Bachelor & Bachelorette Party Games: 56 Ideas for Stag and Hen Dos & Tips

Want to throw a legendary bachelor or bachelorette party? It takes more than a few drinks and snacks – party games can liven up the day too. So why not build a few fun games and dares into your activities? But when and how do you use them? And which games are popular?

Below you’ll find 56 games, sorted into classics, games for at home, dares on the go and drinking games – plus tips on when and how to play them. Pick five to eight, spread them over the day, and you have a common thread and a mood-lifter in one. Can’t be bothered with paper and dice? Ten stag and hen do games such as Kings Cup, Truth or Dare and bachelorette bingo can be played free in your browser, straight on your phone.

Why do bachelor and bachelorette party games exist?

Party games do several jobs at once.

Fun: This is the most obvious reason. Games bring people together; they laugh and enjoy their time together. They create the high spirits and sense of joy that are essential for a really good stag or hen do.

A test before marriage: Traditionally, the games and challenges at a stag or hen do are a kind of “test” or “ritual” the groom or bride has to go through before taking on the responsibility of marriage. It’s a sort of symbolic “final exam” before taking the big step into married life.

To play a joke on the groom or bride: It’s also a chance to have a bit of fun at the expense of the future groom or bride. Many of the games are designed to put them in funny or embarrassing situations. It’s all in good fun and a great opportunity to take some unforgettable photos!

As part of the programme and for entertainment: Party games also help to get the party started and keep it going. They give the day or evening some structure and make sure there’s always something to do. They fill the gaps between the other activities and help to avoid any lulls in the mood.

Drinking games: And finally, no proper stag or hen do is complete without the odd drinking game. Drinking games are a tried-and-tested way to loosen things up and create a lively atmosphere.

The ultimate list of bachelor and bachelorette party games

Now you’re spoilt for choice: which games will you pick? We’ve collected lots of game ideas for you and sorted them into different categories – have fun browsing!

Classics & tradition

Because stag and hen dos are so individual these days, there are hardly any fixed classics left. The traditional option is the Polterabend, the German pre-wedding party, but most people no longer celebrate it that way, except perhaps in the countryside. The closest thing to a perennial favourite is the vendor tray of goodies to sell to strangers. Here’s an overview of the most tried-and-tested traditions and evergreens.

The Polterabend: traditional tasks and rituals

At a Polterabend, which many cultures regard as a traditional celebration before the wedding, there are also some classic games and tasks:

1. Broken china brings luck: Probably the best-known Polterabend ritual is smashing porcelain or ceramics. The shards are meant to bring the couple luck, and it’s their job to sweep everything up together, which symbolises their teamwork.
2. Sawing a log: Another classic task is log sawing, where the couple have to saw through a tree trunk together with a two-handed saw. This, too, is meant to symbolise their teamwork.
3. Marriage quiz: Another classic is a quiz in which the couple have to answer questions about each other. These can range from simple questions about likes and dislikes to trickier ones about the history of their relationship.
4. Coachman game: In this game the story of how the couple met and their relationship is acted out, often with funny, exaggerated details. Every guest gets a role and has to stand up and play their part when their bit of the story is told.

There are other Polterabend traditions too, but they’re used far less often today. Stag and hen do games have become much freer and more flexible and no longer follow any strict rules.

Vendor tray and making money

There are a few stag and hen do games that let you earn money to cover the cost of the party. Here are some ideas:

5. Vendor tray: In this game the groom or bride wears a tray around their neck full of little goodies that they have to sell to passers-by. These can range from sweets and snacks to small toys and embarrassing items. Passers-by receive a product or a service in return for a donation. The money raised can go towards the party. The aim is to sell everything, and the groom or bride often has to complete embarrassing or funny dares along the way.
6. Karaoke contest: Organise a karaoke contest and ask onlookers for donations to take part or to judge the performances. For a donation, passers-by can choose a song, get a drink and enjoy the show.
7. Raffle or prize draw: Run a raffle or prize draw with various prizes. Tickets can be sold to passers-by and drawn on the spot. Prizes can be small snacks, drinks or interesting, personal items belonging to the groom. Make sure there’s also a “star prize” with a bit of appeal. The money raised then goes towards the party.
8. Offering services: Offer particular services such as washing cars, gardening, babysitting or similar and ask for a donation for your trouble. Of course, this only works if you’re celebrating among family or in a small village where you know the neighbours.

