Cover The ‘Friends’ cast playing the infamous trivia game in one of the show’s episodes (Photo: NBC)
The ‘Friends’ cast playing the infamous trivia game in one of the show’s episodes (Photo: NBC)
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Add a touch of creativity and competitiveness to your intimate New Year’s Eve gathering with these games
With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, there are plenty of parties and countdowns to attend around the Metro. If big, flashy celebrations aren’t your thing, an intimate gathering among your loved ones is the perfect way to end 2024. Whether you plan on having your closest friends over or want to keep it cosy with your family, making a year-end soirée memorable shouldn’t be complicated.
For any last-minute additions to your party, Tatler lists down seven activities and games to fill the room with laughter for the New Year.
More from Tatler: 7 New Year’s Eve parties and countdowns around the Metro you should attend
‘Eh, Ikaw?’ (What about you?)
Inspired by SPIT Manila, this game tests your creativity and improvisation skills. Start with any action—the sillier the better—and describe what you’re doing and the next person does the same with a different entry. It’s best to start with a simple action to get the ball rolling.
The Oven Mitt Game
Simple yet intense, this game requires three things. Oven mitts, a pair of dice, and a gift-wrapped box. All players will form a circle and take turns rolling the dice, once someone hits a double they put on the oven mitts and try opening it. You can add a layer of thrill by putting multiple wrapped boxes inside of each other to prolong the game.
‘Jeopardy!’ or Trivia Game
Above The Jeopardy! game board (Photo: Kinu Panda)
The Jeopardy! game board (Photo: Kinu Panda)
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Nothing spices up New Year’s Eve like a battle of wits. Jeopardy! is a classic quiz game that anyone can play. It’s best to customise your questions tailored to your players’ interests like pop culture, inside jokes and shared memories.
Above The ‘Friends’ cast playing the iconic trivia game in the show
If you are opting for a more traditional, uncomplicated route, why not host a trivia game all about your family or friends? Take inspiration from Friends, where the cast hilariously tested their knowledge about one another.
Name that tune!
Above Bretman Rock plays the game with his sister
Inspired by a lively party atmosphere, this game challenges players to guess a song before anyone else. Select tracks from a range of genres released in recent years and decide on a playtime limit—five seconds, for example. Divide into teams or play individually, and either play or hum a short snippet of a song from your playlist, keeping everyone on their toes.
Dungeons & Dragons or other board games
Above Black Dungeons & Dragons Dice (Photo: Nika Benedictova)
Black Dungeons & Dragons Dice (Photo: Nika Benedictova)
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Ever imagine yourself to be an Elvish archer hunting their prey in dark forests? Or maybe a wizard mastering conjuration spells? While most think that Dungeons & Dragons has a steep barrier to entry, it’s relatively easy to get into if you’re planning on playing casually. All you need is a few people to form a party and a dungeon master with a strong imagination to direct the game and you’re all set. This requires a few days of preparation though, so make sure you spend a bit of time building your world, objectives, encounters, and characters before playing. If you want to wing your storyline, you can do things impromptu or use AI tools to build your environment and scenarios for you.
Also see: ‘Captain America: Brave New World’, ‘Wicked: For Good’, and more: 12 most anticipated movies of 2025
Above Monopoly board game (Photo: Suzy Hazelwood)
Monopoly board game (Photo: Suzy Hazelwood)
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If a full-blown quest feels like too much effort, classic games are a perfect alternative. From casual games such as Monopoly and Exploding Kittens to more complex ones like Twilight Imperium and Settlers of Catan, there are plenty of options for you to choose from that are sure to make the hours go by. Just a fair warning that these games might ruin friendships.
Karaoke
A favourite Filipino pastime, singing never goes out of style at parties. You can either rent out a karaoke machine or just sing along using a speaker. You can even add a little bit of competition by keeping score and crowning a winner.
Make a time capsule
Above Letters inside a box (Photo: cottonbro studio/Pexels)
Letters inside a box (Photo: cottonbro studio/Pexels)
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Store just about anything in a box for you and your friends to revisit the following year. This could be anything from predictions and letters to memorable photos and trinkets that make you smile—giving you something to look forward to.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
