20 Fun Graduation Party Games for a Memorable time
This year, my cousin graduated from college, and as a party enthusiast in my family, I jumped to plan a graduation party. And let’s be honest, no party is complete without a few fun games. While planning his party, I came across so many fun and trending graduation party games that I just had to share. Whether you’re planning something big or small, these games can really bring the celebration to life. We also went through a bunch of party theme ideas before narrowing them down to a few favorites, and I have shared them in this post. Be sure to check them out if you’re looking for inspiration.
Let’s jump into the games.
1. Graduation Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a fun way to get everyone moving and laughing. Hide small items like mini diplomas, graduation caps, or even photos of the graduate around the party area. Write down clues or riddles to guide players to each hidden object. You can make it even more fun by adding small prizes for those who find the most items. This game works great for middle school and high school graduations since younger players love adventure and problem-solving. You can also give it a college twist by hiding objects related to the graduate’s major or future career.
Theme this will pair with: School Colors, Adventure, or Memory Lane
2. Tug-of-War: Grad Edition
This game is simple but always a hit. Divide guests into two teams, grab a strong rope, and mark a line in the middle. Teams pull as hard as they can, trying to get the other team across the line. To make it more fun, use a soft pit (like a pile of balloons or a kiddie pool with confetti) as a “losing” zone. This game is best for an outdoor high school or middle school graduation party, where people have the energy to compete.
Theme this will pair with: Sports, Team Spirit, or Field Day
3. Cap Toss Challenge
Graduation caps aren’t just for wearing; they make a great game too. Set up buckets or hoops at different distances and have guests toss caps to score points. You can make it harder by adding obstacles or time limits. Keep score and give a small prize to the player with the most points. This game is fun for all ages, but it’s especially good for high school and college grads since they actually have real caps to use.
Theme this will pair with: Classic Graduation, Black & Gold
4. Giant Jenga with Advice
Take a regular Jenga game and make it extra special. Before the party, write funny dares, life advice, or questions on each block. Every time someone pulls a block, they have to read it aloud and follow what it says. This game is great for college and high school graduation parties because it lets guests share advice while having fun. You can also write inside jokes or memories about the graduate to make it more personal.
Theme this will pair with: Memory Lane, Future Goals
5. Water Balloon Toss
Perfect for a summer party. Pair guests into teams of two and give each team a water balloon. They start close together and toss the balloon back and forth. After each successful toss, they take a step back. If the balloon breaks, the team is out. The last team standing wins. This game is best for an outdoor middle school or high school graduation party since younger guests love splashing around.
Theme this will pair with: Summer Bash, Backyard Fun
6. Trivia: School Memories Edition
Create a fun trivia game all about the graduate’s school years. Ask questions like, “Who was their favorite teacher?” or “What sport did they play?” Guests can play in teams or individually, and whoever answers the most correctly wins. You can also add general graduation trivia for fun. This game works well for high school and college graduation parties because it lets friends and family remember fun moments together.
Theme this will pair with: Yearbook Memories, Throwback Party
7. Who Said It?
Collect funny quotes from teachers, classmates, or even the graduate’s own social media posts. Write them on cards and have guests guess who said what. If you want to make it even more fun, add a few fake quotes and see who falls for them. This is a great game for high school and college graduation parties because older guests will remember inside jokes and funny moments.
Theme this will pair with: Nostalgia, Yearbook Fun
8. Grad Year Bingo
Play the traditional bingo game with a graduation twist. We used this bingo card printable to play. You can also make your own bingo cards with fun memories, school activities, or inside jokes from the graduate’s school years. Everyone marks the squares as they catch the moment. The first person to get five in a row wins.
Theme this will pair with: School Spirit, Chalkboard Theme
9. Guess the Graduate
Collect baby or childhood pictures of the graduate and their friends. Display them on a board and let guests guess who’s who. You can number each picture and have guests write their answers down. Whoever guesses the most correctly wins a prize. This is best for middle school and high school graduation parties since younger guests enjoy seeing how much people have changed.
Theme this will pair with: Time Capsule, Scrapbook Party
10. Musical Chairs: Grad Playlist
Set up chairs in a circle, one less than the number of players. Play fun songs, stopping the music randomly. When the music stops, everyone must find a chair, whoever is left standing is out. Keep playing until one person remains. Use the graduate’s favorite songs or hit songs from their school years. This game works well for any graduation party, but it’s extra fun for middle and high school celebrations.
Theme this will pair with: Dance Party, School Dance Throwback
11. Memory Lane Pictionary
This is like regular Pictionary but with a graduation twist. Before the game, write down funny school memories, inside jokes, or future career dreams on slips of paper. Players take turns drawing the memory while their team tries to guess what it is. You can include things like “Senior Prom,” “First Day of School,” or “Teacher’s Favorite Phrase.” This game is great for high school and college graduation parties since everyone will have shared memories to laugh about.
