P
Peter Cohen
If you're planning to get together with friends and family on New Year's Eve, why not make it even more fun with some great party games for your iPhone? Here's a roundup of six fantastic iOS games designed for group fun that will help you make the most out of New Year's Eve (or whenever you have your next get-together).
Dance Party
You don't need an Xbox with a Kinect in order to have fun dancing in front of the TV any more: Dance Party features the same mechanics as dancing games for video game consoles — it's a rhythm game, where you have to mimic movements of the on-screen dancers. The game tracks your moves by using your iOS device's camera. In-app purchases unlock new songs for you to dance to, with support for up to four players in a group, or five-player turn-based multiplayer.
- Free - Download now
Just like you may have seen on The Ellen Show or in theme park lines everywhere, Heads Up is a delightful cross between Charades, Celebrities, and a bunch of other guessing games. The idea is simple: Hold the iPhone to your forehead with the screen facing your teammates, and have them give you clues to guess the word. Therein lies the fun, and the challenge: Heads Up comes with a few different challenge packs that will have you acting out like animals, humming your favorite songs and more, but you can buy many more as in-app purchases. "Totally 80s" is my personal jam.
- $0.99 - Download now
It's much like the board game — except on your iOS device. Never mind one person acting out the word for the group to guess: Reverse Charades puts that concept on its head. This time the entire team has to act out the word for one person to guess. Set 30, 60 or 90 second rounds, with lots of card packs you can add through in-app purchases.
- Free - Download now
ShakePop is a modern take on Simon Says: Up to six players follow the device's commands. "Shake me. Flip me. Don't move," and the like — all without making a mistake. The longer you survive, the faster the commands come. You can unlock additional characters with in-app purchases.
- Free - Download now
If you've ever played Pictionary, you'll dig SketchParty TV: This game uses an iPad and a TV monitor connected via AirPlay Mirroring and Apple TV to have some pictorial fun. You'll have five words to draw pictures for in two minutes. The game supports two teams of up to eight players.
- $3.99 - Download now
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be on the bridge of the Enterprise, now's your chance. Twist dials, change sliders, and do more — but you also have to shout out instructions to other players, all of whom have to do the same simultaneously. Did I mention that you're piloting a starship that's trying to outrun a supernova, asteroids, and wormholes? Fast and furious fun for 2-4 players.
- Free - Download now
Those are some of my favorites, but I bet you've got some that you haul out at parties. Let me know what they are in the comments! Regardless, I hope I've given you some ideas for how to liven up a New Year's Eve party (or a party during any other time of the year).
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