Halloween Ghost Pong Game Printable: Cup Setup + Scorecard
A Party Game That Takes Five Minutes to Set Up
Some Halloween games need a lot of explaining before anyone has fun. Ghost pong isn’t one of them. You set out white cups, draw a few ghost faces on them, and let everyone start tossing. Kids get it right away, and adults get competitive about it within about two minutes.
This is a family-friendly take on a classic cup-toss game. The cups are ghosts, the balls are your “ghost catchers,” and the goal is simple: land the ball in a ghost cup and score points. No complicated scoring, no special equipment, and cleanup is just stacking the cups for recycling.
Below you’ll find the full setup, the rules, a printable scorecard, and a few variations to keep things fresh all evening.
What You Need
Supplies:
10 white plastic cups per triangle (20 if you’re playing two teams at once)
3 to 6 ping pong balls
1 black marker for drawing ghost faces
1 table (a folding table works perfectly)
Printed scorecard (below)
Small prizes or candy for the winners (optional, but it helps)
You probably already have most of this at home. White cups are cheap at any grocery store, and a pack of ping pong balls costs less than a bag of candy. Use a thicker marker for the eyes and mouth so the faces read clearly from across the table, and let the kids draw the faces if you like — every ghost having a different expression is half the charm.
Ghost Cup Setup
Arrange ten cups in a triangle at one end of the table, just like bowling pins. The point of the triangle faces the thrower, and the wide back row sits closest to the far edge of the table. Push the cups close together so a ball can’t roll between them.
Triangle layout (10 cups):
Row 1 (front, closest to thrower): 1 cup — worth 1 point
Row 2: 2 cups — worth 2 points each
Row 3: 3 cups — worth 3 points each
Row 4 (back row): 4 cups — worth 4 points each
For a two-team game, set up a triangle at each end of the table and have the teams face each other. If you’re short on space or cups, a six-cup triangle (rows of 1, 2, and 3) works just as well and still gives you three scoring rows.
Draw a ghost face on each cup before you start. Two round eyes and a wavy open mouth is all it takes, but you can mix it up: one surprised ghost, one grinning ghost, one sleepy ghost. If you’re playing with younger kids, let them name each ghost. It sounds silly, but “I just caught Boo!” gets a much bigger laugh than “I scored four points.”
Printable Scorecard
Print one scorecard per player or per team. Each player gets three throws per turn, and you write down the points for every cup they land in. A ball that bounces off the table and then lands in a cup still counts.
Ghost Pong Scorecard:
Player / Team name: _______________
Round 1: Throw 1 ___ Throw 2 ___ Throw 3 ___ Round total ___
Round 2: Throw 1 ___ Throw 2 ___ Throw 3 ___ Round total ___
Round 3: Throw 1 ___ Throw 2 ___ Throw 3 ___ Round total ___
Round 4: Throw 1 ___ Throw 2 ___ Throw 3 ___ Round total ___
Round 5: Throw 1 ___ Throw 2 ___ Throw 3 ___ Round total ___
Grand total: ___
Five rounds is a good party length — long enough to feel real, short enough that nobody waits forever. If you have a big group, run two or three tables at once and have the table winners face off in a final round.
How to Play
Stand behind the throwing line, about six feet from the front cup. Younger kids can step closer — there’s no reason to make the game frustrating for a seven-year-old just to keep the line “official.” Each player throws three balls per turn, one at a time.
When a ball lands in a cup, the player scores the points for that row: one point for the front cup, two for the second row, three for the third, and four for the back row. Leave the cup in place after a hit, or pull it out of the triangle for a rising challenge — both versions work, so pick the one your group enjoys more.
Take turns around the table with the scorecard visible — that little scoreboard pressure turns a casual toss into a real contest. At the end of five rounds, the highest total wins. Ties get a one-throw shootout: each tied player throws one ball, highest row wins, and if both miss, you throw again until someone lands one.
A few ground rules keep things smooth. Balls that roll off the table are out for that throw, no re-dos. No leaning over the table to drop the ball in from above — throws come from behind the line. And if a ball bounces off one cup and into another, it counts for the cup it landed in.
Ways to Change It Up
Team Relay:
Split into two teams and line each team up behind its end of the table. The first player throws until they land a ball, then runs to the back of the line and the next player goes. The first team to clear its triangle — or to reach an agreed point total — wins.
Classroom Version:
Use a six-cup triangle, move the throwing line closer, and let every student get three throws. Instead of a winner-takes-all prize, hand out small treats for each cup landed, so every kid walks away with something. Teachers can also write spelling words or math problems on the cups and have students answer one when they land a ball in that cup.
Glow Ghosts:
Drop a small glow stick or battery tea light into each cup and turn the lights down low. The ghosts glow, the balls bounce through the dark, and the whole game feels like a different experience. This one is a hit at evening parties and costs almost nothing extra.
Bonus Ghost:
Mark one cup with a star on the bottom or a different-colored face. Landing a ball in the bonus ghost is worth double points, or it lets the player steal five points from an opponent. Tell players the bonus ghost exists but don’t tell them which cup it is until someone lands in it.
Free Printable + Premium Bundles
The ghost cup setup and scorecard above are free to print and use at your party, classroom, or family game night — just print this page or copy the scorecard onto a sheet of paper. If you’d like a ready-to-go version with decorated ghost cup wraps, a full-color scorecard, and matching party printables, you can find the full premium printable bundles at fukroo.etsy.com. Print the free version tonight, or grab a bundle and have the whole party table dressed up in minutes.
🐶Free Pet Guides
🐶 Love Dogs Too?
🎁Gift Ideas
🎉 Occasion Hunters — Gifts for Every Occasion
