Anyone who wants to be a gracious host must make sure their guests enjoy themselves to the fullest. Stocking up on delicious snacks and making sure everyone has a comfortable place to sit are but a few of many things a host has to consider. There's also the matter of entertainment, and it's hard to go wrong breaking out a few party video games to break the ice and keep guests thoroughly entertained. And the games listed here work for any host working on a budget, as they're all about $25 or less. Here are the 10 Best (Cheap) Party Games, Ranked.
10 Fibbage
Fibbage is the game where it's not only okay to lie, it's required! Made by Jackbox games, Fibbage is a trivia game where the object of the game is to lie and trick other players into believing those lies while avoiding theirs. Up to 8 people can play, and there's no need for game controllers as Fibbage can be played using a phone or tablet! It's available for both the PS4 and PS3, the Xbox One and various streaming services. It's available on its own for less than $10 or in one of the Jackbox party packs.
9 Gang Beasts
What is the best kind of game to play with friends? Beat'em ups of course! There are few things more entertaining than picking up a controller and kicking the butts of close friends and family. And playing the multiplayer party game, Gang Beasts is a good way to have some good and silly fun as players run around slapping, kicking and punching one another.
Be careful of the environments as well, as they're meant to cause as much destruction as the players! Gang Beasts is available on Steam and the PS4 and Xbox One for under $20.
8 You Don't Know Jack
Some might be surprised that the '90s game is still around, but it is, thanks to Jackbox games. Anyone can relive a tiny part of the '90s (or experience it for the first time), with the hilarious quiz show party game, You Don't Know Jack 2015. High culture and pop culture collide with 50 episodes full of snarky trivia questions. Up to four people can play using their phones or tablets. You Don't Know Jack 2015 comes in the first Jackbox Party Pack for less than $25 and comes with 4 other awesomely hilarious games.
7 Drawful
The Drawful series is a bit like Pictionary, except sillier and it's more fun to see the wrong answers than the right ones. Up to 8 players can use their phones or tablets to join in. One player gets a prompt and must draw it while the others type what they think the answer is. Then everyone gets to vote on what they think the right answer is. Thousands of remote players can join in on the fun of voting on answers, and there've been tools added for players to make their own prompts.
6 Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes
How well can you trust your friends? Well enough to keep you safe from a bomb? There's a way to put that trust, and friendship, to the test... without anyone being in actual danger!
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a party puzzle game where one player is tasked with defusing a bomb, and the others are the "Experts", who tell the player how to defuse the bomb. The trick is they can't see it, so quick communication is key to winning each round. And for less than $15 this will make for an intense, though entertaining, party game.
5 Quiplash
Anyone who is, or thinks themselves to be, pretty quick-witted will probably enjoy the Jackbox game Quiplash. In this party game, there are no rules or correct answers, players simply answer prompts with their wittiest and funniest answers. Each answer is pitted against one another and players vote for their favorite answer. And the one with the most votes wins. 3 to 8 people can play, using their phones or tablets. Quiplash is less than $10 and is available for the Xbox One, PS3 and PS4, PC and various streaming services.
4 Castle Crashers
This hack and slash adventuring-roleplaying game lets up to 4 players battle monsters and foes to defend their kingdom and save their princess. It's currently available on Steam and Xbox One, with Switch and PS4 versions due to come out soon. There are over 25 characters and 40 weapons to unlock.
Players can learn new attacks, both physical and magical. They also get cute animal orbs as companions, that also have the added bonus of giving them different abilities. There are several different game modes, including "Back Off Barbarian", where players have to jump across levels to avoid enemies.
3 Overcooked
Though Overcooked 2 is out, the first Overcooked is still pretty good, and much cheaper. Available on X-Box One, PS4 and through Steam, Overcooked is a co-op cooking game where up to 4 players can work together to complete meals and please customers. Players have to gather ingredients, cook and send out food and even do dishes through each level as they journey through the Onion Kingdom. The game is made even more challenging with different environmental challenges provided at different levels. Players have to prepare dishes on moving ships, trucks, rotating space stations. busy streets and more.
2 Runbow
Originally released on the Wii U, Runbow is now available on the Switch, 3DS, PC, X-Box One and the PS4. This colorful party platformer lets up to 8 players (9 on the Wii U and PC and 4 on the PS4) play 5 different game modes, from the racing game mode, Run, where players vie to be the first person to collect the trophy, to a battle royal like competition in Arena. There's loads of characters to choose from and even more costumes to customize characters with. It also comes with 4 costume and music packs and more.
1 Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is set up for four players work together to battle against an evil force called Anti-Love. Cooperation is key, as the various battle stations, engines, shields and weapons can't be handled by one person alone. The controls are simple, but the challenge of working together to defeat the Anti-Love isn't. Each neon-colored level is randomly generated every time the game is played. And only $14.99 and available on Steam, PS4, Xbox One, and the Switch, it's bound to be a psychedelic hit at any party.