Insider tips & evergreens

9. Beat the groom or bride: Inspired by Schlag den Raab, a popular German TV game show in which a contestant takes on the host, you can stage your own beat-the-groom contest. Put together a series of challenges and games in which the groom has to compete against the rest of the group. Whether these are quiz questions, games of skill or sporting tasks is up to you.
10. Bride or groom in danger: Here you can create a kind of obstacle course, questions, sporting tasks, general-knowledge questions or any other kind of challenge for the groom or bride to master. Challenges could include crossing a wobbly beam, solving a riddle, a task involving passers-by or passing a test of nerve. You can vary the tasks and spread them over the whole day.
11. Truth or Dare: A well-known game that always entertains. Players take turns and decide whether to answer a “truth” or carry out a “dare”. The “truths” could be personal questions and the “dares” funny or challenging tasks. To keep it exciting, you can introduce a rule: a truth can be chosen a maximum of three times, then a dare has to follow.

Bachelor and bachelorette party games at home

Here are some game ideas you can play at home. We’ve sorted the games into different categories:

Card games and dice games

10. Taboo: In this game, one player gets a card with a word on it that they have to describe without using the “taboo” words also printed on the card. The challenge is to think fast and find creative ways of describing it so that the other players can guess the word.
11. Bingo: First, make bingo cards with funny dares or events. During the game, events or dares are called out, and if they’re on your card, you can mark the square. The aim is to mark a whole line on the bingo card – horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
12. Mäxle (Mexico): Each player takes a turn rolling the two dice, hidden under a cup. The aim is to roll a higher number than the previous player. The highest combination is the “Mäxle” – a six and a one. But watch out! You’re also allowed to bluff and claim a higher number than you actually rolled. If the next player doesn’t believe the bluff, they lift the cup. If the previous player was bluffing, they have to drink; if the doubter was wrong, the doubter drinks.
13. Schwimmen: Schwimmen (“swimming”), also known as “31”, is an exciting card game that calls for strategic thinking. Each player gets three cards, and the aim is to swap with the cards in the middle to reach the highest possible score. You need a tactical approach, as you always have to decide whether to swap or “swim”, meaning sit out a round.
14. Looping Louie: This game is all about skill and quick reactions. Players have to stop Louie, flying round in circles, from knocking their chickens off the perch. By pressing the catapult at the right moment, players can launch Louie into the air and save their chickens. Timing is everything, and laughs are guaranteed when Louie takes off unexpectedly and the chickens are saved.
15. President and Arsehole: The aim of the game is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. The ranking of the players is set by the order in which they get rid of their cards – the first player with no cards left becomes “President” and the last player still holding cards becomes the “Arsehole”. The fun part is that the roles are handed out again every round, and players try to topple the “President” and win the title for themselves.

