Halloween is right around the corner, and if you’re looking for fun Halloween games to make the holiday extra spooky, these Minute to Win It ideas are exactly what you’re after. Whether you’re staying in this year or going out for trick-or-treating, these party games will keep your kids entertained for hours. While you’re at it, make the night extra special with some fun Halloween jokes, kid-friendly ghost stories, easy Halloween treats, and awesome Halloween crafts.
What’s a Minute to Win It game?
Simply put, it’s a 60-second game using items typically found around the house. Participants attempt to see who can finish a challenge first or who can complete a task the most times in under a minute. You can try these holiday Minute to Win It games when Halloween is over or attempt some year-round Minute to Win It favorites!
How to Play Minute to Win It Games
These quick, exciting games are good for parties, of course, but you can also do them with just one or two players! There are three basic ways you can play Minute to Win It Games.
- Player vs. timer: In this style, a player races against the clock. They still have just one minute to complete the game, and if they do win, you can move on to another game. If they don’t, you can choose to let them try until they beat the clock or move on to another player.
- Player vs. Player: In this version, which works great for small groups, have two people compete against each other (for a minute). Whoever completes the challenge first wins! This way, you can rotate through your crew at a reasonable pace.
- Group Minute to Win It Play: Here’s where you’ll split your group into two teams. Each team decides who goes first, and then those players compete against each other to win! This is fun for teammates, too, because they’ll be cheering on competitors in each round. Both of my kids love playing Cookie Face with their friends!
1. Candy Face
Take their favorite piece of Halloween candy (that isn’t too messy, of course) and place it on your child’s forehead. They’ll need to use their facial muscles to move it down their face into their mouth without using their hands.
2. Pumpkin Balance
This involves two players balancing mini pumpkins on their heads and racing to a certain point without dropping the pumpkin. You can make it tougher by making it a running race!
3. Donut Race
Slide a donut on a string and see who can eat it off the string the fastest. What a delicious game to play!
4. Candy Balancing
Put the end of a craft stick in your mouth and stack a candy of your choice on top. Whoever stacks the most pieces wins! You can make the game more challenging by choosing a non-flat candy.
Related: 20 Halloween Party Games That Are a Scary Good Time
5. Mummify Me
A two-player game that involves wrapping the other player in toilet paper to look like a mummy.
6. Stack 'Em
Using apples, gourds, or mini pumpkins with the stems cut off, little ones have one minute to stack five apples or pumpkins (or three for younger kids) on top of each other and get them to stay for three seconds.
7. Candy Toss
Have two players take turns tossing their favorite candy (wrapped or unwrapped) into a bowl or cauldron. Whoever gets the most pieces into the cauldron in a minute wins.
8. M&M Switch
Each player will need two plates; one filled with M&Ms and one empty. Players use a straw to suck up each M&M and drop it onto the other plate. Whoever gets the most M&Ms onto the other plate wins!
Related: 35 Minute to Win It Games Perfect for Family Time
9. Halloween Bowling
Make ghost or mummy Halloween pins out of toilet paper rolls or white/clear plastic cups. Use a mini pumpkin or a regular-sized pumpkin (real or fake) as your bowling ball and get rolling.
10. Witch’s Hat Ring Toss
Connect glow sticks or fuzzy craft sticks into rings. Each player takes turns tossing their rings onto the witch’s hat, and whoever gets the most rings onto the hat wins (You can also use a pumpkin stem to catch the rings)!
11. Candy Unwrapping
Have your contestants take a wrapped piece of candy (choose a difficult one for a challenge) and have them unwrap it one-handed.
12. Dig for Creepy Crawlies
Crumble up your favorite cookie (that resembles dirt) and fill a bowl or bucket. Hide plastic creepy crawlies inside the dirt and have the players dig for them with a spoon. Whoever finds the most creepy crawlies wins.
13. Candy Corn Towers
To play this game, bite the ends off of the pieces of candy corn and stick them on top of each other to create a stack.
14. Spider Race
Using a straw, blow a plastic spider from one end of the table to your set finish line. Whoever crosses that line first wins!
FAQ About Minute to Win It Games
What age group are these games appropriate for?
Most Minute to Win It Games are best for kids ages 5 and up. We’ve found some games you can adapt for younger kids and some games that even toddlers can play.
What materials do I need?
Seasonal things like cookies, candy corn, mini pumpkins, Halloween candy, glow sticks, toilet paper, plastic insects, as well as everyday items like string, socks, cups, spoons, plates, and a timer.
How long do the games last?
Each game is designed so that each round lasts 60 seconds. You can make them 45 seconds for young kids, and depending on how many players, multiple rounds may take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.
Can these games be played individually?
Minute to Win It Games are designed for both single and multiple players, making them fun for family gatherings and birthday parties.
Are Minute to Win It Games safe?
Yes! Be sure to supervise kids at all times, watch for choking hazards for kids ages 3 and under, and create an open play space to prevent slipping and falling.
Make sure to capture all the giggles—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
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