Only a Few Supplies Needed:
(Paper or 1 other basic item)
Thimble Game
Supplies: thimble, water
A topic is chosen (such as colors, desserts, states, etc.) The “it” person stand in the middle of the circle with a small capsule of water (bottle top) and silently chooses and item from the category. People take turns guessing an item form the chosen category while the “it” person holds the water in front of the guessing person’s face. If the person does not guess what the “it” person chose, the "it" person moves to the next player and play continues in a circle. If the person correctly chooses what the “it” person chose, the water is thrown in their face, and they become the next “it” person and a new category is chosen for the next round. It's fun to watch people's apprehension in guessing, afraid to get the answer right!
Clothespin Attack
Supplies: 5 clothespins per person
Players begin with five clothespins stuck to their clothes. They spread out in a room, and when the game begins, players must try to steal the other players’ clothespins without theirs being stolen. Once stolen, players cannot put them back on their clothes. Once all yours are gone, you’re out. Make sure people only put them in safely touchable places!
Couches: Who’s on my team?
Supplies: slips of paper, chairs (one extra)
Write each player’s name on one paper and mix papers up. Divide into two teams. Each player picks a slip and uses the new name on paper. The player with the empty chair on their right calls a name of a person in the group. Person with that new name moves to that seat. Each team tries to get their team to occupy all seats on a couch or 3 specific chairs (number may be changed). When a team wins, change names and play again, trying to keep all the new names straight again!
Charades
Supplies: paper slips
Players write down a person, thing or action on each paper. Mix papers, divide into two teams, and act out during a time limit as many as possible with own team guessing. Alternate between teams and total points at the end.
Reverse Charades
Supplies: paper slips (or cards from Apples to Apples or Who-What-Where)
If using paper slips, each player writes down a noun or verb on each of three slips. Split players into two teams. For a turn, pick one player on the team to guess, then the rest of the team has to silently act out as many cards or papers as they can in a minute.
Human Twister
Supplies: keys or small item, chairs for all but one person
One person stand and calls another up, new person grabs 1st person’s hand in any position/direction, then calls another up…create a big mess of people, try to be tangled, first person is holding keys, when drops them everyone runs for chair, one less chair, person left without chair begins next.
Banana Pass
People: teams of 5-10
Supplies: bananas, at least 1 per team
Players lie down on the grass, head to toe in a straight line with each person’s toes about ½ foot away from the next teammate’s head. When the game begins (start at end with people's feet), the first people in line grab hold of the banana with their feet and pass it over their heads to the next person’s feet. The next person receives the banana with his or her feet and passes again until the entire team is done. When the banana has been passed to the last person, this person must peel the banana and eat it (this part can be optional!). After eating it, the person then must run back to the starting line, finishing the race for the team.
Newspaper Chase
Supplies: rolled newspaper
Pick a theme (such as cereals, candies, or cities) and everyone picks a name, word, etc. with that theme. One person is in middle of circle. One person says another’s name or word; that person must say their own name and someone else’s to pass it. Person in middle must hit person who has said own word but not another’s word with rolled up newspaper. When caught, person goes in middle.
3-Legged
*Race (tie 2-3 people’s feet together for relay races)
*Sport (tie 2 people’s feet together for soccer or sport)
*Eat (tie 2 people’s arms together for a meal)
What If…
Supplies: two slips of paper and a pencil per player
Players write down one “What if…” question and the answer in a “Then…” statement. Papers are mixed separately and pulled out to answer “What if” questions
Oink Piggy Oink
Supplies: rolled newspaper or stick, blindfold
Group in circle, one person in middle blindfolded with newspaper. Middle person spins and point at one in circle and says: Oink Piggy Oink. That person must make a pig noise and the person in the middle guesses who made it. If right, person who made noise is in middle. If wrong, person in middle must retry.
Mafia
Supplies: one slip of paper per player, or playing cards (one per player)
Label slips: 2 mafia, 2 detectives, one head detective, rest are civilians or use cards (king is mafia, two aces are detectives, joker is detective, etc.). Head detective instructs all to close eyes. Mafia open eyes and point to victim. Close eyes. Detectives open eyes, point to inquire if person is mafia, head detective shakes head yes or no. Close eyes. All open eyes and victim is dead (disclose who): disclose role-no more speaking during game if you’re dead! People vote to accuse and kill someone. Continue another round. When both Mafia are dead the detectives win. When both detectives are dead the mafia win.
3-Round Name Game
Supplies: 3 slips paper per player
Each player puts a name on each of their papers (famous, person playing, fiction, any…). All names mixed together. Split into two teams and sit alternating in circle. Round 1: each player has 20 sec. To describe as many names they pull out al possible. Round 2: each player has 30 seconds to only say one word about the name for team to guess. No second word at all. Round 3: each player acts out as many names as possible. Record player totals each round for a team total at the end.