Relaxed games

16. Film quiz: This game lets you show off your film knowledge. One person asks questions about different films – from classics to recent hits – and whoever knows the answer first gets a point.
17. Wedding film night: Get comfy and watch wedding films together. You can turn it into a drinking game – for example, drink every time someone says “I love you”.
18. Spa day: A relaxing day full of beauty treatments could be just the thing to unwind before the wedding. Put on face masks, paint your nails or try out new hairstyles. Settle in with snacks and drinks and enjoy the day.
19. Wedding planner game: This game is all about planning the perfect wedding. Everyone gets a fictional budget and has to plan a wedding within it. You can use wedding magazines for inspiration.
20. Guess the photo: This game is a great way to reminisce and laugh together. Everyone brings an old photo of themselves, and the others have to guess when it was taken and what the story behind it is. The most absurd stories and wildest guesses often lead to the funniest moments.
21. Remember when: In this game you test your memory and share memories. Someone names a year and everyone has to tell what they remember from it – a funny anecdote, a special event or a memory they share with the bride. It’s a lovely way to share memories and learn new things about each other.
22. Favourite sayings: This game is about paying tribute to mutual friends or teachers. Each player thinks of someone you all know and tries to imitate their typical saying or quirk. The others then have to guess who it is. This game usually gets plenty of laughs and can also be an affectionate homage to people who’ve shaped you.

Active games

23. Cooking contest: Split into teams and take on the challenge of cooking the best dish within a set time. You can set a theme for the dishes or leave it up to the teams. At the end everything is tasted, and the tastiest dishes win.
24. Karaoke night: A karaoke night can be great fun and a brilliant way to lift the mood. Pick your favourite songs and try to sing them as well as you can. The jury decides who sang best. Prizes and forfeits for singing off-key are optional.
25. Charades: In this game one player has to act out a term without using words, while the others try to guess it. Also known as mime, you have to get creative in showing what you want to say. You can also draw or put props out.
26. Cocktail mixing contest: This game lets you show off your mixing skills. Each player gets the chance to mix their own cocktail, and the others rate how it tastes. Just make sure you start with light cocktails ;-). Guessing the ingredients is optional.
27. Photo shoot: A photo shoot can be a fun, creative way to make memories. Put out various costumes and props and take photos of yourselves in funny, creative poses. You get the best results by combining lots of funny designs and having variations.
28. Wedding dress design: In this game everyone gets a roll of toilet paper and the task of designing a wedding dress. It takes a lot of creativity and is sure to be great fun. You can extend the game by putting out scraps of fabric, pens and the like.
29. Baking a wedding cake: Split into teams and try to bake a mini wedding cake. You can award points for taste, looks and creativity. Of course, it could also be biscuits, cupcakes or another dish of your choice.

Bachelor and bachelorette party games and dares on the go

You can also liven up your programme with dares out and about. Here are some stag and hen do games, sorted into different categories:

Games with passers-by

30. Autograph hunt: A game that combines chatting to people with fun. Make a list of particular jobs or features of people you have to meet – someone with a beard, someone in uniform and so on – and ask these people for an autograph. To make it a bit meaner, the autograph has to go on someone’s body or on an item of clothing.
31. Photo challenge: Make a list of specific photos you have to take. For example, you might need a picture with a busker, a dog, a police officer or someone with the same first name as the bride- or groom-to-be.
32. Guess who’s getting married: In this game you ask passers-by which of you they think is getting married. It’s especially funny if the bride or groom isn’t obviously marked out. It’s interesting to see who looks the most “engaged”.
33. Drinking selfies: This game is about taking as many selfies as possible while clinking glasses with passers-by. The trick is to persuade passers-by not just to raise a glass with you but also to take a selfie. It’s a fun, interactive way to connect with the people around you and have a lasting memento of the day.

Embarrassing games

34. Hugs from strangers: Everyone in the group has to try asking strangers in the street for a hug. It’s a fun game that brings surprise and human warmth and often gets unexpectedly positive reactions.
35. Sales challenge: Everyone in the group gets a completely useless object and has to try to sell it to passers-by. It could be a broken biro, a single glove or an old newspaper. The winner is whoever actually manages to sell their item.
36. Kisses from strangers: The groom or bride has to try to collect kisses on the cheek from passers-by.
37. Sing me a serenade: The groom or bride has to get passers-by to sing a song for them. The embarrassment often comes from the song itself or from the fact that many people don’t like singing in public.
38. Best man’s dance: The best man has to perform an improvised dance in public while the rest of the group claps and cheers.
39. Make me up: The groom or bride carries a selection of make-up and asks passers-by to give them a new look. You can add a twist and let the passers-by choose the make-up and do the groom’s or bride’s make-up themselves.
40. Make a speech: The aim of this game is to give a speech so convincing that at least ten passers-by applaud. You can choose any topic, though it should obviously be something that makes people laugh rather than cry. It can also be good practice in persuasion and public speaking – who knows, maybe you’ll discover a hidden talent!

