Best Birthday Party Games for Boys

Boys are always looking for ways to let off steam and a birthday party is no exception. Browse this gallery for ideas on how to add some action, adventure and competition to your little guy’s big day! No party is complete without a thrilling thwack-the-pinata game. The best part about pinatas is that once the goodies are on the ground everyone wins! For more ideas on organizing a successful pinata game be sure to browse 10 Ways to Make Pinata Time Even More Fun.

The timeless Pin the Tail on the Donkey game is a classic for a reason. It never fails to be a crowd-pleaser at a child's party! For older boys, add a twist on the traditional game by getting a version that matches your son's birthday party theme. At an Angry Birds party he and his friends can pin the tail on the red bird with the mocking grins of the enemy pigs egging them on to success!

Boys love to act out pretend struggles between good and evil. Let the birthday boy and his friends participate in a pretend battle to release some of their excess energy. Pass out swords to each child and let your little warriors play free-style. Just remember to remind the boys to keep playtime safe. Also, having adult supervision is always a good idea.

The boys say they're ready to rumble, but you're not sure you want a full-scale brawl in your living room. What's a party host to do? Keep your peaceful party legit by hosting the WTWE (World Thumb Wresting Entertainment) Smackdown! Hand out official WWE Thumb Superstars and let the boys feel the power of Rey Mysterio, Triple H, John Cena and Batista aka "the Animal" flow into their thumbs! No matter who wins the match this game is a champion!

Faster! Faster! You’ll have laughing, shouting, happy boys when you get them in a race. The competition heats up when you add potato sacks. Or try everyone’s favorite egg relay game. Set up the “racetrack” in the backyard on a soft surface like a lawn, using plastic cones to mark the course and a crepe paper streamer for a finish line! Make sure everyone wins by handing out shiny, official-looking trophies at the end of the race.

When the Avengers assemble they don't do it in their street clothes. The birthday boy will feel extra excited about his big day if he knows he'll get to attend the celebration dressed as his favorite superhero! Once his friends arrive, take the party from ho-hum to heroic by handing out superhero masks to all the guests. Now your courageous crusaders are ready to snuff out criminal activity as if it were candles on a birthday cake!

No boys' birthday party is complete without some face-paint fun! So stand back and let them go nuts. When you’re a boy at an outdoor birthday party, what’s not to love about putting on a camouflage face-paint disguise and then launching a water-balloon battle? The water bombs value pack makes it easy to fill the balloons up fast and there’s enough to go around. Coloring huge cartoons, sketching sidewalk chalk murals or painting themselves and each other with a face and body paint kit all make for good fun.

The birthday party crowd will cheer when you let them play their own versions of grown-up games they've watched Mom and Dad play. Mini golf, bowling, flag football, and other sporty games allow your little champ to feel like a big boy on his birthday! Boys love to test their aim – and it's even better when there’s some friendly competition. Be sure to award prizes to the best players. It’s a win-win!

Boys can't get enough of fun favors – especially action favors that can box, bounce, roll or race! Give them choices they'll love that they can run around with or wear as they pretend to be characters in their favorite action movies. For a Transformers party, set everything out in a compartment tray and let the boys pick and choose which favors most remind them of their favorite robot heroes!

Slower-paced games are great at the end of the party when you need everyone to gear down before going home. Mini card games and balls that look into your future do double duty keeping hands busy and filling up favor containers. For kids who have a longer wait before being picked up, keep them occupied with absorbing activities like the Mickey Mouse Memory Game.