Throwing a Halloween party for kids is fun—until you realize how much it can cost. 😅 Between costumes, decorations, candy, and those “Pinterest-perfect” ideas, your wallet might start trembling like it’s in a haunted house.
Good news? You don’t need expensive gadgets or even screens to keep kids entertained. These cheap Halloween party games use simple supplies, some creativity, and a little sugar bribe (ahem, candy). Bonus: the adults get to relax while the kids burn off all that candy energy. Win-win!
Oh, and if you do want a single screen game, check out this Spooky Smarties Game – Halloween Edition. It’s a quick digital option that won’t take over the whole party. 👻
Frankenstein Halloween Punch Board Game
This game is a total crowd-pleaser! It’s like a DIY carnival game, but spooky. The best part? It’s super cheap to make.
What You Need:
- Large piece of cardboard or foam board
- Green tissue paper (for the Frankenstein look)
- Plastic cups (solo cups work perfectly)
- Hot glue gun or strong tape
- Candy or small toys to put inside
- Black construction paper for Frankenstein’s hair and face details
How to Make It:
- Glue the cups to the board in a grid pattern.
- Fill each cup with candy or a small toy.
- Cover the top of each cup with green tissue paper and secure it with a rubber band.
- Cut out Frankenstein’s hair, eyes, and mouth from black construction paper and glue them on top to create a face.
How to Play:
- Each kid takes a turn “punching” through the tissue paper to grab a prize.
- Keep it fair by letting each kid punch just one cup per turn.
Pro Tip: Add some non-candy items like spider rings or glow sticks to keep things fun and allergy-friendly.
Fill the Pumpkin Race
Think of it as a Halloween twist on the classic relay race. Perfect for burning off sugar rushes!
What You Need:
- Two medium-sized pumpkins or orange buckets
- Plastic spoons
- Small items like candy corn, ping-pong balls, or fake spiders
How to Play:
- Divide the kids into two teams.
- Each team lines up behind a pumpkin.
- The first player scoops up an item with their spoon, runs to the other side, and dumps it into the team pumpkin.
- Pass the spoon to the next player and repeat.
- First team to fill their pumpkin wins!
Why kids love it: It’s chaotic, silly, and competitive.
Stack the Spooky Eyeballs
This one is hilarious and requires minimal setup.
What You Need:
- Plastic eyeballs (you can grab a pack cheap on Amazon)
- Flat surface like a table
How to Play:
- Each player has 30 seconds to stack as many eyeballs as possible without them toppling over.
- Whoever stacks the tallest tower wins!
FYI: Kids will definitely try to blow on each other’s stacks. Expect chaos. 😂
Fun Halloween Mini Golf Game
Who needs a fancy mini golf course? Make your own spooky version!
What You Need:
- Cardboard boxes or shoeboxes
- Black paint or black construction paper
- Glow sticks (optional, for extra fun)
- Plastic golf clubs and balls (or even rolled-up paper balls)
How to Make It:
- Cut holes in the boxes to create “haunted houses” or “pumpkin mouths.”
- Decorate the boxes with Halloween themes—bats, ghosts, witches, etc.
- Arrange them in a hallway or backyard to form a course.
How to Play:
- Kids take turns trying to hit their ball into the targets.
- Keep score like regular mini golf—or don’t. Honestly, the kids won’t care.
Easy Halloween Can Toss Game
Classic, simple, and always a hit.
What You Need:
- 6–10 empty cans
- Halloween-themed paint or printable labels
- Small ball or beanbag
How to Make It:
- Clean and dry the cans.
- Decorate them with spooky faces or stickers.
- Stack them in a pyramid shape.
How to Play:
- Each kid gets three throws to knock down as many cans as possible.
- Give candy or small prizes for anyone who knocks them all down.
Poke-a-Ghost
This is like the Frankenstein punch game but quicker to set up.
What You Need:
- White tissue paper
- Plastic cups or paper cups
- Black marker for ghost faces
- Cardboard or foam board
How to Make It:
- Glue the cups to the board.
- Draw cute ghost faces on white tissue paper.
- Cover each cup with tissue paper and secure it.
- Fill cups with candy or toys.
How to Play:
- Kids take turns poking a ghost to grab the surprise inside.
- Add a “special ghost” with a bigger prize for extra excitement.
Homemade Piñata for Candy Fun
Piñatas don’t have to be expensive store-bought ones.
What You Need:
- Balloons
- Newspaper strips
- Flour and water for papier-mâché
- Paint for decoration
- Candy for filling
How to Make It:
- Inflate a balloon.
- Dip newspaper strips into flour-and-water mixture and layer them over the balloon.
- Let it dry completely (overnight works best).
- Pop the balloon and cut a small hole to add candy.
- Paint and decorate however you like!
How to Play:
- Hang it up and let the kids take turns whacking it until it breaks open.
- Pro tip: use a broomstick or wooden spoon as a bat if you don’t have one handy. 😉
Extra Cheap Halloween Game Ideas
If you need more quick filler activities:
- Mummy Wrap Race: Wrap a teammate in toilet paper.
- Ghost Bowling: Paint water bottles white and bowl with a small pumpkin.
- Monster Freeze Dance: Play Halloween music and freeze when it stops.
Items For The Games
These games are cheap, but you’ll still need a few basic supplies.
Here are some useful links:
- Printer ink and paper packs for printable decorations and labels.
- Amazon Halloween party packs for pre-made props, candy, and decorations.
If you want more indoor activity ideas, check out these fun reads:
- 30 Fun and Creative Rainy Day Activities for Kids
- Pumpkin Decorating Without Knives: 7 Toddler-Safe Ideas
Enjoying this blog. Pin for later!
Final Thoughts
Halloween parties don’t need to be expensive or tech-heavy to be fun. These cheap Halloween party games are simple, screen-free, and guaranteed to keep kids giggling (and maybe sugar crashing later).
Which game are you trying first? Personally, I vote for the Frankenstein punch board—it’s spooky AND satisfying to smash through that tissue paper. 🎃
