Play & Party Hire
Kids party games for the gaps between the big moments
Every party has dead time. Guests arriving, food being set out, the twenty minutes after the entertainer leaves. Games hire is what fills it without needing anyone to run it.
Games hire covers three quite different things. Giant garden games like oversized connect four, jenga, quoits and noughts and crosses. Carnival stalls with a prize element, which suit fetes and fun days. And activity setups like nerf ranges or laser tag for older children.
The advantage over every other booking on this site is that nothing needs supervising in the performance sense. The games are dropped off, set out and left. Children rotate through them at their own pace for as long as the hire lasts.
That makes games the best value filler at a party, and often the difference between a party that flows and one with a flat half hour in the middle of it.
What you are booking
The three formats and what each is for
Ask which format a quote covers, because pricing and setup differ substantially.
Giant garden games
- Oversized connect four, jenga, quoits, noughts and crosses
- Lawn bowls, ring toss and skittles on larger sets
- Delivered, set out and collected
- No supervision required beyond normal parent presence
- Works on grass, decking or a hall floor
Carnival stalls and activity setups
- Themed stalls with a target, a throw or a hook game
- Prize structure, and whether prizes are supplied
- Nerf ranges and laser tag for ages roughly 8 and up
- Sometimes an operator to run the stall at a fete
- Bunting, signage and a queue area
Who it suits
Which games format fits the event
The right choice comes down to the age group and how long the games need to keep working.
| Event | What to hire | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Backyard birthday, ages 4 to 10 | Giant garden games | Fills arrival and the post entertainer gap without any running |
| School fete or fun day | Carnival stalls | A queue reforms all afternoon and prizes keep them coming back |
| Ages 8 to 13 | Nerf range or laser tag | Team based and competitive, which is what this age wants |
| Indoor party or hall | Compact garden games | Check ceiling height for anything thrown |
Where to put them
Games work when they are on the path, not in a corner
Games hire fails for one reason, which is that nobody notices it is there. Placement fixes it entirely.
Before you book
What to check when hiring games
A simple booking, but a few details decide whether the set actually gets used.
- What exactly is in the set, piece by piece?
- Is it suitable for the ages I have, and does anything need an adult present?
- Do you deliver and set out, or is it a pickup and self setup hire?
- For a carnival stall, are prizes included or do I supply them?
- What happens if a piece is damaged or lost during the hire?
Get quotes
Tell us the ages and the event
Games quotes come back fastest when we know the age range and whether this is a birthday, a fete or a fun day.
- Say the age range of the children
- Tell us whether it is a party, a school event or a fun day
- Mention whether you want it delivered and set out
Questions parents ask
Party games hire questions
What are giant garden games?
Oversized versions of familiar games. Connect four at chest height, jenga built from timber blocks, quoits, ring toss, noughts and crosses and lawn bowls. They are dropped off, set out and left, and children rotate through them at their own pace.
Do party games need someone to run them?
Giant garden games do not. Children play them unprompted, which is the main advantage. Carnival stalls with prizes often work better with an adult on them, and some suppliers will provide an operator for a fete or a fun day at extra cost.
What age are party games hire suitable for?
Giant garden games suit roughly four to twelve, with the younger end needing a bit of help. Carnival stalls work for the same range. Nerf and laser tag setups generally start around eight, and each supplier sets their own minimum.
Can games be used indoors?
Most compact sets can, in a hall or a large room. Check ceiling height and floor space for anything that gets thrown or stacked. Ring toss and connect four are fine indoors, while a nerf range usually wants more room than a lounge gives you.
Are games enough entertainment on their own?
For a short, relaxed party with a mixed age group, often yes. For a two hour party with a single age group, games work better as the filler around a main booking rather than as the whole programme. Pair them with an entertainer.
Can I hire games for a school fete?
Yes, and carnival stalls are one of the most reliable fete bookings there is. Talk to the supplier about prize structure and whether they can staff the stalls, and expect the school to ask for an insurance certificate.
Fill the gaps in your party
Tell us the ages, the date and the kind of event. We match you with games suppliers who deliver to your suburb.