Witch Says: Free Printable Halloween Simon Says Game (36 Spooky Action Cards)

Every party with kids under ten hits the same wall: the stretch between “the pizza’s gone” and “when are we leaving” where the energy turns feral. I’ve hosted enough Halloween parties to know you need a game that’s loud, physical, zero-prep, and over in ten minutes. “Witch Says” — our Halloween spin on Simon Says — is exactly that game.

Below is the whole thing: the rules card and a sheet of 36 spooky action cards, all written out so you can print this page and play tonight. It’s free. And at the end, I’ll point you to the designed card deck in our Etsy shop if you want the pretty version for next year.

Why “Witch Says” Is the Easiest Halloween Party Game You’ll Ever Host

Simon Says works for one reason: kids love the trap. They know they shouldn’t move, they do it anyway, and the whole room explodes. Swap “Simon” for “the Witch” and add spooky actions, and you’ve got a game that needs no board, no pieces, and no explanation beyond “don’t move unless the Witch says.”

It also scales — I’ve run it with four five-year-olds and with thirty second-graders. The only thing that changes is how big you print the cards.

What You Need (Spoiler: Almost Nothing)

• Printed action cards below — cut them out, or just read from your phone. Printing is better; the caller flips through the deck.
• A room with space to move. Push the furniture back. You want about six feet of clearance per kid, minimum.
• One caller. An adult, an older sibling, or the birthday kid — whoever can keep a straight face.
• A small prize for the last witch standing. Candy works. A plastic spider ring works even better.

The Rules Card (Print This and Read It Out Loud)

1. The caller is the Witch. Players stand facing the Witch, with room to move.
2. Only follow a command that starts with “Witch says.” If the Witch gives a command without saying “Witch says” first and you move — you’re out.
3. Hold each action until the Witch gives the next one. Dramatic pauses allowed — that’s half the fun.
4. If you’re out, sit down where you are (carefully — no flopping into the candy bowl) and watch for cheaters. Eliminated players make excellent spotters.
5. The last player standing wins and becomes the Witch for the next round.
6. House rule: the Witch may not fire two commands in a row faster than anyone can physically move. Trickery, yes. Cruelty, no.

The Action Cards: 36 Spooky Moves

Cut these into cards or read them off the page — they’re grouped by difficulty.

Silly-Spooky (Easy — Ages 4–6)

1. Witch says… flap your bat wings!
2. Witch says… float like a ghost — arms out, drift in a slow circle.
3. Witch says… hop like a toad. Ribbiting is optional but encouraged.
4. Witch says… stir the witch’s brew — big slow circles with an imaginary spoon.
5. Witch says… pounce like a black cat.
6. Witch says… waddle like a penguin wearing a vampire cape.
7. Witch says… stomp like Frankenstein’s monster.
8. Witch says… wiggle like a worm in a rotten apple.
9. Witch says… howl at the moon — hands around your mouth, give it everything.
10. Witch says… tiptoe past the sleeping vampire. Shhh.
11. Witch says… do your best mummy walk — arms straight out, knees locked.
12. Witch says… freeze like a statue in a haunted house.

Creepy-Cool (Medium — Ages 7–10)

13. Witch says… crawl like a spider — low to the ground, all eight legs.
14. Witch says… do the zombie walk — arms out, one foot dragging.
15. Witch says… spin like a tornado and land in a monster pose.
16. Witch says… swoop like an owl hunting mice.
17. Witch says… melt like a candle — slowly sink to the floor.
18. Witch says… march like a skeleton army — knees high, arms swinging.
19. Witch says… slither like a snake through tall grass.
20. Witch says… shake like you’re covered in spiders. Get them off!
21. Witch says… prowl like a werewolf circling its prey.
22. Witch says… bob like an apple in a barrel — knees bending, no hands.
23. Witch says… strike your scariest pose and hold it for ten seconds.
24. Witch says… dance like nobody’s watching… in a haunted ballroom.

Tricky Ones (Hard — Save for the Grand Finale)

25. Witch says… stand on one foot and cackle like a witch.
26. Pat your head and rub your belly while marching in place. (No “Witch says” — trap!)
27. Witch says… touch your nose with your elbow. Good luck.
28. Spin around three times and freeze. (No “Witch says” — trap!)
29. Witch says… walk backwards like you’re rewinding a spooky movie.
30. Clap twice and jump. (No “Witch says” — trap!)
31. Witch says… pretend to juggle three eyeballs. Don’t drop them.
32. Witch says… sneak like a cat burglar stealing candy.
33. Roar like a dragon. (No “Witch says” — trap!)
34. Witch says… do the robot — but a broken, haunted robot.
35. Witch says… balance an imaginary pumpkin on your head and walk in a circle.
36. Witch says… take one giant step toward the candy bowl… then freeze.
37. Blink three times fast. (No “Witch says” — trap!)
38. Witch says… do your spookiest laugh, then hold it as a silent grin.
39. Witch says… creep toward the Witch as slowly as humanly possible.
40. Touch the floor! (No “Witch says” — trap!)

Caller Tips: How to Run a Great Round

• Start slow, then speed up. Give everyone three or four easy “Witch says” rounds so the little ones learn the pattern, then start mixing in the traps.
• Pause before “says.” “Witch… says…” with a beat of silence is crueler and funnier than speed-talking.
• Let eliminated players be spotters. Hand them the job of watching for early movers. They take it very seriously, and it keeps them from wandering off.
• Cap a round at ten minutes. Two or three rounds is the sweet spot. After that the novelty fades and someone will “accidentally” tackle a sibling.
• For very young kids, skip the traps entirely. Just call “Witch says” every time and let them do the actions. The joy is in the acting, not the elimination.

Variations for Different Crowds

Classroom version: Play it seated at desks for the first round — arm movements only (stir the brew, flap the bat wings, spider fingers). Zero chaos, full engagement.

Teen version: Let the caller invent actions on the fly, and add a rule: anyone who laughs during a freeze pose is out.

Adult party version: Call it “Vampire Says,” and every trap elimination costs the player a dare drawn from a hat. I’ve watched grown adults do the zombie walk for a dare. Highlight of the night.

Want the Designed Card Deck?

The 36 actions above will run your party tonight — print this page, cut the cards, done. For the designed deck with illustrated cards, a caller cheat-sheet, and a “Last Witch Standing” certificate, it’s in our Etsy shop: fukroo.etsy.com.

That’s the whole game. Print the rules, print the cards, pick your bravest kid to be the first Witch, and let the cackling begin. If your living room doesn’t sound like a haunted house by round two, you’re doing it wrong.

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