Pirate Party Games

Pirate parties are very popular with both boys and girls and can be great fun for both young and old(er) children. UK-Entertainers have put together a complete information package for anyone organising a Pirate Party, we have a FREE printable pirate invitations to send to all your 'Land Lubbers' and some articles to help with the entertainment and catering of your Pesky Pirate guests.

Large supermarket chains now carry many child (and adult) pirate items for sale such as coins, eye patches, Jolly Roger flags, bandana hats and plastic / foam cutlasses, as well as full pirate outfits. This is a great way to collect prizes for games or make up pirate loot bags for the end of a party in a reasonable cheap way.

At UK-Entertainers we have put together a selection of party games suitable for any Captain considering organising a Pirate Party. They have clear and easy to follow instructions and detail any resources required and how the Pirate Captain is to manage the games at the party. This pirate party games article can be used alone or in conjunction with our Pirate Party Food article to make your Pirate Party Heave HO!

Read on (with caution) if you dare to find out how to get your party pirates to walk the plank, swab the decks and wage water cannon war on enemy pirates!

Walk the Plank
Resources: A long thin length of wooden plank, bricks for older children, buckets sponges and water (for outdoor fine weather plank walking!)

Walking the plank is a classic Pirate activity. Place the plank on the floor (for young children) or balanced on a few bricks (for older children).  Each child takes a turn to walk the plank. Variations can be added depending on the age of your pirates walking forwards / backwards, hopping, shuffling sideways etc.

If you are holding your Pirate Party in fine weather and outside, you could let the remaining pirates throw wet sponges at the 'plank walker' to try to topple them off. NB This wet version requires your quests to bring a change of clothes and best done towards the end of the party!

Treasure Hunt (Version 1)
Resources: Foil wrapped chocolate coins.

Hide the treasure around the house and / or garden prior to your guests arriving. Explain to the pirates what they are hunting for and set them off on their treasure hunt!

Treasure Hunt (Version 2)
Resources: Treasure for each child and assortment of wrapping paper.

Wrap each child’s treasure in a different coloured / patterned paper, saving a sample piece for the child. Hide the treasure around the room / garden before the party. Give each child their own unique sample of wrapping paper to match to their piece of hidden treasure.

Pin the Patch on the Pirate
Resources: A Pirate picture, eye patches for each pirate in eye patch shape, sticky tack, and blindfold.

Hang the pirate on a wall, door or cupboard. Each pirate has an eye patch with their name on it and are blindfolded in turn, spun around a few times and then try to place the eye patch on the pirate as close to his eye as they can (without peeping). Prizes can be given to the two closest or to all for participating.

Pin the Flag on the Pirate Ship
Resources: A Pirate ship picture, Jolly Roger Flags for each pirate, sticky tack, and blindfold.

As with Pin the Patch on the Pirate, hang the ship on a wall, door or cupboard. Each pirate has a flag with their name on it and is blindfolded in turn, spun around a few times and then try to place the flag on the pirate ship as close to the top of the mast as they can (without peeping). Prizes can be given to the two closest or to all for participating.

Musical Islands
Resources: Paper, hula hoops, music.

This is the same as the traditional Musical Chairs. The island can be hula hoops placed on the floor or paper cut in random island outlines spread out around the room or garden. You will need one less than the number of pirates playing. As the music plays the pirates move around the islands. When the music stops each pirate must stand on / in and island. The pirate without an island stands out of the game. Remove an island each round until you have a winner.

Sleeping Pirates
Resources: Open area

One pirate stands / sits at one end of the room with their back to all the other shipmates at the other end. The shipmates have to creep as quietly as they can towards the pirate. If the pirate turns around and catches a ship mate moving them they have to walk the plank and are out of the game. The winner is the ship mate that touches the pirate without being caught.

Water Cannon War
Resources: Water bombs, outdoor area and fine weather!

Pirates are paired up and given a water cannon ball (full water bomb) per pair. They have to throw it back and forth between the pair without breaking it, taking a step backwards each time they manage to catch it. The pirate that misses the catch and gets wet steps out of the game, and remaining dry pirates pair up to challenge each other until a winner is found or a full scale water fight breaks out, whichever is first!

Pirate Piñatas