A good forfeit makes everyone laugh, including the person doing it. A bad one humiliates someone, puts them at risk or ruins something. The line is easy to cross when you invent dares in the heat of the moment, which is why a list prepared calmly in advance helps.
The dares on this wheel involve no food, no unwanted physical contact and no photos shared online. The mild variant suits children, family meals and colleagues; the wild variant asks for a bit more nerve and drama but stays family-friendly. Each dare says how long it lasts and what counts as success.
How to use it
- Choose the variant to match the mood and the players’ ages.
- When a player loses a round, in a card game or a quiz for instance, they spin the wheel.
- They do the dare straight away; if they really cannot face it, they may spin once more but must accept the new one.
- Applaud at the end of every dare: it is what makes the next players happy to join in.
All the options
- Everyday opera
- Sing like an opera tenor about everything you did this morning, from waking up to lunch. At least 30 seconds, with sweeping gestures.
- Catwalk show
- The group picks three items from around the house (a scarf, a colander, a cushion). Strut the catwalk with them, presenting each one like a couture model.
- Slow-motion scene
- Act out, in extreme slow motion, someone running for a bus and just missing it. Facial expressions included.
- Ode to a houseplant
- Make a 30-second declaration of friendship to a plant or object in the room, completely seriously.
- Made-up language
- Explain how to make a pancake in a language you invent on the spot. Another player translates live what they think you mean.
- Housework dance
- Invent a routine with one move per chore: vacuuming, hanging out washing, doing the dishes. Show it twice, then everyone copies it.
- Useless superhero
- Invent a superhero with a perfectly useless power (finding odd socks, say). Present them with a name, a pose and a motto.
- Interview an object
- Interview an object in the room for one minute, doing both questions and answers in two different voices.
- Penguin waddle
- Waddle to the door and back like a penguin, arms pinned to your sides and tiny steps. Bonus point for a penguin call.
- Silent ninja
- One player sits with eyes closed. Creep up without a sound and tap their shoulder; if they point at you first, you failed.
- Anthem to a sock
- Compose and sing a four-line anthem in honour of your left sock, to the tune of a well-known song.
- Intro rap
- Introduce yourself in a rap: four rhyming lines with your name, something you love and something you hate. The group beats out the rhythm on the table.
- Slow dance with a cushion
- Slow-dance with a cushion for 30 seconds, as if it were the last song of the night. The group hums the music.
Frequently asked questions
What are good forfeits for a party that are not mean?
Dares built on acting, voices or a small skill challenge: impressions, singing, reciting, miming. Rule out anything about appearance, food, danger or sharing photos, and always leave a way out.
What dares work for kids?
The mild variant is designed for them: alphabet backwards, book on your head, GPS voice, paper plane record. Avoid long dares or ones that make a child perform alone in front of adults they do not know, and clear some space for the active ones.
How do you stop a dare from becoming humiliating?
Agree three rules before you start: nobody is filmed without agreeing, nobody touches anyone without agreeing, and anyone can swap a dare for another. If a player is blushing more than laughing, move on.
Can you play dares over video call?
Yes: most mild dares and many wild ones (everyday opera, interview an object, intro rap) work in front of a camera. Swap the ones that involve moving around for a seated version of the same challenge.