Character Guessing: Who am I?
Supplies: slips of paper, tape
One person writes names of movie characters or famous people beforehand on papers (you can do a theme, such as a particular movie, or cartoons, or Disney, etc.). Tape a name to a player’s back or forehead and have them guess by asking other players at the same time they try to figure out their own name. Once they guess theirs, they can get another one put on their back and try again.
How Many
Supplies: paper and pen per player
Sit in circle. Each player takes a turn asking a question about if people have done something or not (kissed, flown in a plane, eaten raw meat, etc.…). Each player writes down if they have-yes or no- and then a number of how many people they think will say “yes”. Everyone reads their answer; count number of “yes” answers. If you guessed the number right you get a point. Player with most points at end wins.
Chubby Bunny
Supplies: large or small marshmallows
One player goes at a time. Player must put one marshmallow in their mouth and say “chubby bunny”. Add another marshmallow and do the same. Players compete to see who can put the most marshmallows in and still be able to say “chubby bunny”.
Nose-Tape Game
Supplies: a roll of masking tape
Give each player a 4-inch strip of tape. Instruct them to connect the ends, sticky side out. Place the tape securely on the end of their noses. One the count of three pair up and face each other. Lean to touch pieces of tape and pull away. The person who ends up with both pieces of tape wins and the other is out. Pair up with remaining players. Repeat. Pair up and repeat for another round until only one player has all of the pieces of tape stuck to their nose. That player wins.
Tootsie Roll/Skittle Game
Supplies: a package of Skittles or Tootsie Rolls, piece of paper
Draw a grid or design with approx. 30-50 boxes in it. If using Tootsie Rolls, cut into 3 pieces. Place one candy of either skittles or tootsie roll in each box. One player leaves the room while players decide on one box. The player returns and begins to put the candies in their mouth one by one. The player cannot chew the candies but must keep them in their mouth. They must continue to put them in their mouth until they pick the one that the other players chose. When they choose the square that was picked, the board is refilled and the next player takes a turn. The first player may not chew the candy in their mouth until the player after them chooses the right square.
Don’t eat Pete
Supplies: one bag M&M’s, piece of paper
Draw a grid of 9-12 squares one the paper. Put an M&M in each square. One player leaves the room. The remaining players choose one square as “Pete”. The player returns and begins to slowly eat the candies one by one. When they pick up “Pete” the other players yell “Don’t eat Pete!” Each player takes a turn and the player who eats the most M&M’s without eating Pete wins.
Laser Obstacle Course
Supplies: Crepe paper, tape
Set up: Tape pieces of crepe paper across a hallway to create a challenging obstacle to get through the hallway without touching the crepe paper, at various directions and angles (think of a laser beam security system at a museum or something!)
Players must get through the hallway without touching the crepe paper (or walls if you want to include that). Players should need to go over and under the crepe paper. If players touch the paper they must start at the beginning again. You can time people to see who gets the best time.
Skittle Bowling
Supplies: bag of skittles (at a bowling alley)
While bowling, make people pick a skittle before each time they bowl. Assign a method of bowling to each color, so people have to bowl a weird way every time! It makes people who aren’t good at bowling enjoy it as well.
Ideas for ways to bowl:
Granny style (through legs), opposite hand, backwards, Fred Flinstone style, etc.
Balloon Foot Game
Supplies: one round balloon per person, and one small string to go around ankle
Each player ties a blown up balloon around their left ankle with a string. When the game begins, players try to pop everyone else’s balloon. Last player with a blown up balloon wins.
Face the Cookie
Supplies: Oreo Cookies
Each player lies down and places an Oreo on his or her forehead. When the game begins, players must try to move the cookie down their face and into their mouth to eat it, but you can’t use your hands! If it falls of you must put it on your forehead and start over. First one to get the whole cookie in his or her mouth wins.
Noodling Around
Supplies: Spaghetti noodles and penne noodles, uncooked
Each player stands next to a counter with three penne pasta in front of them and holding a spaghetti noodle. When the game begins, each player puts the spaghetti noodle in his or her mouth. The first one to get all three penne on the spaghetti noodle wins. No hands and no using anything else (wall, another item, etc.).
VARIATION: Time players for a minute and player with the most penne on the spaghetti noodle after a minute wins.
Saltine Whistle
Supplies: saltine crackers
Each player gets four saltine crackers (number may vary). At the same time, players must eat the crackers and the first one to be able to whistle wins the round.
