The 1980s was a time of bold fashion, neon colors, and unforgettable pop culture. It was a decade that gave birth to some of the most iconic TV shows, movies, and games that remain beloved today. If you’re hosting a retro-themed party and want to take your guests on a trip down memory lane, nothing beats a good ol’ DIY 80s-themed game. These games were a staple of childhood during the 80s, and recreating them for your event is an excellent way to add fun and nostalgia.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 exciting DIY 80s-themed games that are sure to bring the fun and memories of the 80s straight to your party. From physical challenges to mind-bending puzzles, these games capture the essence of the era and will keep everyone entertained. Let’s dive into some of the most creative and nostalgic game ideas that will transport you and your guests right back to the 80s!
1. DIY Double Dare Challenge
Inspired by the Iconic Nickelodeon Game Show
What You’ll Need:
- Inflatable pool or obstacle course
- Plastic slime (you can make your own using cornstarch, water, and food coloring)
- Various soft foam objects like balls, sponges, or pool noodles
- Timer
Double Dare was a show that got kids excited with its outrageous obstacle courses and messy physical challenges. Recreate this 80s classic by setting up a fun, DIY obstacle course in your backyard or living room.
You can use items like inflatable pools, slip-and-slide materials, and foam objects to craft a wild and physical challenge. Divide guests into teams, give them their “physical challenge” or “dare,” and time them as they race to complete it. Add a bonus twist by having them earn extra points for completing a series of “slime” challenges, where they get covered in homemade green slime (a fun and safe alternative to the messy show version).
How to Make it Memorable:
- Include activities like crawling through tunnels, balancing on beams, and jumping over obstacles.
- Use loud, energetic music to replicate the vibe of the show.
- Offer small prizes or medals for the winning team.
2. DIY Croquet: Retro Garden Party Fun
Channel Your Inner 80s “Heathers”
What You’ll Need:
- Croquet set (you can easily find one at most sporting goods stores or online)
- Bright neon colors for the balls and mallets
- Lawn or open space
Croquet was a quintessential part of 80s backyard parties, particularly for those who wanted to add a touch of class to their social gatherings. If you’ve seen the film Heathers, you’ll know how important a good game of croquet was in the 80s. This DIY game is easy to set up, and the rules are simple enough for everyone to join in.
Give the game a retro twist by using neon-painted mallets and bright colors for the balls. The appeal of the game lies in its laid-back yet competitive nature, perfect for guests of all ages.
How to Set Up:
- Set up a croquet course in your backyard or a large outdoor area.
- Create obstacles, like low tables or chairs, to add difficulty.
- Each player will take turns hitting their ball through a series of hoops to reach the final goal.
Extra Tip:
For a more authentic 80s feel, encourage players to wear their best preppy or pastel-colored outfits, channeling that preppy style!
3. DIY Slip ‘n Slide Showdown
The Ultimate Water Slide Experience
What You’ll Need:
- A large plastic tarp or heavy-duty plastic sheet
- A garden hose
- Dish soap (to ensure it’s slippery!)
- Stakes to hold the plastic down
The Slip ‘n Slide was a summer essential in the 80s, providing hours of water-filled entertainment. Bring this iconic activity to your event with your very own DIY version. This game is ideal for a hot summer party or an outdoor event.
Lay down a large plastic tarp on a smooth surface and attach a garden hose to the tarp, ensuring a constant flow of water. For an extra touch, squirt some dish soap onto the tarp to make it extra slippery!
How to Play:
- Players take turns running and sliding on the plastic sheet, trying to cover as much distance as possible.
- Add a competitive element by timing how long each player can slide or how far they can go.
- If you’re feeling creative, set up obstacles (like pool noodles or cones) along the slide to challenge the players.
Bonus:
Host a “Slip ‘n Slide” relay race with teams of two. One player slides and tags their teammate, who continues the race.
4. Life-Size Hungry, Hungry Hippos
The Ultimate Interactive 80s Toy Experience
What You’ll Need:
- Scooter boards (one for each player)
- Bungee cords
- Pool noodles
- Ball pit balls or similar soft, throwable objects
- Large plastic baskets or containers
Hungry, Hungry Hippos was a classic board game in the 80s, and now you can bring it to life in a big way! Transform your party into a life-sized version of this popular game where players sit on scooter boards and use bungee cords to “scoot” around and collect balls.
