The 40th birthday is a milestone like no other. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring together friends and family for a celebration that’s filled with fun, laughter and unforgettable memories. One way to ensure your party stands out? Including a variety of games that cater to your guests and the birthday person. Whether your crowd is competitive, laid-back, or a mix of both, these games are sure to make the event a hit.
In this article, we’ll explore the best 40th birthday party games that everyone will love—games that are engaging, unique and fitting for the big 4-0!
Why You Need Games for a 40th Birthday Party
Games are a great way to break the ice, entertain guests and make sure the party stays lively. For a 40th birthday, you’ll want to choose games that appeal to an adult crowd—something that’s fun, a little nostalgic, but not too childish. The right games will create an atmosphere of excitement and keep the energy flowing throughout the event.
Instead of relying on the usual party routines, incorporating well-chosen games can bring people together, encourage interaction and add an extra layer of fun to your celebration.
1. Personalized 40th Trivia – A Trip Down Memory Lane
One of the best ways to celebrate turning 40 is by taking a trip down memory lane with a trivia game. But this isn’t just any trivia—it’s 40-themed trivia that taps into both the birthday person’s history and the significant events that shaped their life.
Here’s how you can make it truly special:
- Customized Questions: Tailor trivia questions to the birthday honoree’s life. Think about their favorite TV shows growing up, memorable vacations, or even funny moments that everyone remembers. This makes the game feel personal and fun for the guest of honor.
- Decade Trivia: Since your 40-year-old guest of honor grew up in the 80s and 90s, make sure to include some trivia from those iconic decades. Ask about the top movies, hit songs, or pop culture references from that time.
- Number 40 Trivia: Add an extra layer of fun by focusing some questions around the number 40. For example, quiz your guests on famous athletes who wore the number 40, or ask about events that happened 40 years ago.
Bonus Idea: Offer a unique prize to the winner, like 40 small gifts or something themed around the number 40.
Why This Works: This trivia game is a great way to bring nostalgia and personal memories into the mix, making it more than just a standard trivia game. It’s about celebrating the past while having fun in the present.
2. “Over the Hill” Outdoor Adventure – A Unique Way to Celebrate
For a 40th birthday, why not take the party outside? An “Over the Hill” themed outdoor adventure is the perfect way to blend fun, fitness and some lighthearted humor. This activity can be as simple as organizing a hike with friends or creating a full day of outdoor games and picnicking.
Here’s how you can plan the perfect “Over the Hill” experience:
- Choose a Scenic Location: Pick a local park, nature reserve, or hiking trail that has breathtaking views. The theme of “Over the Hill” works perfectly as a cheeky nod to turning 40, but it can also be a beautiful way to appreciate nature and get some fresh air.
- Plan a Picnic: After the hike or outdoor adventure, plan a picnic with all the guests. Bring blankets, snacks and beverages and set up a comfortable spot to enjoy the company of friends. The natural setting will serve as the perfect backdrop without needing any elaborate decorations.
- Incorporate Outdoor Games: Add to the fun by incorporating a few outdoor party games. You can play frisbee, tug-of-war, or even organize a relay race. These activities encourage guests to relax, laugh and enjoy each other’s company.
Why This Works: For guests who prefer a more laid-back and nature-filled celebration, an “Over the Hill” outdoor party strikes the perfect balance. It offers a refreshing break from traditional indoor parties and provides a memorable experience for all attendees.
3. Escape Room Challenge – A Thrilling Group Activity
If you’re looking for something more interactive and immersive, an escape room experience might be just what your party needs. Escape rooms have become incredibly popular because they’re challenging, exciting and promote teamwork—perfect for a 40th birthday party that’s full of thrill-seekers.
Here’s why it’s a great addition:
- Interactive Fun: Escape rooms are designed to challenge participants to solve puzzles, find clues and work together to “escape” a locked room. This makes for an engaging and adrenaline-filled activity that’s great for bonding with friends and family.
- Customized Themes: Many escape rooms offer different themes, so you can choose one that matches the birthday person’s interests. Whether they love mystery, adventure, or something spooky, there’s an escape room for every taste.
- Team-Building: Escape rooms are the perfect way to get guests interacting with one another. They require cooperation, communication and creative thinking—ideal for a group that enjoys working together on a shared goal.
Why This Works: An escape room is a unique and unforgettable way to celebrate a milestone birthday. It’s different from the usual party games and offers an experience that’s both fun and challenging, making it a highlight of the event.
4. Sip, Sip, Shot – The Ultimate Drinking Game with a Twist
If your party is for an adult crowd that enjoys a good drink, then “Sip, Sip, Shot” is a fun, fast-paced drinking game that’s sure to get everyone laughing. Think of it as an adult version of Duck, Duck, Goose—but with drinks!
Here’s how it works:
- How to Play: Players sit in a circle and one person, the “bopper,” walks around tapping people on the head while saying “sip.” Every person tapped takes a sip of their drink. Eventually, the bopper taps someone and says “shot” instead of “sip.” The player who’s tapped with “shot” must leap up and chase the bopper around the circle.
- What Happens Next: If the “shot” player tags the bopper before they get back to the empty seat, they take over as the bopper. If they fail to tag the bopper, they take a shot.
- Make It Themed: To make the game even more entertaining, consider giving the players themed drinks based on the birthday person’s favorite cocktails or craft beers. This small touch adds a personalized element to the game, making it even more fun.
Why This Works: Sip, Sip, Shot is easy to play, needs minimal setup and guarantees lots of laughs. It’s a lighthearted way to introduce a competitive element to the party, but in a laid-back and social way. It’s ideal for groups who enjoy drinking games but want something different from the usual beer pong or flip cup.
