When people first arrive at a party, they may feel shy or unsure of how to start a conversation with someone they don't know well. The best solution is a great party game -- which is why I made Deck Around. Here's what a game like that can do:

• Party games provide a structured and fun way for people to introduce themselves and learn more about each other. 
• They can also help to set the tone for the party and get people in a more relaxed and social mindset.
• By playing a fun game together and laughing together, people can bond over shared experiences and inside jokes, and this can help to create a more friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the party. 
• Party games can even be a great way to get people moving and interacting physically. Many games involve some level of physical activity, whether it's standing in a circle, grabbing onto someone's hand, or moving around the room. This can help to get people out of their seats and energized, and it can make the party feel more lively and exciting. 

But what do you do if you don't have a party game like Deck Around ready to play? 

Here are six party icebreakers for adults that are sure to get your party started. Each one requires little more than some paper and pens -- some don't require anything. And the rules are simple -- so you can deploy one of these party games truly at a moments' notice. Many of these classic games are even marketed as official party games with cards and answer sheets but you don't need to order them! You can improvise your way through each of these games for free. 

Two Truths and a Lie

This is a classic icebreaker game where each person takes a turn sharing three statements about themselves, with two being true and one being a lie. The group then has to guess which statement is the lie. For example, someone might say: "I have traveled to over 20 countries, I have a pet turtle named Sheldon, and I have bungee jumped off a bridge." In this case, the lie is the pet turtle named Sheldon. Everyone gets a chance to guess which they think is a lie... building tension until the player reveals the answer! This game is a great way to get to know more about each person and have some fun trying to figure out which statement is the lie.

Would You Rather

In this icebreaker, each person takes a turn asking the group a "would you rather" question, where they have to choose between two equally undesirable options. For example: "Would you rather eat a bowl of live worms or a bowl of live crickets?" Each person answers the question and explains why. In this way, Would You Rather is less of a competitive party game and more of a way to start conversations and cracking jokes. It gets people laughing and bonding over their shared discomfort. It's also a fun way to learn more about people's preferences and what they find gross or terrifying.

Never Have I Ever

In this game, each person takes a turn making a statement starting with "Never have I ever," followed by something they have never done. For example: "Never have I ever gone skydiving." Anyone who has gone skydiving has to take a drink, and the group continues until everyone has had a turn. In another non-drinking variation, each player holds up five fingers and looses one for each statement they violate. The last person standing with remaining fingers is the winner. This game is a great way to learn more about people's experiences and what they have and haven't done. It's also a fun way to get people a little tipsy and loosen them up.

The Name Game

The Name Game is particularly good with a group of people just getting to know each other because it helps people remember each others' names. In this game, each person takes a turn saying their name and a word that starts with the same letter as their name. For example, someone named Sarah might say "Sarah's Sweet" or "Sarah's Sassy." The next person has to repeat the previous names and descriptors and complete their statement with their own name and word. So if the next person's name is Tom, they might say "Sarah's Sweet Tom's Tacky" or "Sarah's Sassy Tom's Trustworthy." The group continues until everyone can repeat all the names and descriptions without flubbing. 

Human Knot

In this extra physical party game, everyone stands in a circle and grabs onto the hand of someone across from them. Then, everyone grabs onto the hand of someone else in the circle, so that everyone is holding onto two different hands. This leaves everyones' hands and arms overlapping and crossing. The group then has to untangle themselves without letting go of anyone's hand. It may seem impossible but there is always a way! It will involve shimmying through eachothers' arms and limboing below legs and torsos. This game is a great way to get people working together and using their problem-solving skills. 

21 Questions

In this game, one person thinks of an object, person, or place, and the rest of the group takes turns asking yes or no questions to try to guess what it is. For example, someone might be thinking of the Eiffel Tower, and the group might ask questions like "Is it a building?" or "Is it in Europe?" Both answers would be "yes," getting them a few steps closer to the truth. The guessers win if they identify the item in less than 21 questions. If they're stumped, the thinker wins. The person who guesses correctly gets to think of the next object, person, or place. This game is a great way to get people thinking and using their logic and observation skills. It's also a fun way to learn more about people's interests and what they're thinking about.

Overall, these party games are a great way to break the ice and get people interacting and having fun at your next party. Come back to this list any time you're at a boring party! Whether you're looking for a silly game to get people laughing or a more interactive activity to get people bonding, there's something on this list for everyone.