When the aunties pull up in sequinned kurtas and Gen Z walks in with Bluetooth speakers, the real party trick isn’t the playlist - it’s finding games that keep everyone laughing past midnight.

You know how Indian parties go - food first, gossip next, and then that awkward lull where everyone just scrolls their phones? That’s where the right game changes everything. I’ve tested these myself (well, my cousins and three very competitive aunties did).

Here are the games that actually keeps the vibe alive across generations.

Antakshari with a Twist

Classic, yes, but set a rule: songs only from the 2000s onward. Watch aunties hilariously blend Dard-e-Disco with Kesariya.

Remember, no one’s ever truly bad at Antakshari; some are just louder.

Guess the Bollywood Dialogue

Print ten iconic dialogues on chits - but muddle the punctuation and remove one key word. Aunties will argue for minutes over whether it’s “Tumse na ho payega” or “Tumse ho na payega.” True chaos.

Balloon Pop Relay

Tie balloons to ankles, make teams, and let them stomp. It’s noisy, harmless fun - unless someone’s wearing pointy heels. Kids love it, aunties get their step count in, and laughter’s guaranteed.

Change My Saree (Blindfolded Makeover)

One team member blindfolded, another wearing a dupatta as a makeshift saree. The objective: drape it. The result: uncontrollable laughter, occasional entanglement. Perfect photo-op moment.

Whisper Challenge - Desi Edition

Use Hindi proverbs instead of English phrases. Trying to lip-read “Bin paani sab soon” while listening to Badshah on full volume? Utter nonsense, and therefore, excellent entertainment.

Pass the Parcel with Dares

Old-school but gold. Avoid the boring “sing a song” dares; instead, ask things like “Reveal your guilty-pleasure movie” or “Show your WhatsApp wallpaper.” The aunties get unexpectedly candid.

Bollywood Dumb Charades, but Themes Only

Instead of movie titles, assign themes like “90s melodrama” or “suspense thriller.” Aunties overact, cousins cringe - yet everyone claps. It’s practically family theatre.

Rapid-Fire Memory Chain

Start with one word - “Mithai,” say. The next person must add something linked, like “Mithai - Box - Gift - New Year.” Miss a beat, you’re out. It’s quick, builds tension, and surprisingly addictive.

Spot the Liar

Each person tells two truths and one lie about their year. Aunties are weirdly good at this. Someone always blurts out, “Wait, didn’t you actually go to Dubai?” Truly exposes who’s been gossiping.

Time Capsule Talk

A calmer wrap-up game: everyone writes a little note about what they hope happens by next New Year. Seal them in a jar. Leave it for next year’s host - sentimental, yes, but oddly grounding after all that noise.

Come midnight, between laughter and laddus, it dawns on you - these games aren’t just ways to kill time. They’re connectors. Aunties telling stories, Gen Z cracking memes, everyone adding their own flavor.

And that, I think, is the whole point of a good Indian New Year - m not the countdown, but the company. Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year!