How to Set It Up:
- Lay out a large area where the game can be played safely.
- Divide your players into teams (two to four people per team).
- Place several soft balls or inflatable objects in the middle of the space, and have players race to grab them using only baskets attached to their scooter boards.
How to Play:
- The player sitting on the scooter board must race around the playing area, collecting as many balls as possible.
- Players can only pick up the balls with their basket, and they must race back to their team’s designated area to drop them in their basket.
5. DIY Guess Who? – 80s Edition
Personalize a Classic Game with Family & Friends
What You’ll Need:
- Large board or poster with cutouts for faces
- Pictures of your friends or family members
- Markers or paint to decorate
The 80s was the golden era of board games, and Guess Who? was a favorite among families and friends. Bring this nostalgic game to your party by personalizing it with photos of your own family, friends, or party guests.
How to Set Up:
- Use a large board or poster and cut out spaces for each person’s face.
- Collect photos of your guests and cut them out to fit the spaces.
- Mark the board with colored pens or paint for a retro 80s look.
How to Play:
- Divide players into teams, and one player will be the “questioner” while the other team answers.
- The objective is to guess the person the other team has selected by asking yes or no questions about their appearance.
- The first team to correctly guess the other team’s character wins.
6. Pin-the-Shades on Ferris Bueller
Inspired by the Classic 80s Film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
What You’ll Need:
- A large Ferris Bueller poster (or a poster of another 80s icon)
- Sunglasses (cut out from cardboard or printed images)
- Blindfolds
- Pins or tape to attach the glasses
In the iconic 80s movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ferris is rarely seen without his signature sunglasses. Recreate this classic scene by playing a fun variation of Pin the Tail on the Donkey with Ferris’ sunglasses. This easy-to-set-up game adds a playful and quirky touch to your 80s-themed party.
How to Set It Up:
- Print out a large Ferris Bueller poster (or any other 80s icon of your choice) and attach it to a wall.
- Cut out several pairs of sunglasses from cardboard or print them out on colorful paper.
- Blindfold your players, spin them around, and let them attempt to “pin” the shades onto Ferris’ face.
How to Play:
- The player is blindfolded and spun around, then they must try to attach the sunglasses to the poster at the right spot.
- The player who gets the sunglasses closest to Ferris’ eyes wins!
Extra Tip:
Choose other 80s characters such as Marty McFly or Princess Leia for a personalized twist on the classic game.
7. DIY Pac-Man Game
Relive the Arcade Classic on Your Tabletop
What You’ll Need:
- Cardboard or foam board
- Printed images of Pac-Man and ghosts
- A large tabletop or flat surface
- Small cups or tokens for players to collect
Pac-Man was the ultimate arcade sensation of the 80s, and recreating this game for your event will bring an exciting touch of nostalgia. You can easily craft a tabletop version of this iconic game using cardboard and some basic supplies.
How to Set Up:
- Draw or print out a large Pac-Man game board on a piece of cardboard or foam board.
- Set up the Pac-Man character and ghosts, either using cutouts or small figurines.
- Place small cups or tokens across the game board for players to collect.
How to Play:
- Players will take turns moving their Pac-Man figure around the game board, collecting the tokens while avoiding the ghosts.
- If they touch a ghost, they must start over from the beginning.
- The player who collects the most tokens without getting caught by a ghost wins.
Additional Challenge:
You can set up time limits or add power-ups where Pac-Man can “eat” the ghosts and eliminate them from the board temporarily!
8. DIY Operation Game: Life-Sized Edition
Bring the Classic Board Game to Life
What You’ll Need:
- Large cardboard or foam board
- A life-sized human outline or mannequin (you can use a large cardboard cutout)
- Various plastic body parts (e.g., hearts, bones, etc.)
- Tweezers or tongs
- Timer
Who doesn’t remember the thrilling beep of the buzzer from the Operation board game? Take it to the next level by creating a life-sized version of the game. It’s a great activity for larger parties and adds a fun medical twist to your 80s-themed event.
How to Set It Up:
- Create a large cardboard or foam board with the outline of a human body drawn on it.
- Cut out body part slots and create plastic “body parts” that can be removed (e.g., a plastic heart, funny bones, etc.).