5. “Don’t Say Yes” – A Game of Wits and Self-Control
“Don’t Say Yes” is a fun, simple and surprisingly challenging game that keeps everyone on their toes. The rules are easy: no one is allowed to say the word “yes” (or any variation like “yeah” or “yep”) throughout the party. It might sound easy, but trust us, it gets tricky!
Here’s how to play:
- The Setup: As guests arrive, inform them that the word “yes” is officially banned for the night. You can make it more interesting by giving out stickers or yarn necklaces to guests who accidentally say the word. Each time someone slips up, they get another sticker or necklace.
- The Winner: The guest with the least number of stickers or necklaces at the end of the party wins a prize. This could be something fun like a bottle of champagne or a gag gift.
Why This Works: “Don’t Say Yes” is a low-maintenance game that can run in the background of your party while people are chatting and socializing. It’s fun because it keeps guests engaged in the festivities without needing constant attention. Plus, it encourages conversation and light-hearted competition, which is always a party win!
6. Brown Bag – A Hilariously Fun Physical Challenge
Brown Bag is a hilarious drinking game that’s all about balance, flexibility and humor. It’s easy to set up and it’s guaranteed to get your guests laughing as they try to complete this quirky challenge.
Here’s how to play:
- The Setup: Place a standard brown paper bag on the floor. Each player takes turns trying to pick up the bag with their mouth—without using their hands or letting anything but their feet touch the ground.
- The Twist: After every successful round, cut an inch off the top of the bag to make the challenge harder. The shorter the bag, the trickier it gets!
- Penalties: If someone fails to pick up the bag, they must take a shot or chug a drink, depending on your party rules.
Why This Works: Brown Bag is the perfect blend of physical comedy and light competition. It’s easy to organize and doesn’t require any special equipment. Plus, as the game progresses and the bag gets shorter, it becomes even funnier to watch and more challenging for players. This game works particularly well if you’re looking for something that gets people out of their seats and moving.
7. Movie ID – A Fast-Paced Guessing Game
If your guests love movies, then “Movie ID” is a must-play game. It’s a fun guessing game that tests how well players can describe movies using only a few words. This game is perfect for keeping the energy up and creating some friendly competition among your guests.
Here’s how it works:
- How to Play: Split your guests into two teams. One person from each team selects a movie title and tries to get their team to guess it using only a limited number of words. The fewer words used, the harder it is!
- Add a Time Limit: To keep the game fast-paced, set a time limit of 30 seconds for each team to guess. If the team can’t figure it out in time, the other team gets a chance to steal the point by guessing the movie.
- Theme It: To make it more fun, you can theme the movie titles around the birthday person’s favorite genres or decades—like 80s action films or 90s comedies.
Why This Works: Movie ID is a fun and simple game that gets everyone involved, whether they’re describing or guessing. It’s great for adding a bit of mental challenge to the party and the time limit keeps the game moving, so no one loses interest. Plus, it’s easy to adjust the difficulty level by limiting the number of words players can use to describe the movie.
8. Great Minds Think Alike – A Game of Group Consensus
“Great Minds Think Alike” is a party game that encourages guests to get on the same wavelength. The goal is to guess what everyone else is thinking, making it a fun game that brings out hilarious surprises.
Here’s how to play:
- How to Play: The host reads out a prompt, such as “Name a popular movie from the 90s” or “What’s the best pizza topping?” Each player writes down what they think will be the most common answer among the group. The more people who give the same answer, the more points they score.
- Keep it Themed: To make the game more relevant to the party, you can tailor the prompts around the birthday person’s interests or key moments from their life. For example, ask questions like “What was the biggest trend in 1984?” or “What’s the best 40th birthday gift?”
Why This Works: This game is light-hearted, easy to play and gets people thinking while having fun. It’s especially great for groups where some guests may not know each other well, as it encourages conversation and bonding over shared thoughts and guesses. Plus, the themed prompts add a personal touch that makes the game feel special for the birthday person.
9. Kiss, Marry, Kill – Celebrity Edition
“Kiss, Marry, Kill” is a classic party game, but for a 40th birthday, you can add a unique twist by using celebrities or fictional characters instead of people you know. It’s simple, silly and always leads to funny debates!
Here’s how to play:
- The Setup: Give each player three famous names (they can be celebrities, movie characters, or historical figures). They must choose who they would kiss, marry, or kill from the three options.
- Keep it Friendly: Using famous names instead of real people makes this game fun without getting too personal, which is perfect for mixed groups. It also opens up space for hilarious discussions about why someone would rather marry a movie villain or kiss a celebrity crush.
Why This Works: This game is perfect for injecting humor into the party, as it always leads to funny conversations and reactions. It’s also a game that can be played with minimal setup and works well alongside other activities. Plus, using celebrity names ensures that the game remains light-hearted and fun, avoiding any awkwardness that could arise from personal choices.
Final Thoughts – Wrapping Up the Party with Fun and Games
Turning 40 is a major milestone and what better way to celebrate than with games that bring laughter, nostalgia and excitement? Whether you’re playing trivia that takes a trip down memory lane, participating in fast-paced drinking games, or challenging your friends to escape an escape room, the right mix of activities will ensure that your 40th birthday party is unforgettable.
Each game we’ve suggested offers something unique—whether it’s mental challenges, physical fun, or just good old-fashioned silliness. These activities cater to different types of guests, making sure that everyone feels included and has a great time.
