15 Creepy Games to Play in the Dark

games to play in the dark

Looking for a little late-night fun? Whether you’re at a sleepover, camping trip, or just want to add some thrills to game night, we’ve got you covered with these 15 games to play in the dark. These games are the perfect mix of spooky and silly. Best of all, you don’t need much more than flashlights, glow sticks, or just a pitch-black room. So, are you ready to play? Without further ado, here are the 15 best creepy games to play at night in the dark.

1. FLASHLIGHT TAG

Let’s start off with some classics. Flashlight tag is the ultimate twist on the classic game of tag. But instead of chasing players in the daylight, the seeker gets a flashlight to hunt down the rest of the players in total darkness. The beam of light is the “tag,” and if it lands on you, you’re out (or the new seeker). Everyone else has to duck, hide, and dash around without getting caught.

2. HIDE AND SEEK IN THE DARK

games to play in the dark

Another fun game to play in the dark is Hide and Seek. You may think you know the game, but playing this childhood classic in complete darkness adds a whole new level of creepy and fun. To play, the seeker counts while everyone else scrambles into their best hiding places, trying to stay quiet while their pulse pounds. The seeker has to search carefully, relying on sounds, shapes, and movement instead of sight. If you want to make the game a little easier, have the seeker use a small flashlight to help them find the other players.

3. GLOW-IN-THE-DARK TREASURE HUNT

Turn your space into a spooky scavenger zone with this glow-in-the-dark game. Hide glow sticks, glowing bracelets, or other items around the room, yard, or other playing area of your choice. Players then have to find as many glowing treasures as they can before the timer runs out. You can make this game even more competitive by assigning point values to the treasures, like 1 point for easy-to-find items and 5 points for ones that are much harder to find.

4. FLASHLIGHT LIMBO

Limbo is fun enough in the daytime, but it can be just as fun with flashlights in the dark. Have one player hold a flashlight to create a glowing limbo bar. Everyone takes turns bending backward and sliding underneath without touching the light beam. After each round, lower the flashlight so it gets harder and harder. Don’t forget to put on some spooky music in the background!

5. SARDINES

scary games to play in the dark

Sardines flips hide-and-seek on its head and makes it extra creepy in the dark. In this summer camp classic, one person hides while the rest of the group spreads out to search for that one person. But if you find the hider, you quietly join them in their hiding spot. Eventually, more and more people squeeze into the same dark corner or closet until there’s only one player left searching alone.

6. GHOST IN THE GRAVEYARD

One of the best nighttime games for kids is Ghost in the Graveyard. Choose one player to be the “ghost” and send them to hide while the rest of the group stays at base and counts. Once the counting is done, everyone slowly searches, chanting “Ghost in the graveyard!” The ghost waits for the perfect moment to jump out and scare the group, sending everyone running back to base before being tagged.

7. MURDER IN THE DARK

This spooky party game is part mystery, part jump scare. Hand out slips of paper to give out secret roles to each of the players: one murderer, one detective, and the rest are victims. Turn off the lights, and the murderer “kills” by tapping shoulders in the dark. Victims have to drop dramatically where they stand. When someone stumbles upon a body, the lights come back on, and the detective investigates, questioning players and trying to solve the mystery. This game is a lot harder than it looks!

8. HIDE-AND-SCARE

I know we’ve given a few different hide-and-seek variations already, but we had to include one last one! In this variation, one player finds a dark hiding place and waits quietly, while the others wander around trying to find them, just like in sardines. But instead of just being spotted, the hider jumps out with a scream or a sudden movement to scare whoever comes close. Rotate turns so everyone gets the chance to be the hidden scarer. This is definitely a scary game that will get everyone’s hearts pumping in no time!

9. GLOW STICK CAPTURE THE FLAG

games to play in the dark

This creepy twist on capture the flag is perfect for big groups. Split into two teams, each with their own glowing “flag” like a glow stick or bracelet. Hide the “flag” on your side while guarding it from the other team. Players have to sneak across the dark battlefield, grab the other team’s glow stick, and bring it back without getting tagged. If you’re caught, you go to jail until a teammate rescues you. Just like in the standard summer camp classic game.

10. ZOMBIE TAG

Instead of playing standard tag, why not put a zombie spin on it? Pick one person to start as the zombie. They shuffle slowly in the dark with arms stretched out, groaning and moaning as they hunt for humans, AKA the other players. When the zombie tags someone, that person also becomes a zombie, joining in the hunt. The game keeps going until everyone has been infected. The last human standing wins!

11. SCARY STORY CHAIN

games to play in the dark

Want to exercise your creative brain? Gather in a circle, turn out all the lights, and start creating a story together, one line or sentence at a time. But remember: you are creating a scary story together, so make sure it’s spooky!

12. GUESS THE OBJECT

Want to gross out your friends? This creepy game you can play in the dark is all about touch. In complete darkness, pass around mystery items and let players guess what they are by feel alone. Prepare items like peeled grapes, cold spaghetti, and wet sponges… The more creative and gross the objects, the better. Just be prepared for lots of squeals and dramatic overreactions!

13. DARK DRAWING

You don’t realize how hard drawing is until you try it in the dark. Hand everyone a pen and paper, then switch off the lights. Then, have everyone draw the same thing, whether that be the person on your left or a certain animal. When the lights come back on, reveal your creations. Usually, the pictures look nothing like the real thing, but that’s what makes them so funny! So expect a lot of laughing out loud! Vote on the best drawing to pick a winner.

14. CLUE IN THE DARK

Did you know you can also play board games in the dark? And one of the best board games to play at night is Clue. Keep one flashlight to pass around, and only the player whose turn it is gets to use it. The dim light adds tension, and every time the beam lands on someone’s face, it feels like they’re about to confess to a crime. Even if you’ve played Clue a hundred times, this spooky twist makes it brand new.

15. IN THE SHADOWS

scary games to play in the dark

This game is simple but super fun in the dark. Have players strike their creepiest poses while the room is pitch black. Then, one person suddenly shines a flashlight, freezing the players as eerie “statues.” The mix of odd shadows and strange poses makes for some pretty spooky (and often hilarious) reveals. Keep switching who holds the flashlight so everyone gets to be both a statue and the spotlight holder.

Mia Kim
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