New Years Eve Minute to Win It Games
New Year’s Eve is the ultimate night for celebration – and what better way to bring in the New Year than with laughter, friendly competition, and a whole lot of fun? Whether you’re hosting a family gathering, a kids’ party, or an adults-only party, Minute to Win It games are the perfect way to keep everyone entertained as the clock ticks down to midnight. These high-energy, short-timed challenges are easy to set up, fun to play, and guaranteed to create unforgettable memories.
I have put together over 25 exciting New Year’s Eve Minute to Win It games for all ages, along with setup tips, supply lists, and variations to keep things fresh. Let’s get your party popping!
What Are Minute to Win It Games?
Originally made popular by the TV game show, Minute to Win It games are short challenges that must be completed in 60 seconds or less. Most games use common household items or simple party supplies, making them easy to prepare and perfect for last-minute party fun.
You can play individually, in teams, or tournament-style. They’re great for:
- Family parties with kids and adults
- New Year’s Eve countdown activities
- Classroom fun or youth groups
- Friendly competitions with prizes
New Year’s Eve Minute to Win It Game Ideas
Below are a variety of games broken into categories – from balloon-popping challenges to no-mess games for indoors. Feel free to mix and match based on your guest list and space!
Balloon & Blower Games
1. Pop the Countdown
Supplies: Balloons, number stickers (optional)
Write countdown numbers on balloons (10 through 1). Players must pop all balloons in 60 seconds – by sitting, stomping, or hugging!
2. Blow the Confetti
Supplies: Confetti, small spoon, paper plate
Place confetti on one plate and have the player transfer it to another plate using only a spoon. And they are not allowed to touch the plate with their hands.
3. Balloon Waddle Race
Supplies: Balloons
Hold a balloon between your knees and waddle across the room. Go back and forth as many times as possible in 1 minute.
Classic Minute to Win It Favorites – With a NYE Twist!
4. Cookie Resolution
Supplies: Cookies
Place a cookie on your forehead. Without using your hands, move it to your mouth. Bonus points if you use a New Year cookie!
5. Cup Stack Countdown
Supplies: 11 plastic cups (10 black, 1 gold or silver)
Stack the 10 regular cups with the gold one on top. Players must move the top cup to the bottom one at a time until the gold is back on top.
6. New Year’s Suck It Up
Supplies: Straws, M&Ms or mini marshmallows, two bowls
Use a straw to transfer as many items as possible from one bowl to another using only suction.
7. Chopstick Challenge
Supplies: Chopsticks, cotton balls or marshmallows
Use chopsticks to move cotton balls into a cup or bowl – no hands allowed!
Team or Partner Games
8. Midnight Madness Relay
Supplies: Party hats, sunglasses, noisemakers
Set up a relay where teammates must put on party accessories, run to the end, take them off, and the next teammate puts them on. Fastest team wins!
9. Resolution Charades
Supplies: Slips of paper with common New Year’s resolutions
Teams act out and guess as many resolutions as possible in one minute.
10. Ring in the New Year
Supplies: Glow stick necklaces or plastic rings, empty bottles
Toss rings onto bottle tops. Count how many each team can land in a minute!
Clean & Indoor-Friendly Games
11. Countdown Cup Knockdown
Supplies: Plastic cups, ping pong ball
Stack cups in a pyramid labeled 1–10. Knock them down in countdown order using a ball – one at a time.
12. Party Blower Push
Supplies: Party blowers, pom poms
Use a party blower to push a pom pom across the table and into a cup.
13. Sticky Note Face Race
Supplies: Sticky notes
See how many sticky notes players can stick to their face in one minute!
14. Snowball Scoop
Supplies: Cotton balls, large spoon, two bowls, blindfold
Scoop as many cotton balls into the bowl as possible while blindfolded.
New Year Countdown Specific Games
15. Tick Tock Stack
Supplies: Oreo cookies
Stack as many Oreos as possible in one minute – channel your inner clockmaker!
16. 2025 Puzzle Build
Supplies: Puzzle with New Year’s Eve theme image or use a printout cut into pieces
Put together as many pieces as possible before the timer ends.
17. Countdown Noise Parade
Supplies: Noisemakers
Blow your noisemaker every 2 seconds while balancing a cup on your head and walking in a circle– if it falls, start again! It is harder than it sounds.
18. Resolution Roundup
Supplies: Slips of paper with silly resolutions
Match the resolution to the person in the room (like “eat more tacos” or “nap daily”)!
Edible & Sweet Games
19. Marshmallow Drop
Supplies: Marshmallows, paper cup
Stand on a chair and drop marshmallows into a cup on the floor. Most caught wins!
20. Tic Tac Transfer
Supplies: Tweezers, Tic Tacs, bowls
Transfer as many Tic Tacs as possible using only tweezers.
21. Candy Cane Pick-Up
Supplies: Candy canes
Use a candy cane in your mouth to hook and lift other candy canes onto a plate.
22. Whipped Cream Countdown
Supplies: Whipped cream, paper plate, candy
Spray 10 whipped cream dollops on a plate and hide a candy under one of these. Players pick up the candy in their mouth without using their hands. Which pile will have the hidden candy?
Silly & Wacky Fun
23. Hat Stack
Supplies: Party hats
See how many hats you can balance on your head in one minute. You can only use one hand to stack the hats.
24. Confetti Catcher
Supplies: Confetti, paper cup
Toss confetti into the air and try to catch it in a cup – bonus if you spin while doing it!
25. Party Horn Tower
Supplies: Party horns
Stack party horns on top of each other in a tower – blindfolded!
Prizes & Scoring Ideas
Make it extra fun by offering little prizes for winners. Think party-themed:
- Mini trophies
- Gold chocolate coins
- New Year’s Eve headbands
- Gift cards
- Confetti poppers
You can also give out silly awards like “Most Dramatic Player,” “Fastest Fingers,” or “Best Team Spirit.”
To score, you can:
- Keep track of wins per round
- Award points based on performance (e.g. 1st place = 3 points, 2nd = 2 points)
- Play just for fun, with lots of laughs and photos!
Setup Tips for Success
- Timekeeper or Host: Assign someone to be the timer and referee.
- Supplies Station: Have all items ready and sorted.
- Create Game Cards: Print or write short instructions for each station.
- Use Music: Play upbeat party music for energy!
- Test the Games: Try them out ahead of time so you can adjust if needed.
Fun Game Schedule for Your NYE Party
Here’s how you might structure the evening:
8:00 PM – Guests arrive, snacks and drinks
8:30 PM – Start first round of Minute to Win It games
9:30 PM – Intermission and photo booth fun
10:00 PM – More games and team relays
11:15 PM – Final rounds + tally scores
11:45 PM – Give out prizes
11:55 PM – Countdown to midnight
12:00 AM – Confetti, cheers, and celebration!
Minute to Win It games are the perfect way to fill the gap between dinner and the big midnight countdown – and they’re sure to bring loads of laughs, excitement, and memories to your New Year’s Eve celebration. Whether you go all-out with themed challenges or keep it simple with a few easy games, the joy is in the shared moments of silliness and friendly fun.
So grab your timer, your party hats, and let the countdown to laughter begin. Here’s to ringing in the New Year with fun, and a whole lot of giggles!