Sporty games

41. Three-legged race: Two people are tied together at one leg and have to cover a set distance together as fast as possible. It takes teamwork and coordination. You’ll need: rope or ribbon.
42. Scavenger hunt through the city: You have to find clues and solve riddles to get from one place to the next. This activity can be a great way to explore the city in a fun, interactive way. You’ll need: clues or riddles prepared in advance.
43. Hike with riddles: Much like the scavenger hunt, you can build riddles into a hike that have to be solved. You could link them to the surroundings so that everyone looks closely at the landscape and learns more about nature. You’ll need: prepared riddles or clues.
44. Workout challenges: Put together a series of sporting tasks or exercises for everyone to complete. It could be anything from press-ups and sit-ups to yoga poses or a sprint.
45. Bike tour: Plan a bike tour through the city or the countryside. You can also plan various stops or sights to pause at.
46. City rally: Organise a rally through the city in which everyone has to complete various tasks to collect points. That might mean taking a photo of a particular sight, saying a particular sentence to a passer-by or trying a local dish. You’ll need: a list of tasks or challenges.
47. Water fight: In hot weather there’s hardly a better way to cool off and have lots of fun at the same time than a good old water fight. You can form teams and try to “defeat” the other team, or just squirt each other wildly. To make it more interesting, set different rules or goals, such as hitting a particular target or avoiding getting hit yourself.
48. Treasure hunt: A treasure hunt is a classic game often played at children’s birthday parties, but it can be loads of fun at a stag or hen do too. A series of clues or riddles is hidden, and the group has to solve them to find the “treasure”. The “treasure” could be something funny or embarrassing that the groom or bride then has to wear or do, or perhaps a bottle of champagne to celebrate the end of the hunt.

Games for a hike

49. Trail riddles: Run a kind of scavenger hunt or puzzle rally along the trail. Place clues or riddles at different stations that have to be solved to reach the next station or find the way to the next leg. This adds fun and suspense to the hike while letting everyone enjoy nature and the surroundings.
50. Animal and plant bingo: Before the hike, make bingo cards with various animals, plants or other natural features you might spot along the way. Everyone tries to fill their card by finding and ticking off the different species. You can also offer small prizes for the first completed bingo cards.
51. Photo contest: Make a list of objects, places or situations to photograph during the hike. Each player has a set time to take as many photos as possible or capture particular subjects. The photos can be funny, creative or simply beautiful snapshots. At the end you can look at the photos together and laugh about the memories.
52. Word game hike: Pick a particular word or theme and have everyone find words or phrases that fit it during the hike. It can be a contest in which everyone tries to find as many words as possible. This can test your vocabulary and be fun at the same time.
53. Nature quiz: Before the hike, prepare a quiz with questions about nature or the area you’re walking through. Players can compete against each other and try to answer as many questions correctly as possible. The quiz can help deepen your knowledge of nature and the surroundings and make the hike even more interesting; you can also add small forfeits for wrong answers.

Drinking games

Most stag and hen do games involve drinking games too. They can be an entertaining addition, at home or on the go:

• With drinking games at home, you can turn almost any game into a drinking game by setting certain rules. For example, in a card game you could take a sip when certain combinations of cards come up, or in a board game you could set particular events where everyone has to drink.
• With drinking games on the go, you can link tasks or challenges to drinking. For example, on a scavenger hunt you could drink a shot at certain stations, or in a challenge with passers-by, whoever fails the dare has to drink.

