Life

11 Fun Super Bowl Party Games

by Sadie Trombetta

You've created the perfect football finger food menu, you bought the appropriate color decorations for your team, and you've ironed your game day jersey, but have you thought about what Super Bowl party games you and your guests will be playing on Sunday? This being a four-plus hour event, there should be more to a Super Bowl party than just snacks, beer, and football.

Over the years, the Super Bowl has become more than just a football championship game — it has become a full-fledged cultural phenomenon that has sucked in nearly 115 million viewers nationwide. The annual game is the most watched television event in U.S. history, and even those who don't actually like football tune in each year to watch in the company of friends and family at someone's Super Bowl party.

Any good Super Bowl party will have themed food and plenty of alcohol, but a great Super Bowl party comes complete with games for viewers to play, not just watch. Super Bowl party games give guests a chance to get in the competitive spirit with not only the rival team on the TV, but the rival players right there in the living room.

If you're looking for a way to entertain your guests with more than food platters and cold drinks, here are 11 Super Bowl party games that can be enjoyed by football fans and the millions of other viewers who are just there for the snacks, beer, and commercials.

1. Football Squares

A super easy, low-maintenance party game that can actually send some of your guests home with cash in their pockets, kick off your Super Bowl party by filling out football squares.

2. Paper Football

Depending on where you live, the weather outside is probably not ideal for a real game of football in the backyard. Luckily, with the help of your kitchen table and a piece of paper, you can play paper football with your fellow party guests. The best part? No one gets hurt.

3. Commercial Score Cards

You have the people who watch the Super Bowl for the football, and then you have the rest of us who are really in it to see how many cute puppies, giant horses, and hot men and women are featured in the outrageous commercial lineup. For those party guests who look forward to the time between plays, hand out these commercial score cards and make a game out of the best and worst ads of the night.

4. Football Bingo

Bingo is a great party game because it can be customized to any occasion, even the Super Bowl. Create football bingo cards that have squares such as "Interception" and "Swearing Coach," and whichever player gets bingo first wins a prize. You can switch cards each quarter to keep the game going until the Super Bowl championship is claimed.

5. A Numbers Game

Before kickoff, have your guests guess and write down some important numbers like total yards rushed, total interceptions, total points, and number of sacks. At the end of the game, check the stats against your guesses, and whoever is closest wins. This way, the score isn't the only number that matters — it just matters the most.

6. Football Trivia

Everyone loves playing trivia, so use your Super Bowl party to guide your questions' theme. Print out football trivia questions and use bad commercials or downtime in the game to pit guests against each other in a game-long trivia game. Have people split into teams, and give awards for not only the most correct answers, but most creative football-themed name and best team spirit.

7. So You Think You Can Victory Dance

Touchdowns are great, but the players' victory dances are even better. See how well your guests can bust a move by having them create their own end zone dance and perform it for the group. Have everyone vote on the best dance, and hand out prizes for "Most Creative" or "Most Insane" so there is more than one winner at the end of the game.

8. Can't Say That

If you've ever been to a baby shower, chances are you've played some version of this game. Hand out a trinket — a coach's whistle, a football pin, or a simple bead necklace — and a list of Super Bowl-related words (touchdown, field goal, foul, interception, score... you get the drift) that cannot be said throughout the game. If someone says any of the taboo words, another player can take their trinket. Whoever has the most trinkets at the end of the night wins.

9. Costume Contest

Just because it isn't Halloween doesn't mean you can't have a costume contest. Ask your guests to dress up in their favorite team's gear, and give out prizes for "Most Team Spirit" and "Best Face Paint." Jerseys, eye black, and foam fingers are encouraged.

10. Football Charades

Charades is a classic party game, but for the Super Bowl, add a football twist to it. Have guests act out words like touchdown, foul, Panthers, Broncos, and any other Super Bowl words you can think of. This is a great pre-game or half time activity.

11. Super Bowl Cookoff

Who says a potluck can't be fun? Have your friends who like cooking create a signature Super Bowl dish, and have other guests rate the best one.

For more ideas, check out Bustle on YouTube.

Images: Elvert Barnes, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maik Meid, Andrew Hart, Marcus Quigmire, Alan Levine, Ted Kerwin, Mobilus In Mobili, Tate Nations, Bradley Gordon, North Charleston, Isaac Wedin/Flickr; Giphy