By IGU 
Dining out with friends is always enjoyable, but why not make it even more exciting? Transform your meal into a lively, laughter-packed experience with games that bring everyone together and spark great conversations. Whether it’s a special celebration or just a casual night out, adding a touch of playful fun can elevate the vibe and create lasting memories. From clever word challenges to tricky riddles, here are the best restaurant games for adults to enjoy while sharing a meal. It’s time to turn your dinner into an unforgettable game night!
Here’s a list of top restaurant games that can liven up your dining experience and create lasting memories.
1. Codenames
Codenames is a classic party board game that tests your word association skills. It’s ideal for groups and can easily be played while waiting for your food.
- Objective: Be the first team to identify all of your agents (words) before the opposing team does.
- Setup:
- Players: 4 or more (ideal for 6-8 players)
- Teams: Two teams, each with a spymaster and field operatives.
- Game Board: A 5×5 grid of 25 word cards.
- Key Card: Each spymaster has a key card showing which words correspond to their team’s agents.
- Gameplay:
- The spymaster gives a one-word clue and a number (e.g., “Ocean: 3”) indicating how many words on the board are related to the clue.
- Field operatives guess the words. If they guess correctly, their team’s agent tile is placed on the word.
- The game ends if the assassin word is guessed, and the guessing team loses.
- Winning: The first team to correctly identify all their agents wins.
2. Guess Who?
Guess Who? is a timeless two-player game where participants ask yes-or-no questions to figure out the opponent’s chosen character. It’s perfect for engaging your brain and sparking fun conversations.
- Objective: Be the first to correctly guess your opponent’s selected character.
- Setup:
- Players: 2
- Materials: Character boards and cards.
- Gameplay:
- Players take turns asking yes-or-no questions about the opponent’s character.
- Based on answers, characters are eliminated.
- Players can guess the opponent’s character at any time, and if correct, they win.
3. The Mimic Game
A lively and creative game, “The Mimic Game” challenges participants to imitate voices, mannerisms, or actions, while the group tries to identify who is being mimicked.
- Objective: The group guesses the person being impersonated as accurately as possible.
- Setup:
- Players: 4 or more
- Materials: None required, though a timer can be used for added competitiveness.
- Gameplay:
- One player, the “Mimic,” selects another participant to imitate.
- The group guesses the person being impersonated.
- The role of the Mimic rotates after each round.
- Variations: Themed imitations, silent performances, and speed rounds to increase excitement.
4. Sushi Go!
A fun and fast-paced card game where players collect sushi dishes to build the best meal combinations. Its easy-to-follow rules make it perfect for a restaurant setting.
- Objective: Collect the best sushi dishes and earn the most points.
- Setup:
- Players: 2-5
- Materials: 108 cards featuring various sushi dishes.
- Gameplay:
- Players select one card from their hand, then pass the rest to the next player.
- The goal is to create the best combinations of sushi dishes over three rounds.
- Winning: The player with the most points after three rounds wins.
5. Don’t Get Got
A party game where players receive secret missions to complete without being caught. It’s a fantastic way to sneak in some humor and excitement throughout the meal.
- Objective: Complete three secret missions before others, without being detected.
- Setup:
- Players: 2-8
- Materials: 188 mission cards and 8 custom wallets.
- Gameplay:
- Each player tries to complete their missions while avoiding detection from others.
- The first player to finish three missions wins.
6. Exploding Kittens
“Exploding Kittens” is a quick and hilarious card game where players draw cards and avoid drawing the Exploding Kitten, which causes them to lose.
- Objective: Be the last player remaining by avoiding the Exploding Kitten cards.
- Setup:
- Players: 2-5
- Materials: 56 cards featuring actions and Exploding Kittens.
- Gameplay:
- Players take turns drawing cards from the deck. If someone draws an Exploding Kitten, they lose unless they have a Defuse card.
- Players use action cards to manipulate the game in their favor.
- Winning: The last player remaining wins the game.
7. Murder Mystery Dinner
Hosting a murder mystery dinner adds a thrilling layer of intrigue to your meal. Participants take on roles and collaborate to solve a fictional crime.
- Objective: Solve the fictional crime before dinner concludes.
- Setup:
- Players: 6-20, depending on the kit.
- Materials: A murder mystery kit with character roles, scripts, and clues.
- Gameplay:
- Players are assigned roles and receive backstories.
- The host introduces the crime, and participants work to uncover clues and interrogate suspects.
- After gathering evidence, players make accusations to solve the mystery.
- Winning: The mystery is solved when the murderer is correctly identified.
8. Never Have I Ever
A classic game that encourages players to share personal experiences, often leading to laughter and surprising revelations. It’s a great way to break the ice during dinner.
- Objective: Share personal experiences and discover commonalities among players.
- Setup:
- Players: 3 or more
- Materials: None required, though a drink can be used for added fun.
- Gameplay:
- One player says, “Never have I ever…” followed by an activity they haven’t done.
- Any player who has done that activity must respond by lowering a finger or taking a sip of their drink.
- Winning: The game can continue until all players decide to stop or after a set time.
9. Would You Rather
This conversational game offers fun choices that spark lively debates, making it a great option for dinner gatherings.
- Objective: Ask and answer “Would you rather” questions to encourage conversation.
- Setup:
- Players: 3 or more
- Materials: None required, but a drink can be used for added fun.
- Gameplay:
- Players take turns posing “Would you rather” questions to the group.
- Each player explains their choice, and the conversation flows naturally.
- Sample Questions:
- “Would you rather travel to the past or future?”
- “Would you rather have unlimited sushi or tacos?”
10. Two Truths and a Lie
A fun icebreaker that prompts players to share interesting facts about themselves. It encourages laughter and helps everyone learn more about each other.
- Objective: Guess which statement among the three is a lie.
- Setup:
- Players: 3 or more
- Materials: None required.
- Gameplay:
- Each player states three facts: two truths and one lie.
- The others guess which statement is the lie.
- Winning: The game continues until everyone has had a turn, with no formal winner, though guessing correctly earns points.
These games are perfect for sparking conversation and keeping the energy high while dining out. Whether you’re looking for strategic challenges or just a way to break the ice, these options will make your restaurant experience more fun and memorable.