Fun Halloween Party Games & Classroom Activities
If you’ve ever tried to keep a room full of sugar-charged kids (and yes, even the too cool for school pre-teens) entertained at a Halloween party, then you already know the struggle is real.
Between the endless candy negotiations and the “I’m bored” chorus, finding something that gets everyone laughing, shouting, and actually playing together can feel like a Halloween miracle.
That’s where the Halloween Taboo Game swoops in like a friendly ghost!
With ready-to-play Halloween taboo game cards, this classic guessing game gets a festive twist that works perfectly as Halloween games for kids, silly Halloween party games, and even structured Halloween games for classroom party fun (I’ve tested and it works!).
It’s easy to set up, quick to learn, and guaranteed to keep kids of all ages (yes, even those eye-rolling tweens) entertained.
What is the Halloween Taboo Game?
Think of Halloween Taboo as a spooky twist on a classic party game.
Instead of just guessing words, players have to describe a Halloween-themed word (like pumpkin, witch, or haunted house), without using the five “taboo” words listed on the card.
Sounds simple, right?
Well, try getting your team to say “skeleton” without blurting out bones or spooky!
The result?
Lots of giggles, some seriously creative descriptions, and the occasional dramatic clue-giver meltdown (in the best way).
Why Parents and Teachers Love It
Sure, it’s fun, but here’s the sneaky part: kids are actually learning while they play.
- Vocabulary boost: They have to stretch their brains to think of new ways to describe words
- Quick thinking: With a timer ticking, they learn to communicate fast and clearly
- Teamwork skills: It’s all about listening, guessing, and working together
- Confidence builder: Even shy kids light up when their team guesses their word
- Group Game: This is great for groups, parties and classroom parties
- Screen Free Activity: Need I say more? We could all use a screen break once in a while
And the best part?
It works for all ages.
Younger kids love the silliness, older kids get into the competition, and teachers/parents just sit back enjoying the chaos (with maybe a secret piece of candy corn).
How To Play The Halloween Taboo Game
What Will You Need:
- a timer (we use a phone)
- game cards (grab my pre-made ones here or make your own)
- optional – buzzer/bell for the other team to ding violations (you can just call it out too)
Objective
Get your team to guess as many Halloween words as possible without saying the forbidden words or “taboo” words on your card before the timer runs out!
The beauty of this game is that it’s quick to set up, easy to play, and guaranteed to bring the giggles. Here’s how it works:
- Split into teams
Divide your group into two (or more) teams. Big class? No problem—just add more teams! - Set the timer
Each round lasts about one minute (or less if you’re playing with younger kids who have the attention span of a gummy worm) - Pick a card
The clue-giver takes the top card from the deck. The big bold word at the top is what their team needs to guess - Give your clues
The clue-giver describes the word without saying any of the five “taboo” words listed on the card - ❌ No rhyming with the word
- ❌ No spelling it out
- ❌ No dramatic charades (unless you want to bend the rules for the littles)
- Guess, shout, repeat
The team shouts out answers until they guess correctly, then the clue-giver quickly grabs another card. The goal is to get through as many words as possible before time runs out. - Scoring
+1 point for each correct guess, the winners keep the card
0 points if the clue-giver slips and says a taboo word, the opposing team gets the card - Winning the game
Keep going until everyone’s had a turn or the candy runs out, whichever comes first. The team with the most points wins bragging rights (and maybe the last Reese’s).
Alternatively, you can also play so the first team to 20 cards wins.
Halloween Taboo Cards Printable
If you want done-for-you Halloween Taboo Cards, you can grab my game bundle so that’s one less thing on your to-do list.
Here’s what’s included in my bundle:
- 11 pages with 9 cards per page = 99 taboo cards
- 1 blank page of 9 taboo cards so you can make your own
- Instuctions on how to play
Simply download your files instantly and print at home or your local print shop.
If you’d rather make your own cards, here are some Halloween themed words to get you started:
- Pumpkin
Taboo: orange, jack-o’-lantern, carve, squash - Ghost
Taboo: boo, white, sheet, haunted - Witch
Taboo: broom, hat, cauldron, spell - Candy
Taboo: sweet, treat, chocolate, Halloween - Bat
Taboo: flying, night, wings, cave - Skeleton
Taboo: bones, body, scary, skull - Spider
Taboo: web, creepy, eight, legs - Black Cat
Taboo: witch, meow, bad luck, furry - Costume
Taboo: dress-up, outfit, pretend, wear - Zombie
Taboo: brain, walk, dead, scary - Haunted House
Taboo: ghost, spooky, scary, dark - Cauldron
Taboo: pot, witch, brew, stir - Vampire
Taboo: blood, teeth, bite, Dracula - Mummy
Taboo: wrap, bandages, Egypt, tomb - Trick-or-Treat
Taboo: candy, knock, door, say - Monster
Taboo: scary, big, creature, ugly - Owl
Taboo: hoot, night, bird, tree - Jack-o’-Lantern
Taboo: pumpkin, carve, face, light - Full Moon
Taboo: night, round, sky, werewolf - Scarecrow
Taboo: field, corn, birds, straw
More Halloween Games, Activites & Printables
Halloween Superstitions Trivia
Halloween Would You Rather Game
Halloween Left Right Game FREE Printable
Halloween Handprint Art For Kids
Halloween Scavenger Hunt for Kids
FREE Halloween Coloring Pages Printable PDF
FREE Halloween I SPY Game Printable
Halloween Word Search FREE Printable
Wrapping UP Fun Halloween Party Games For Kids, Teens & Adults
And there you have it, Halloween Taboo is officially your new party lifesaver.
It’s festive, it’s flexible, and it sneaks in a little learning while the kids are too busy laughing to notice. Whether you’re planning Halloween games for kids, looking for easy Halloween party games, or need no-prep Halloween games for classroom party fun, these printable taboo game cards are a total win.
They keep the littles engaged, the tweens entertained, and let’s be real, they save you from racking your brain for yet another activity.
So grab your set of Halloween Taboo game printable cards, print them on some cardstock, and get ready for a whole lot of spooky giggles.
Trust me, this is one Halloween activity you’ll want to play year after year.
If you’re looking for more Halloween games and activities for your party, make sure to check out some of the other posts I linked above.