- Have a timer and tweezers or tongs ready for the players to remove the body parts without setting off the buzzer.
How to Play:
- One player at a time uses the tweezers or tongs to remove the body parts from the life-sized figure while the timer counts down.
- If they touch the sides of the slots, the buzzer goes off, and their turn is over.
- The player with the most successful extractions wins!
Bonus:
Add a funny twist by giving body parts names related to the 80s pop culture, like “The Pac-Man Heart” or “Ghostbuster Elbow.”
9. DIY 80s Trivia Challenge
Test Your Knowledge of 80s Pop Culture
What You’ll Need:
- A set of trivia questions (create your own or find some online)
- Small prizes for the winners
- A timer or stopwatch
What better way to bring the 80s to life than by testing your guests’ knowledge of the era? Create an 80s Trivia Challenge where participants can show off their knowledge of iconic 80s movies, music, television shows, and historical events.
How to Set Up:
- Prepare a list of trivia questions based on 80s pop culture (movies, music, historical events, etc.).
- Divide your guests into teams and give them a buzzer or bell for answering.
- Have a timer ready for each question to add a competitive edge.
How to Play:
- Ask the trivia questions one by one.
- The team that buzzes in first gets a chance to answer.
- If they answer correctly, they earn a point. If they answer incorrectly, the next team has a chance to steal the point.
- The team with the most points at the end wins!
10. DIY Dance-Off: 80s Style
Bring the Best 80s Dance Moves to Life
What You’ll Need:
- A sound system with 80s music
- A dance floor or open space
- A timer
- Fun 80s-themed prizes
No 80s party is complete without dancing, and what better way to embrace the decade than by hosting a DIY 80s Dance-Off? From the Moonwalk to the Running Man, the 80s had some of the most iconic dance moves in history.
How to Set Up:
- Create a playlist of iconic 80s music hits from artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and the B-52s.
- Set up a dance floor or clear some space for dancing.
- Choose a fun, 80s-themed prize for the winning dancer (e.g., neon bracelets, Rubik’s cubes, etc.).
How to Play:
- Have participants show off their best 80s dance moves to the music.
- After each round, let the crowd vote for the most impressive moves.
- The dancer with the most votes after all rounds wins!
Final Thoughts and Party Tips
Throwing an 80s-themed party is all about celebrating the vibrant energy, bold colors, and unforgettable pop culture of the era. These 10 DIY 80s games are designed to bring a nostalgic and fun-filled experience to your guests while recreating the playful spirit of the 80s. Whether you’re competing in a DIY Double Dare challenge, showing off your best dance moves, or trying to get the Pac-Man character through the maze, these games will keep everyone entertained and laughing.
Additional Tips for Your 80s-Themed Party:
- Decorate with Bold Colors: Think neon pinks, greens, and yellows, geometric shapes, and metallics. For added authenticity, use posters of iconic 80s movies and music legends.
- 80s Music: Create a killer playlist with the top hits from the decade—Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, and Whitney Houston. Music is key to setting the tone of the party.
- Snacks and Drinks: Serve classic 80s snacks like Pop Rocks, Fruit Roll-Ups, and a variety of soda pop in fun, retro cans. Consider offering themed drinks like “Coke Floats” or neon-colored punch.
- Themed Costumes: Encourage your guests to wear 80s-inspired outfits. Whether it’s neon leg warmers, mullets, or big hair, the more authentic, the better!
Consider Adding More 80s Games
If you’re looking to spice up your party even more, you can always add a few more activities:
- 80s Movie Quote Challenge: Have a quiz where guests have to guess the movie from an iconic quote.
- Rubik’s Cube Challenge: Set up a Rubik’s Cube station and see who can solve it the fastest.
- Video Game Station: Set up a corner with an old-school arcade machine or gaming console (like a Nintendo or Sega Genesis) to let your guests enjoy some classic gaming action.
Conclusion
DIY 80s-themed games are a fantastic way to relive the excitement and fun of the decade while making sure everyone at your party has a blast. Whether you’re recreating life-sized versions of your favorite childhood games, or challenging your friends to trivia, these games will add an unforgettable touch to your 80s celebration. So, gather your supplies, crank up the tunes, and get ready for a night of nostalgic fun!
