How to Plan a Zombie Party or Game Night

A zombie party is one of the easiest themes to pull off. The costumes are cheap, the decorations can look as messy as you like, and everyone already knows the rules. This guide covers a full evening, from invitations to the last game, and works for a kids' birthday or a grown-up game night with only small changes.

Decide what kind of night it is

Before you buy anything, settle three questions. How many people are coming? How old are they? And how scary should it be?

For young children, aim for silly. Think green faces, slow walking and lots of groaning, with nothing that looks like an actual injury. For teenagers and adults you can go spookier, but a party still works best when people are laughing more than flinching. Most of the ideas below can be dialed up or down.

Group size changes the games. Six to ten people suits a board game or a story game around the table. Fifteen or more is better for active games, ideally with some outdoor space.

Invitations that set the tone

Send the invitation as an "emergency broadcast." Something like: "ALERT: A zombie horde is approaching 14 Maple Street on Saturday at 6 p.m. Survivors should arrive in costume. Bring a flashlight and an appetite." Print it on yellow paper with a warning stripe.

Tell guests whether they should come as survivors, zombies or either. Mixing the two makes for better games later. If you send the invitation by message, keep it short enough to fit in a single post, which is a nice nod to how this site got its name.

Easy costumes and makeup

Old clothes do most of the work. Torn jeans, a faded shirt and a sprinkle of flour for dust make a convincing zombie in five minutes. Survivors can wear hiking gear, a backpack and a headlamp, or a sports helmet.

For makeup, a gray or pale green face paint base, dark eye shadow around the eyes and a little white powder on top is enough. Use cosmetic face paint made for skin, and do a small test on the arm first, especially for kids. Skip fake blood for younger guests. A smudge of brown "dirt" from eye shadow looks just as zombie-like and won't stain the couch.

Set up a makeup station near the door with wipes, mirrors and a couple of volunteers. Guests who forgot to dress up get turned on arrival.

Decorations on a budget

Zombie decor is supposed to look improvised, which saves money. A few ideas:

• Painter's tape in an X across windows and doors, like boarded-up planks.
• Cardboard signs reading "SAFE ZONE," "QUARANTINE" or "NO ZOMBIES PAST THIS POINT."
• Caution tape across a hallway you don't want guests using anyway.
• Green or flickering bulbs in a couple of lamps.
• A "supply depot" table with canned food labels, flashlights and a first aid box for prizes.

Keep the main walkways clear and well lit. A dim room is atmospheric right up until someone trips over a cooler.

Food with a theme

Rename ordinary snacks rather than making complicated ones. Pretzel rods dipped in green candy melts become "zombie fingers." A bowl of green punch with a few gummy worms becomes "swamp water." Popcorn is "survival rations," and a tray of cupcakes with green frosting and candy eyes is the "infected batch."

A few practical tips. Label anything containing common allergens, like nuts, dairy or gluten, on a small card. Put out plenty of water and a plain option for picky eaters. For a long party, plan one real meal, such as pizza or a taco bar, so people aren't living on candy.

Games for kids

Zombie tag is the classic. One player starts as a zombie and must walk stiffly with arms out. Anyone tagged becomes a zombie too, until the last survivor wins. Indoors, make everyone walk heel to toe to keep things slow and safe.

Freeze zombie works like musical statues. Play music while everyone shuffles around as a zombie, and stop it suddenly. Anyone still moving is out. It is great for burning energy and costs nothing.

A supply scavenger hunt fits the theme well. Hide paper "supplies" (food cans, planks, bandages, a radio) around the house or yard, and give teams a list. The first team to complete a survival kit escapes the outbreak.

Games for teens and adults

A story game around one screen works surprisingly well. Put Zombie Tweet on a TV or laptop, read each scene aloud and let the room vote on every choice. A run takes about ten minutes, so you can play several rounds and compare endings. Teams can compete for the highest score, or each player can take a turn as the "leader" who breaks ties.

Hidden-role games are another strong fit. In a simple homemade version, deal cards face down: most players are survivors, one or two are secretly infected. Each round the group discusses and votes to send one person out of the "safe house." The infected win if they outnumber the survivors.

Movie picks for the end of the night

Pick a film that matches your crowd. For younger kids, ParaNorman (2012, rated PG) is a stop-motion comedy about a boy who can see ghosts and has to deal with a zombie problem. Disney Channel's musical Zombies (2018) is aimed at tweens and has no real scares.

For adults, Shaun of the Dead (2004, rated R) is the standard choice for a laughing crowd. Check the rating and run time before the party, and have a backup ready in case the first pick lands badly.

A simple timeline

For a three-hour party, this rough plan keeps things moving:

Leave some slack. Games that go well tend to run long, and that's fine.

Clean-up and safety

Put a trash bag in every room and a box of wipes by the door for makeup removal. If you are using candles for atmosphere, swap them for battery tea lights, especially with costumes and kids around. And agree on a "break the game" word for the scarier games, so anyone who has had enough can step out without fuss.