack breaks in between.

For ages 7 to 10, you can mix in the more active games like the mummy wrap race, scavenger hunt, ghost in the graveyard, and the mystery box. They love being grossed out and they love a competition.

For tweens (ages 10+), lean into the social games — charades, pictionary, the photo booth hunt, and spooky story circle. They want to talk, laugh, and feel grown-up. Skip the baby stuff or they’ll roll their eyes.

For mixed age groups, pair older and younger kids on teams. The big kids feel responsible, the little kids feel included, and you get fewer meltdowns.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Halloween Games

Most of these games can flex either way, but a few are clearly better in one or the other.

Best for indoors: Halloween bingo, pin the spider on the web, charades, pictionary, mystery box, mummy wrap, hot pumpkin, candy corn jar, freeze dance.

Best for outdoors: pumpkin bowling, ghost in the graveyard, scavenger hunt (works for both), pumpkin roll race, spider web walk, bobbing for apples.

If you’re not sure about the weather, plan an indoor backup version of any outdoor game you pick. October weather can flip on you fast.

Cheap Supplies You’ll Need

Here’s the short shopping list to cover most of these games. You probably already have half of it:

Toilet paper (a big pack), small pumpkins (one per kid is great), plastic spiders and rings, a few cheap witch hats, candy corn, a bag of small bean bags or balloons, paper plates, glow sticks, black yarn or string, food coloring, gummy worms, masking or painter’s tape, balloons (orange, black, white), and a roll of black streamers.

That’s pretty much it. Hit the dollar store a week before the party and you’ll be set for under thirty bucks.

 

Quick Safety Tips for Halloween Party Games

Before you let twelve sugared-up kids loose with bowling pumpkins and toilet paper, a few quick things to keep in mind. None of this is meant to be a buzzkill — these are just the small things experienced party parents wish they’d known the first time around.

Skip real fire. No real candles in the jack-o-lanterns when kids are running around. Battery-powered tea lights work just as well and they don’t burn anyone’s costume sleeve. Same goes for any “potion” games — keep dry ice, hot water, and anything sharp away from younger hands.

Watch for food allergies. Always ask parents about allergies when you send out the party invites. Peanuts, dairy, and gluten are the big ones. If you’re not sure, label every snack with what’s in it and have a couple of allergen-free options on the table.

Costume check before active games. Long capes, dragging dresses, and oversized witch hats become tripping hazards during running games. Ask kids to take off the loose pieces before games like ghost in the graveyard or the pumpkin roll race. Their costumes (and their knees) will thank you.

Have an exit plan for overstimulation. Some kids will hit a wall halfway through the party. Set up a quiet corner with a few books or a blanket where a kid can take five minutes to decompress. It saves meltdowns and makes the party feel safer for shy kids.

And the most underrated tip of all: assign one adult per six kids if you can. Not to hover — just to keep an eye on things while you’re busy running games. It makes a huge difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Halloween party games for small kids?

For toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3 to 5), the easiest wins are pumpkin toss, Halloween bingo, freeze dance, pin the spider on the web, and pumpkin decorating. These games don’t have complicated rules and they let little kids feel successful right away. Skip games that need balance, speed, or fine motor skills.

How many games should I plan for a 2-hour Halloween party?

Plan for 5 to 6 games for a two-hour party. Each active game runs about 10 to 15 minutes, plus you’ll want time for food, costume showing-off, and a treat bag handout at the end. Always have one or two backup games in case something flops or finishes faster than you expected.

What are some good Halloween games for the classroom?

For classroom Halloween parties, stick to mess-free options. Halloween bingo, charades, pictionary, candy corn guessing jar, and pin the spider on the web all work well. They’re quiet, safe, and don’t need much space. Skip anything with water (bobbing for apples) or anything that uses a lot of toilet paper. Teachers will thank you.

How do I make Halloween games less scary for younger kids?

Stick to bright, friendly themes — pumpkins, candy corn, friendly ghosts, silly witches. Avoid anything with jump scares, dark rooms, or scary masks. Use words like “silly” and “funny” instead of “spooky” or “scary” when you explain the games. The mystery box can be modified by using only soft, fun textures (no slimy stuff) for younger kids.

What prizes should I give for Halloween games?

Keep it simple and small. Mini chocolate bars, stickers, glow sticks, temporary tattoos, Halloween pencils, mini erasers, plastic spider rings, or small bouncy balls all work. Hand out one prize per game. You can also do a “prize bin” where the winner picks one item. Don’t spend more than a few dollars per child on prizes total.

Can I play these games for a Halloween party with no candy?

Absolutely. Most of these games don’t actually involve candy at all — only the trail mix bar and candy corn guessing jar use it directly. You can swap candy prizes for small toys, glow sticks, stickers, or homemade craft supplies. Plenty of parents appreciate a low-sugar Halloween party.

What’s the easiest Halloween game to set up at the last minute?

If you’ve got 15 minutes before kids show up, do the mummy wrap race or freeze dance. Both need almost no setup. Mummy wrap just needs toilet paper. Freeze dance just needs a Halloween playlist and some space. You can throw either one together while the kids are still arriving.

Final Thoughts

The best Halloween parties aren’t the ones with the most expensive decorations or the fanciest food. They’re the ones where the kids are too busy laughing to ask for their phones.

Pick a handful of these games. Prep what you need the night before. Don’t stress about everything being perfect — kids never notice the stuff you’re worried about, and they always remember the chaos that made them laugh.

Whether your kid is hosting a small backyard get-together or a full-blown costume party with the whole class, these 29 Halloween party games will keep things fun from the first guest to the last goodbye.

Happy Halloween — and may your toilet paper supply hold strong.

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