15 New Year’s Eve Games for Couples at Home
You do not need a party to play games on New Year’s Eve. These 15 games are made for two adults at home: a few that get you talking about the year, some flirty ones for later in the evening, phone games you can play on the couch and a plan for the last hour before midnight. Most need nothing but a pen, a phone and something to snack on.
Duoo Games
4 min
Looking for a larger group? See our New Year’s Eve party games. The games below are for the two of you.
Talking games for the early evening
1. Year in Review Awards
Each of you writes down five awards for the year and who wins them: best trip, best meal, funniest moment, hardest week, best surprise. Swap papers and read them out. You will disagree on a few, and that is where the good stories come from.
2. Would You Rather: New Year Edition
Take turns asking each other questions that have no right answer. “Would you rather relive your best day of the year or skip the worst one?” “Would you rather a year of surprises or a year that is fully planned?” Our Would You Rather questions for couples has a long list, or play on your phone at the Would You Rather page.
3. Same Wave
A dial game for two. One of you secretly sees where a target sits between two opposites, like “Cozy” and “Wild”, and gives a single clue. The other turns the dial to where they think it lands. It is a good test of how well you know each other’s taste. Play it free on the Same Wave page.
4. Who’s Most Likely To
With two players you point at yourself or at each other. “Who’s most likely to fall asleep before midnight?” “Who’s most likely to forget the resolution by February?” Count to three and point. The Who’s Most Likely To page has questions, and the couples list leans a little flirtier.
5. 21 Questions
Take turns asking each other questions, with one pass each. For New Year’s Eve, aim them at the year behind and ahead: what you are proudest of, what you want more of, what you want less of. See our 21 questions game for lists, or use the New Year’s Eve questions for couples.
Active games for two
6. Charades for Two
One of you acts, the other guesses, against a one-minute timer. Best of ten cards. The New Year’s charades generator has resolutions, party moments and celebrations around the world.
7. Taboo for Two
Describe the word without using the forbidden ones. It is harder than it sounds with only one guesser, so allow two clues per card. Try it on the Taboo page or make cards from our taboo words list.
8. Bingo for the Countdown
Print two cards, put the countdown on TV and mark what happens: the host counts down, a performer lip-syncs, the crowd waves flags. The first line wins the choice of the first song of the year. Make cards with the New Year’s Eve bingo generator.
9. The Midnight Snack Challenge
Pick one recipe each from the same ingredients list, say a flatbread or a dip, and cook at the same time. Taste each other’s version blindfolded and score out of ten. Loser does the dishes.
Flirty games for later
10. Never Have I Ever: Couples Edition
Take turns saying things you have never done. The one who has done it tells the story. Keep it to dates, trips and embarrassing moments. Our Never Have I Ever for couples has questions, and you can also play at the Never Have I Ever page.
11. Truth or Dare on the Wheel
Spin a wheel and do what it says: a slow dance, a compliment you have not said yet, a toast with your hands in the air. Use the truth or dare wheel for couples, or the truth or dare questions for couples if you prefer a list.
12. Date Night Wheel
If you cannot decide what to do next, spin the date night wheel and agree to do whatever it picks, within reason.
Games for the last hour
13. Letters to Next Year
Each of you writes a letter to the other: what you loved about this year, what you hope for the next. Seal them and write next year’s date on the envelope. At 11:45 p.m. swap and read them out loud, or keep them for next New Year’s Eve.
14. Twelve Questions for Twelve
Write twelve questions on slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Starting at 11:48, draw one every minute and answer it before the next. You end at midnight having talked about the year, not just watched the clock.
15. Predictions for Next Year
Write down five predictions each about the year ahead: where you will go, what you will buy, what will break. Seal them in an envelope and open it next New Year’s Eve. Next year, whoever got fewer right picks dinner.
A simple plan for the evening
- Early evening: Year in Review Awards while dinner cooks.
- After dinner: Would You Rather, Same Wave and Who’s Most Likely To on the couch.
- Around 10:00: Charades or Taboo for two, then the Midnight Snack Challenge if you want something else to eat.
- 11:00: Flirty games or the date night wheel.
- 11:45: Swap your letters. Midnight: countdown, toast, kiss.
Want all of the phone games in one place? The Duoo app for iPhone and iPad has Would You Rather, Never Have I Ever, Who’s Most Likely To, Same Wave, Taboo and more, and it works offline. It is free to download, with a subscription and free trial unlocking all games and categories. For a longer night, pair this with 20 New Year’s Eve party games, or try our games to play on a date. Before midnight, look back on your year together with our end of year questions for couples.
Questions
What can two people do on New Year’s Eve at home? +
Play a few games, cook something you do not usually make, write letters to open next year and watch the countdown together. A mix of one talking game, one active game and one quiet ritual makes the evening feel like an occasion.
What are good New Year’s Eve games for two adults? +
Would You Rather, Same Wave, Who’s Most Likely To, charades for two and a year-in-review quiz all work with only two players. Our couples pages below have ready-made questions.
Do these games need alcohol? +
No. Nothing on this list needs a drink. If you like a toast at midnight, sparkling juice works the same as anything else.
How do you make New Year’s Eve at home feel special? +
Pick a time to get dressed up, put a few things on the table that you only use for occasions and plan one thing for the last ten minutes, like reading each other a letter. A little structure helps more than an expensive plan.
