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Halloween bingo: music bingo with spooky songs

Halloween keeps growing, but there is hardly any programme for such an evening. A music bingo with spooky songs fills that gap: it matches the theme and gives your guests something to do between the costumes and the dancing.

The repertoire exists, and it is better than you would think. There are plenty of songs about ghosts, monsters, nights and darkness, plus all the film music from horror classics.

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Spooky hits and film music

Combine songs with a spooky subject with recognisable themes from horror films. Those film themes are instrumental and therefore harder, which is exactly what makes them fun. Keep the number limited: about five among the sung songs is enough.

Get the atmosphere right

Play the bingo when guests have just arrived and are not yet dancing. Dim the lights, turn the music up and use a prize that fits the theme, such as a pumpkin or something suitably grim.

For children too

For a children's Halloween the same principle works with cheerier songs: tracks about ghosts and monsters from animated films. Choose a 3 by 3 card and keep it to twenty minutes.

Or grab the ready-made list

Rather not hunt for songs? The app has Halloween Party waiting, curated and checked for playable previews. Open it, start it, play. Pasting your own playlist still works too.

Example songs for this theme

For inspiration: these are songs that tend to work well with this theme. You are not tied to any of them — you build your own list, so use them, extend them or ignore them completely.

• Thriller — Michael Jackson
• Ghostbusters — Ray Parker Jr.
• Monster Mash — Bobby Pickett
• Somebody's Watching Me — Rockwell
• Bad Moon Rising — Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Highway to Hell — AC/DC
• Zombie — The Cranberries
• Sympathy for the Devil — The Rolling Stones

How to make this music bingo yourself

How a music bingo evening runs

Traditional bingo leans on numbers; this game leans on songs, and that one twist is what makes it fun. There is no number to find: people listen to the opening seconds, recognise the hit and players mark it off. You do not need a professional host or a trivia round to warm the room up, because the music takes care of that. Most people know far more songs than they think.

Settle first on what the evening should be. A short game of three rounds is perfect before dinner; a complete night of 90 minutes suits a party, a company event or a musical theme night. Whether your crowd grew up on the 90s or on last summer's charts, use their own music instead of a generic list: the best selection is the one where every player recognises something — a classic, a guilty pleasure, a recent hit. That is what gets people out of their seats.

The format is easy. Create the list, choose the card size and the win pattern, and give each guest a card with the song titles printed on it. Each song is played once, in a random order. The first person to fill a whole line shouts bingo, and the host verifies that call with the code along the side. Guests who prefer a screen join online at bingobanger.party with your game code. Small prizes per round keep the energy up, and they do not have to be expensive.

Questions, or want a hand hosting your first game? Email robin@kreatrix.nl and we will answer within a working day. The app is free, six cards included.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Halloween bingo?

A music bingo with spooky songs and horror film music on the bingo card.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes, provided you choose cheerful spooky songs and play a short round.

How many songs do I need?

About 55 songs for half an hour of play.

When in the evening should you play it?

Preferably early, when everyone has just arrived and is not yet dancing.

More music bingo

Browse the other topics, or read on the main page how to make your own music bingo in ten minutes.

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