Theme this will pair with: School Years Flashback, Chalkboard Theme
12. DIY Time Capsule
This is a fun and meaningful activity. Set up a station with note cards and a box. Have guests write messages, predictions, or advice for the graduate to open in five or ten years. You can also include small keepsakes like a school newspaper, a photo of the party, or a letter to their future self. This works for middle school, high school, or college graduations; each stage of life brings different memories and dreams.
Theme this will pair with: Future Goals, Letter to My Future Self
13. Future Career Charades
Act out different future careers, and let guests guess what they are. You can write down fun options like “Doctor,” “Engineer,” “Artist,” or “YouTube Star.” Players can’t use words, only gestures. If you want to make it more competitive, set a time limit for each round. This game is perfect for middle school and high school graduation parties since younger guests love acting things out and being silly.
Theme this will pair with: Dream Big, Career Goals
14. Grad Mad Libs
This game is a graduation twist to the regular Mad Libs game. Before the party, create a short story plot about the academic year and leave blanks for adjectives, verbs, and nouns. Guests need to fill in the blanks without knowing the story, then read it out loud. You can make it more exciting by turning it into a contest for the funniest story. This game is great for middle school and high school graduates.
Theme this will pair with: Comedy Night, Yearbook Fun
15. Karaoke Night: Graduation Edition
We played this game at the graduation party that was hosted, and it was fun. We had a microphone and a speaker, and we downloaded a YouTube playlist with lyrics and displayed it on the screen. Everyone took turns singing fun songs about success, growing up, or new beginnings. To make things fun, we didn’t let them know what the next song was, and it would be a surprise till it played enough to know it. It made it more fun as everyone was guessing the best they could. Some good song choices are “We Are the Champions,” “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” or “Roar.”
Theme this will pair with: Rock Star Night, Dance Party
16. Diploma Pong
A fun twist to the classic Pong game. Set up cups in a triangle shape and have players throw small rolled-up “diplomas” (a small plastic sheet rolled like a diploma) into them. Whoever lands the most wins. You can add challenges or fun dares for each cup. Whoever manages to land a cup gets to choose who will perform the challenge hidden in that cup.
Theme this will pair with: Classic Graduation, Gold & Black
17. Grad Superlatives
We had a small event at the party where some creative, fun awards were given to everyone who attended the party. Based on their personality, we presented awards like “Most Likely to Be a Millionaire,” “Most Likely to Forget Their Diploma,” and “I Knew That.”Before the party started, we asked everyone to write the names on paper in each category. As a trophy, we just gave them a soft drink can to keep things on a lighter note and fun. Everyone guessed and laughed out loud.
Theme this will pair with: Awards Night, Red Carpet Theme
18. Pick a Story
This was another fun game that we played. We wrote different categories like “Funniest Memory,” “Most Embarrassing Moment,” or “Best Advice for the Future” on a piece of paper and placed them in a hat. Everyone took turns picking one and shared their stories during their academic year. It was fun and made everyone nostalgic about the fun times they spent while graduating.
Theme this will pair with: Storytime, Memory Lane
19. Pass the Grad Cap
This game is like “hot potato” but with a graduation cap. Guests sit in a circle and pass the cap while music plays. When the music stops, the person holding the cap must answer a fun graduation-themed question, like “What’s your funniest school memory?” or “Where do you see yourself in five years?” This game is fun for middle school and high school graduation parties since it keeps everyone engaged.
Theme this will pair with: Throwback Party, Future Dreams
20. Advice & Wishes Game
Set up a table with small cards and pens. Ask guests to write down a piece of advice, a funny wish, or a favorite memory for the graduate. Once collected, the graduate reads them aloud and guesses who wrote each one. You can even frame the best ones as a keepsake. This game is ideal for any graduation party, from middle school to college, since every graduate can appreciate words of wisdom.
Theme this will pair with: Memory Book, Best Wishes
From My Party Notes
- Alternate the games between fun, high-energy games to some with sit-down time. It helped to balance the party.
- It’s about the graduates, so we kept family to a minimum; it was mostly a party for him and his friends, so we focused on playing games that they would like.
- Some of the best games that we enjoyed were Pick a Story and Cap Toss Challenge. His friends enjoyed the Grad Superlatives.
- After the games, they all danced to their favorite songs and enjoyed it a lot. So make sure to plan the games such that there is enough time for them to dance and have some time to spend it their own way.
Hope you were able to find some fun game ideas to plan for the graduation party.
Pin for later.
Related posts you may like
