Play Valentine’s Day Outburst: A Party Game That Brings the Fun

Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day always stirs up emotions.

But what if I told you it can also stir up some friendly competition and heaps of laughter?

How about giving Valentine’s Day Outburst, the ultimate guessing game to make your holiday just a tad bit more enjoyable?

It’s ridiculously fun, works for all ages, and perfect for family nights or virtual gatherings.

Let’s break it down, step by step.

Supplies Needed for Valentine’s Day Outburst

The best part about this game? You don’t need a shopping cart full of supplies. You might already have half the stuff sitting at home. Here’s the lowdown on what you’ll need.

Printable Category Cards

Umm…there’s definitely not even a game without these bad boys.

These category cards have all the topics and answers you’ll be guessing.

You can snag ready-to-go printables online or, if you’re feeling creative, make your own based on love, relationships, or the Valentine’s theme.

Just make sure they’ve got 10 items listed per card. Pro tip: laminate them if you plan to use them more than once.

Markers and Timer

You’ll need markers for one simple reason—to cross off answers as you hear them.

Doing this in your head is a recipe for a headache.

As for a timer, the rulebook might say a one-minute countdown, but any reasonable time that everyone agrees to will work.

Phone timers work great if you’re strapped for tools.

Scorekeeping Materials

Whether you prefer pen and paper, a whiteboard, or an app, you need something to keep track of all those points.

No one likes fights about who’s winning, so stay organized! Feeling generous? Toss in a prize for the winning team—a box of chocolates is always a crowd-pleaser.

How to Play Valentine’s Day Outburst

Ready to get this party started? The game’s mechanics are straightforward, but the fun lies in the chaos that unfolds when people start shouting answers. Here’s exactly how you can get it rolling.

Setup Instructions

First things first, print and cut out your category cards (18 options are plenty, but you can adjust for your group size).

Next, split everyone into two teams.

Ideally, you’ll want 4–8 people per team, but if you’ve got a big group, feel free to create more teams. Personally, I like playing 4 on 4, but it’s up to you.

Park each team on opposite sides of the room—or, if you’re virtual, assign breakout rooms or lanes in the chat.

Gameplay Overview

Here’s how it works:

One team picks a category card and reads the topic aloud (think “Romantic Movie Tropes” or “Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas”).

The opposing team then has one wild minute to shout as many answers as possible while the timer ticks down. Got it? Cool.

The team reading the card marks off correct guesses, keeping everyone’s heads above the madness.

Each correct response earns the guessing team one point.

Bonus points? Oh yeah, I’ll talk about that later.

Once the minute’s up, teams switch roles. Keep going until you’ve worked through a set number of cards, a time limit, or until one team hits a score like 50 points.

Winning the Game

This is where it gets competitive.

Decide on a winning condition before starting—first team to 50 points, the most points after X number of rounds, whatever floats your love boat.

Bonus points can be a game-changer here (pun intended). More on that below.

Shoutout (or Outburst) Game Variations for Extra Fun

Feeling like spicing things up? Add some twists to keep the game lively. Here’s how to take Valentine’s Day Outburst up a notch.

Bonus Points and Challenges

Every category card can feature a special “bonus answer” marked by an asterisk (*).

If a team guesses it correctly, they snag extra points—maybe one or roll a die to determine the bonus.

Want it more competitive? Add penalties for shouting irrelevant answers. Yes, I’m looking at you, , guessing “spaghetti” for things shaped like hearts.

Virtual Play Options

Can’t all gather in the same room? No sweat. Valentine’s Day Outburst is a blast over virtual platforms like Zoom or Google Meet.

Assign someone as the “card holder” to read off categories.

Teams can either shout answers if the mics let them, or type them in the chat for a less noisy option.

The host keeps track of time (set your phone timer to vibrate—silent chaos is still chaos).

Other Valentine’s Day Games to Try

Not into yelling out answers? Valentine’s Day has room for all kinds of fun games. Here are a few more ideas to mix it up.

Valentine’s Charades

This is easy to set up: write Valentine-themed prompts on strips of paper (“Cupid shooting an arrow,” anyone?). Players act them out while their team guesses. Simplify or complicate as needed depending on your group’s ages.

Valentine’s Friendly Feud

Love Family Feud? Do a romantic spin-off with relationship or Valentine’s Day trivia.

No Candy Valentine’s Day Games

If you’d rather skip the sugar (blasphemy, I know), go for something simple like a scavenger hunt with heartfelt clues. Or try a coloring contest for younger kids—keep it wholesome without endless sugar highs.

Make Valentine’s Day Memorable

There’s a reason Valentine’s Day Outburst is a big favorite—it’s the perfect blend of chaos, laughs, and genuine connection.

Whether you’re tossing out guesses about romantic comedies or cracking up over someone yelling “roses” 15 times in a row, the memories stick.

So, grab your crew this Valentine’s Day, print out those category cards, and let the guessing frenzy begin.

Need more games for the lineup? You know where to find ideas. ❤️