Retro Decades Party Theme: Game Ideas

  1. Name That Decade

Type: Music & Pop Culture Trivia
Materials Needed:

  • Playlist with songs, jingles, and movie clips from the 1950s–1990s
  • Bluetooth speaker
  • Scorecards and pens

Rules:

  1. Play a short clip (5–10 seconds) from a song, jingle, or movie.
  2. Guests write down which decade it’s from.
  3. Keep score for each correct answer.
  4. Bonus points for naming the exact year or artist.

Prize:
Vintage record coasters or a themed mug set

  1. Dress From Your Decade Contest

Type: Costume Contest
Materials Needed:

  • Designated stage or photo backdrop
  • Judges or ballots for voting
  • Labels for decades (e.g., “80s Rocker”, “60s Flower Child”)

Rules:

  1. Each guest is encouraged to dress from a chosen decade.
  2. Hold a fashion walk or group voting.
  3. Categories can include Best Overall, Most Authentic, Funniest, etc.
  4. Guests vote anonymously.

Prize:
Gift card, vintage-style sunglasses, or a retro lunchbox

  1. Retro Game Station

Type: Free Play Zone
Materials Needed:

  • Classic board games (Twister, Lite-Brite, Operation, Simon)
  • Setup table or lounge zone

Rules:

  1. Create a self-guided station with instructions for each game.
  2. No formal competition, just nostalgic interaction.
  3. Optional: time challenge (e.g., “Beat Simon in 3 rounds”) to win raffle tickets.

Prize:
Small trophy labeled “Retro Game Champion” or a themed prize bag

  1. “Guess the Gadget” Challenge

Type: Mystery Object Game
Materials Needed:

  • Box or tray of vintage items: pager, floppy disk, Walkman, rotary phone dial, VHS tape
  • Blank answer sheets

Rules:

  1. Guests try to name each mystery item and guess the decade it was popular.
  2. No touching unless allowed.
  3. Tally scores at the end.

Prize:
Retro kitchen timer, cassette-shaped notebook, or novelty socks

  1. Decade Dance-Off

Type: Activity & Performance
Materials Needed:

  • Dance playlist by decade (e.g., twist, disco, breakdance, Macarena)
  • Space for dancing
  • Decade signs or prompts

Rules:

  1. Play a song from a certain decade.
  2. Invite volunteers or pairs to show off the dance style.
  3. Audience votes or claps to select winners.

Prize:
Mini disco ball, dance trophy, or free drink voucher

  1. TV Theme Song Showdown

Type: Audio Guessing Game
Materials Needed:

  • TV theme song playlist
  • Pens and answer sheets

Rules:

  1. Play 10–15 second snippets of theme songs (e.g., The Brady Bunch, Friends).
  2. Guests write down the show name and/or decade.
  3. Highest correct answers wins.

Prize:
Popcorn bucket filled with retro candy or a streaming gift card

  1. Retro Candy Taste Test

Type: Tasting Game
Materials Needed:

  • Candy from various decades (e.g., Bit-O-Honey, Pop Rocks, Fun Dip, Warheads)
  • Blindfolds or labels removed
  • Scorecards

Rules:

  1. Guests taste each mystery candy sample.
  2. Try to identify the name and decade of peak popularity.
  3. Most correct wins.

Prize:
A candy gift pack or old-school candy jar

 

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