There’s something about wheel-based games that uniquely sets the pulse racing. Those games that let the wheel decide your fate are some of the most intriguing and adrenaline-fuelled pastimes, making them an ideal complement to any party plans.
Sometimes the most simplistic games make for the best party dynamics. With wheel-based games, everyone knows where they stand because their game mechanics are some of the easiest to grasp – even when you’re not feeling on top form!
If you’re planning a big bash with friends or family, check out this killer quintet of wheel-based game options that could form an integral part of your festivities.
Wheel of Fortune
Is there a more iconic gameshow and wheel-based board game than Wheel of Fortune? First aired in 1975, this game show tasks players with solving word puzzles to land the prizes accumulated from the wheel. Wheel of Fortune made a splash either side of the Atlantic, with British broadcasters also airing the show for 13 years between 1988 and 2001. If you’re hosting a party for millennials, Wheel of Fortune would provide a healthy dose of nostalgia for all. In the British version of Wheel of Fortune, players could win ‘special prizes’, so you could come up with your own version of this to suit the theme or mood of your party.
Roulette
There are few more popular wheel-based table games that translate well to party environments than roulette. This centuries-old game, named after the French word for ‘little wheel’, is said to have been inspired by the Italian game Biribi. Through the years, numerous variations of this classic pastime have appeared online, including the addition of an extra double zero pocket in the US version. Offline, roulette is a cost-effective table game for parties. You could buy or hire your own roulette wheel, table felt and chips, and run a competition. The player with the least amount of chips after a set number of spins must do a forfeit. As the party host, you’re at liberty to choose exactly what the forfeit will be, which could certainly ramp up the tension on the roulette wheel!
The Wheel
The Wheel is a relatively new wheel-based game show. It’s the brainchild of British comedian Michael McIntyre, who admitted he conceived of the idea for the show during 2020. McIntyre was in the bathtub and said he’d always envisioned a game show involving a “human roulette wheel”. You could turn your home into The Wheel’s game show studio, as it has recently been converted into board game format. Although you won’t have to create a spinning floor for the game’s contestants, there is a large spinning wheel and push-down mechanism that replicates the suspense of the TV series.
Twister
No, we’re not talking about the 1996 Hollywood movie, but the action-packed board game where the wheel decides your fate. Wherever the spinner lands, you’ll be tasked with making it there, no matter how inflexible you are or how well your brain is functioning. The more players in a game of Twister, the more carnage there is too. It’s not uncommon for the game to end up in a pile of bodies, as one player collapses and is unable to get their hands from one corner of the mat to the next – whilst keeping their feet in the opposite corner! This is certainly a game that’s ideally suited to ramping up the party spirit.
Articulate!
After a few drinks, the Articulate! board game has the potential to be an absolute hoot. The aim of the game is to describe a word quickly and accurately, without saying it. Describe as many words as possible, correctly, in a 30-second window and you’ll be able to move your piece around the wheel-based board. The board looks a little like a Trivial Pursuit board. The first team to advance all the way around wins. A typical Articulate! board game includes 500-plus cards, so it will take many hours of game time for things to become repetitive.
Whichever of these wheel-based games you incorporate into your next party, we’re confident this power group of games will create lasting memories for you and your guests.