The best games where you have to act 🕴 2026

In games with acting mechanisms, players must use some form of mime or mimicry to communicate with the other players.

Charades as an example of acting social games

Charades is probably the poster child for this mechanic, in which one member of a team must give nonverbal clues so that the other members can guess the solution.

Monikers brings a breath of fresh air to the genre

The very popular party game Monikers has recently brought a breath of fresh air to the acting-social games genre. But also many other recently released games offer a lot of fun. But just check out our list for yourself:

List of the best acting games list 2026 🕴

This list was last updated on June 11, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Monikers

    Monikers

    Monikers is a lively and entertaining party game inspired by the classic public domain game Celebrities. It is designed for players who enjoy guessing games and offers a fun challenge through a series of rounds where the methods of clue-giving evolve and become more restrictive.

    All details & rating
    4–16 30–60 min 17+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  2. Monikers: Serious Nonsense

    Monikers: Serious Nonsense

    Monikers: Serious Nonsense is a standalone expansion featuring 330 cards created by Shut Up & Sit Down. This new set also includes several requests for the return of Monikers, offering twelve delightfully ridiculous fourth rounds, minus the two least interesting ones.

    All details & rating
    4–20 60 min 18+ Immediately playable
  3. Times Up! The Celebrities Charades Game

    Times Up! The Celebrities Charades Game

    Time's Up! is a lively and entertaining charades-based party game, ideal for playing in teams of two or more. It's particularly engaging when played with teams of two. The game revolves around guessing famous historical or fictional characters, with each player contributing to a communal deck of names used across three distinct rounds.

    All details & rating
    4–18 90 min 12+ Immediately playable
  4. Time's Up! Edición Azul

    Time's Up! Edición Azul

    Players form teams to participate in a charades-based party game. Each player selects cards featuring famous historical or fictional characters, which are then shuffled into a common set for three rounds. Team members take turns giving clues to help each other guess as many names as possible within a time limit, using varying rules for hints and responses in each round.

    All details & rating
    4–12 45 min 12+ Immediately playable
  5. Time's Up! Academy

    Time's Up! Academy

    Time is up! Academy is a team-based party game that relies on charades, best enjoyed with pairs. Players select cards featuring old TV shows, music, and movies, which are then shuffled into a deck for three rounds of play, with varying rules for giving clues. In each round, team members take turns getting their teammates to guess as many names and titles as possible within 30 seconds, using increasingly limited clues.

    All details & rating
    4–12 30 min 12+ Immediately playable
  6. Time's Up! Harry Potter
    4–12 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 8 € above the best price
    22 € at Amazon*
  7. Don't Get Got!

    Don't Get Got!

    Players receive six secret missions in a party game where the first to complete three wins. The game is designed to be played in the background, allowing it to be enjoyed at home, on vacation, at the office, or at a party. Missions can include getting compliments from another player, hiding a card in a glass, or inventing a word and prompting someone to ask about its meaning.

    All details & rating
    2–10 10+ Immediately playable
    Hidden Traitor
    Large Groups
    Video reviews 1
  8. Spyfall 2

    Spyfall 2

    Spyfall 2 elevates the intriguing and humorous party game Spyfall to new heights. This game is all about deception, quick thinking, and trying to pinpoint the spy among your friends. Each round, players find themselves at a secret location, except for the spy (or spies, in this version), who has no idea where they are. Through clever questioning, players must figure out who the spy is while the spy tries to blend in and guess the location to win points.

    All details & rating
    3–12 15 min 13+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  9. Imagine Famille
    3–8 15–30 min 8+ Immediately playable
    33 % cheaper than at other retailers
    10 € at Amazon*
  10. Sound Box

    Sound Box

    Sound Box is a cooperative party game for 4 to 7 players where you listen to your friends make strange sounds while trying to guess various concepts. At the start of each round, you lay down sound cards and draw a numbered token to find out which one you must imitate. As the timer starts, all sound makers create their noises simultaneously for 13 seconds of hilarious chaos. Players earn points for correct guesses, but wrong guesses end the round and mean players risk losing lives if cards go unguessed.

    All details & rating
    4–7 30–45 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 6 € above the best price
    20 € at Amazon*
  11. Der HeidelBÄR: Wilde Wasser Edition

    Der HeidelBÄR: Wilde Wasser Edition

    A new edition of "Der HeidelBÄR" dives into the ocean. Players must use the names of sea creatures to get the other players to guess which "bear" they are referring to.

    All details & rating
    3–6 20 min 10+ Immediately playable
  12. Treasure, Ready, Go!

    Treasure, Ready, Go!

    The objective is to collect the most treasures, awarded by completing tasks. Players turn the hourglass and reveal a treasure card on each turn, completing various tasks before time runs out, such as pantomiming animals or matching cards. They can choose to flip over another card for a chance at more treasures, but if time expires, they lose all accumulated treasure cards.

    All details & rating
    2–4 15 min 5+ Immediately playable
  13. Freeze

    Freeze

    Four players enter the stage together and improvise a scene based on a unique situation known only to them. Each player knows their own rank, from 1 to 4, but not the ranks of others. Players must act in a way that makes their rank clear to the audience, and no acting experience is required to enjoy the game.

    All details & rating
    4–10 30 min 12+ Immediately playable
  14. Funemployed

    Funemployed

    Funemployed is a card-based party game where players compete to land jobs. They apply for real positions like astronaut, lawyer, or priest while claiming absurd qualifications, such as being able to talk to pandas. Players must creatively present their qualifications in a role-playing manner, aiming to convince others that they are the best fit for the job.

    All details & rating
    3–20 30 min 13+ Immediately playable
  15. Shifty Eyed Spies

    Shifty Eyed Spies

    Engage in a sneaky competition of covert communication. Signal with a wink that you have a delivery for another spy, and wait for their eye shift to indicate the meeting point. Be discreet; if someone intercepts you, the mission is blown!

    All details & rating
    4–8 20 min 9+ Immediately playable
  16. Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder

    Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder

    Take a tour through the peaceful vineyards and picturesque wineries of California's wine country. During the annual wine tasting festival, the body of local vineyard owner Barry Underwood is discovered hidden in his wine cellar, after being missing for six years. With the finding of his body, new clues emerge to unravel this vintage murder, and you might just be a suspect.

    All details & rating
    6–8 180 min 16+ Immediately playable
    + 5 € above the best price
    25 € at Amazon*
  17. Bunny Hops
    4–16 20–40 min 14+ Immediately playable
  18. HINT

    HINT

    Players must have their teammates guess what they are trying to convey. They will act, draw, hum, and talk about various topics, from "European Capitals" to "Movie Villains." Speed and creativity are essential, but beware of the forbidden word that cannot be used.

    All details & rating
    4–10 45–60 min 15+ Immediately playable
  19. Ugg-Tect

    Ugg-Tect

    In Ugg-Tect, players collaborate in teams to construct impressive, albeit "functional," structures using nearby materials. As cavemen, communication relies on primitive gestures and sounds, with each team having an architect who guides them using simple commands. The fastest and most precise building team will win the game.

    All details & rating
    2–8 30–45 min 8+ Immediately playable
  20. Debatable

    Debatable

    Players take on the role of politicians in a seriously silly party game where they debate both serious and absurd topics. Two players argue for or against a topic, and once the time is up, others vote on who won the debate. It’s a hilarious game for 3 to 16 adults, lasting between 30 to 120 minutes, ensuring everyone stays engaged throughout.

    All details & rating
    3–16 30–120 min 15+ Immediately playable

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: