Tech: 8 mobile phone-based games for house parties

House parties are always fun, but breaking the ice can be tough. Luckily, videogames clubbed with a liquid diet can melt away these inhibitions in an instant. Let's look at some of the best mobile phone-based party games available, so that you can plan your next house party and not worry about your guests mingling.

Reverse Charades
Android, iOS (FREEMIUM)
Reverse Charades has a group of people acting out single words during a set time limit, while a lone team member guesses. All the rules of charades apply to this game too. Reverse Charades is as much fun to watch as it is to play.

Keep Talking and No One Explodes
Android (Rs 690)
This is a VR party game where your friends have a manual to defuse a bomb that only you can see. You have to give them the clues you see in front of you and get the instructions from them. There are multiple permutations and combinations, and each game is different. This game requires either Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream to play and is the most expensive game on the list.

Spaceteam
Android, iOS (FREE)
Spaceteam is a two-eight player game where you solve puzzles while shouting at your friends. Here, you have a control panel whose buttons have to be pressed in a timely manner, but the instructions on what to press are sent to your friends.

Not to mention your ship is falling apart and you are in the path of an exploding star. You lose when your ship explodes. The game can be played using WiFi, and is perfect for parties and office teamwork exercises.

King of Opera
Android, iOS (FREEMIUM)
King of Opera is essentially a digital version of Hungry Hungry Hippos. Four players can play at a time. You have to direct your tenor in time for their solo performance at an opera. The only control you have is a single button at the corner of the screen. To win you have to tap faster than your opponent.

Bounden
Android, iOS (Rs 199)
Bounden is a fun dancing game that is part Twister and part ballet. The game has you and a partner share a phone while completing an endless runner sort of game. The idea is that while you and your partner are holding on to the phone, the game makes you move around to perform ballet-like dance moves. The choreography has been set by the Dutch National Ballet's Ernst Meisner, so you know it will be classy. You might, however, want to slip a protective cover on your phone as chances of dropping it are fairly high.

Bomba Drink
Android (FREE)
The phone plays the role of a bomb. Here, the phone asks a simple question. If you fail to respond, the bomb explodes, which means you need to drink. The process is then repeated till everyone has enough liquid courage.

Bluff Wars
Android (FREEMIUM)
Who is the best liar in your group? You could find that out with Bluff Wars. The game will ask questions and participants must enter a lie as their answer. If an opponent chooses your lie, you win points. The game has over 2,000 questions and promises no repeats. It is a hilarious game. The only drawback is that only six people can play at a time.

Just Dance Now
Android, iOS (FREEMIUM)
Just Dance Now lets you dance as a choreographed group. All you need is an Internet-connected screen and a smartphone. Select a choice of song - there's a lot of Bollywood on selection too - and your friends can participate from anywhere as long as they are connected to the Internet. It is a great way to get people on the dance floor and is perfect, if your crowd likes to dance.