If you’re like me, you have a motley crew of friends and family who don’t always know each other and may or may not have much to talk about from the get-go. Diversity is the spice of life, after all! So when you throw together a gathering, here are a few tried-and-true games and table-top conversation pieces that’ll have everyone mixing, mingling, and making new friends from the time they arrive.

1. Who Am I Anyway?

So simple and fun. "Who Am I?" is one the the easiest last-minute party games that never gets old. To play, write the names of famous personalities, fictional characters, or even mutual friends on small pieces of paper. As your guests arrive, attach one of these name tags to their back without revealing their identity. The objective? To figure out who they are by asking yes or no questions of other guests. This game not only breaks the ice but also sparks entertaining conversations.

Pro tips:

• The more off-the-wall, the better when it comes to the names you include. If you’re in a last-minute pinch, here’s a downloadable sheet you can print and cut up to make this super easy.

• Too busy being a host? Appoint a party “greeter” to welcome people as they arrive, explain the game, and attach the names to people’s backs. This is a great thing to delegate to a teenager or other young person since it introduces them too.

2. Candy Count Jar

Who doesn't love candy? Fill up several plastic containers or jars with colorful candies and have your guests guess how many sweets are in each container. Provide notepads and pens for them to jot down their estimates. The person with the closest guess for each jar wins the candy-filled container as a prize. It's a sweet way to get people talking and add an element of competition to your party.

Pro tip: Make sure to do a last call toward the middle of your event and before the final selection to make sure everyone has a chance to guess.

3. Make Some Memories, Design Memory Game Cards

Add a creative twist to your party by creating a memory-matching game that's fun and leaves the guests of honor with a keepsake to remember the gathering. Set out small blank cards and permanent markers, and ask your guests to decorate a matching pair or several if they feel creative. The funnier, more personal, and inappropriate, the better! Seeing who gets the most enthusiastic with this one is always surprising. It’s a fantastic ice breaker when you have a party that includes older children and teenagers, who otherwise might seem a little checked out upon arrival.

We love this idea so much that we created a game kit with a customizable keepsake box (you write the event and the date) to make it better and easier than ever! Check it out and get ready for a gathering you’ll never forget.

Pro tip: If guests struggle with ideas for card drawings, here’s a printable cheat sheet you can use for your tabletop.

4. What On Earth Have You Done?!

If you're celebrating a specific person or couple, this game adds a personal touch to your gathering. Create a list of strange and funny questions about things your guest of honor(s) have or haven’t done. Hand out these questionnaires to your guests and see who knows them best. The great thing about this game is you don’t even need to know the answers. After all the questions are read aloud, the guest of honor can run through their responses (which usually results in some TMI and laughter if they feel they owe an explanation)! Announce the winner.

Pro tip: You got it; another cheat sheet with game questions you can use.

5. Rock, Paper, Scissors Conga

Okay, this one is an actual legit game, but it’s too fun not to include. Inject some movement and spontaneity into your party with the Rock, Paper, Scissors Conga game. It's a hilarious twist on the traditional Rock, Paper, Scissors game. The bigger the group, the better with this one (groups of 15+ are ideal). Gather all the guests to explain the rules if you have a large room or outside space. Tell your guests that when you say “Go,” they should turn to someone nearest them and initiate a Rock-Paper-Scissors stand-off. When there’s a winner, the loser becomes their cheerleader by standing behind them with their hands on their shoulders, cheering their name loudly as part of the winning player's "conga line." The leader of each conga line then faces off, and the losing line joins behind the winning group repeatedly. Keep the game going until you two long, amusing conga line zigzagging chanting their leader’s name, and the final stand-off results in a winner.

Give these ideas at your next event, and let us know what you think.

Happy unchaining! - Janet