Important rules for drinking games

So that everyone has a good time, take these tips to heart:

• Don’t start with spirits: If you start straight away on the hard stuff, you’ll be wrecked in no time! How about shandy, beer or a wine spritzer? You can always step it up later. What you can’t do is undo it (or at least only in a disgusting way, and nobody enjoys that!) 😉
• One person keeps (a bit of) an eye on things: Believe us, it’s a good idea to appoint one person who doesn’t go completely overboard. If things get out of hand, problems crop up or you need help, they can sort out the situation.
• Don’t force it: Nobody should be pressured into drinking more than they want; that only brings negative vibes and spoils the fun. Nobody benefits if the groom or a friend ends up hugging the toilet or has to go home early.

Especially easy and popular drinking games

There’s a huge range of drinking games that are hugely popular at stag and hen dos and other parties. Here are some particularly well-known and popular ones:

54. Beer pong: Beer pong is a classic among drinking games. It’s played with cups and table-tennis balls, and the aim is to throw the ball into the other team’s beer-filled cups. If a ball lands, that team has to drink the cup.
55. Never Have I Ever: In this game, players take turns making statements such as “Never have I ever stolen anything” or “Never have I ever kissed someone I’d only just met”. Anyone who has done it has to take a sip.
56. Quarters is another popular drinking game, often played at parties, stag and hen dos and in bars. A coin is placed on the table and players take turns trying to bounce it from close range into a glass or cup. The coin has to “hit” the table once first.

Read our article on drinking games for even more inspiration!

Which games for stag dos and which for hen dos?

Here’s how we see it: We’re all grown-ups; some men like games for women and some women like games for men. And what about same-sex couples, and people who’d rather not define their gender identity? We ❤️ you all, and you decide what you fancy! Still, there are some games that come up more often at stag dos or hen dos. Here are a few examples:

Bachelor party games for men

• Action-packed activities: Games like paintball, go-karting, indoor climbing or a spin on the kart track are popular with many men and a chance to let off steam and have fun. You can build in dares and small games along the way.
• Beer tasting or brewery tour: Men who like a beer might enjoy a beer tasting or brewery tour. They can try different beers and add a few games with cards or a quiz.
• Sports contests: Sporty men can compete in sports such as football, basketball or volleyball, or even play a round of golf together.

Bachelorette party games for women

• Spa day: Many women love to relax and be pampered. A spa day with massages, facials and a manicure or pedicure can be the perfect chance to unwind and leave everyday stress behind. Think of a few games beforehand that can be worked in – with a tablet or cards, for instance, you can do something here too.
• Beauty workshop: A beauty workshop is not just a chance to learn new techniques and skills, but also to have fun together and style each other. It’s a good opportunity to swap ideas, talk about make-up trends and inspire each other.
• Dance class: A dance class, whether salsa, belly dancing, pole dancing or another style, can be fun and gives women the chance to express themselves and learn new moves.

Bear in mind that these suggestions are based on general gender stereotypes and won’t suit everyone. Stag and hen do games should always be tailored to the individual preferences, interests and wishes of the people taking part, whatever their gender.

Final tips & conclusion

You don’t need all 56 games – you need the right mix. What works well is combining short, quick games (5 to 15 minutes) with one or two longer activities like a scavenger hunt or the vendor tray, and spreading them across the day, with breaks for a chat, snacks and drinks in between. That way the mood stays high without anyone flagging or feeling steamrollered.

Choose for the person you’re celebrating, not by a one-size-fits-all formula: what suits their sense of humour, and what would embarrass them in a bad way? Have one or two backup ideas ready for rain or a dip in the mood, and never force anyone into anything. The best stag or hen do is the one where everyone laughs along willingly – the person being celebrated included.

If you’d rather get going straight away instead of writing your own cards: our games to go run free on your phone, no app needed. And for even more drinking-game ideas, check out our guide to the best drinking games.