Radhika MundraWhile the ongoing pandemic, COVID-19 has made sure we do not step out of the house, being at home for so long can also be exhausting. Most of us are with our families and sooner or later, you’ll run out of topics to discuss or get bored with the routine games you play, especially cards. Unless you’re a board game freak like me, who has tons of board games that can keep you entertained for days, you’ll need this list of family games!
These are some of the best party games I have used to entertain my guests. Some of these games can also be played as two-person games, so if you’re a party of two, your entertainment is sorted! So, here are some tool-less family games you can play at home or even on a group video call to bond with your family or friends to make the quarantine period better.
Tool-Less Family Games
1. Draw Down the Lane or Drawing Relay
Requirements– Sketchbooks/Papers, Pens
Players– 3 or more. Can be played in teams.
Rules– A random word from a random category is given to the first player of one team. They get 10 seconds to draw about the word and pass on to the next player and so on. The last player of the team has to guess the word from what they see on the sketch drawn by the previous player. The team who guesses three correct words wins the game.
Categories– Profession/Automobiles/Gadgets & Appliances/Food Items etc.
Examples– Doctor/Nurse/Aeroplane/Microwave/Noodles etc.
The game is similar to Whisper down the lane, where a random phrase is said in the ear of one player and is passed on to several players. The last player has to correctly guess what the entire phrase was, word to word. This is one of the most popular family games among my family members.
2. Catch the Thief
Requirements– Postcards/Playing Cards
Players– 4 or more.
Rules– All the cards are considered the same, only one card is marked as the thief card. Now the second player takes a card from the player on their right. The next player chooses one card from the two cards of the second player. Similarly, each player takes a card from the player on their right.
Once the cards are exchanged, the players play short games with each other to get rid of their cards, for example- Rock Paper Scissors, Word Relay etc. Whoever wins the short game can choose to give their card(s) to any one of the players and is saved.
Another round of taking a card from the next player takes place. Once this round is finished, players get another chance to get rid of their cards through short games.
The above procedure can be followed until three to two players are left with cards.
In the end, the cards are disclosed and the player with the thief card loses. This is a popular house party game because it keeps the guests entertained for a long time!
3. The Game of Wits
Requirements– None
Players– 4 or more
Rules– All the players are squatting or sitting at the beginning of the game. Once the game is announced to begin, the players begin to stand up in sequence while shouting numbers in sequence. The first player stands up and shouts one. If no other player stands up at the same time shouting one, the first player is safe.
The catch is that players must not stand up at the same time shouting the same number in the sequence.
If all players pass correctly in sequence then the last person sitting loses the game. If a player shouts a wrong number, they are eliminated. It’s a fun fast-paced game that’ll keep the players on their toes.
4. Nonsense Quiz
Requirements– None
Players– 3 or more
Rules– The gamemaster asks the players random questions but the players have to give unrelated answers, that is, nonsense. If the player says the correct answer, they are eliminated. If the answer makes sense towards the question, the player is eliminated. Each player is asked three questions back to back if they succeed in answering nonsense, they win. The game moves on to the next player. Players who answer wrongly twice are eliminated. Last player remaining wins!
Example–
Q. What colour is the sky?
A. The sky is blue. WRONG.
A. I like to drink water. CORRECT.
Q. What did you do when you woke up today?
A. Rabbits are cute. CORRECT
Q. What are you up to?
A. Air conditioner. CORRECT
Q. What’s your phone’s wallpaper?
A. I’m hungry. CORRECT
Q. What do you want to do now?
A. Red. CORRECT
5. Word Game
Requirements– Timer
Players– 3 or more
Rules– The gamemaster chooses a category and set a timer for 1 minute. Now a letter from the alphabets is randomly chosen and each player starts naming the category related words with that letter instantly.
The round goes on until the timer runs out. The person on whom the timer runs out is eliminated if they have not answered. if they have answered and the timer runs out, the next person is eliminated.
After the first round, the timer changes to 30 seconds. For each round, a new letter is chosen. In the third round, 15 seconds and eventually 10 seconds and 5 seconds. It’s a super easy family game and is fast-paced so, the enjoyment is doubled.
Example–
Category- Places
Letter- A
First Round- 1 minute
P1- Alaska
P2- Arunachal Pradesh
P3- Andhra Pradesh
P4- America
and so on until a player is eliminated.
6. 3, 6, 9, Clap/Bibbo/Your choice of word or action.
Requirements– None
Players– 2 or more
Rules– Each player calls out numbers starting from one. For each number that is a multiple of 3, or ends with a 3, they must either clap, say bibbo or say or do any word or action as decided by the gamemaster. This is a fun game that keeps you on your toes!
This is how to game goes-
one, two, clap, four, five, clap, seven, eight, clap, ten, eleven, clap, clap, fourteen, clap and so on.
7. Photo Spot
Requirements– Camera
Players– 4 or more
Rules– The players have to make sure that there face is in the photo while doing an action- like smiling/or with an open mouth, or open eyes etc when the camera clicks. Alternatively, create a spot on the ground, when the photo is clicked, the players who are standing in the marked spot win. If there are teams, then the team with the most number of members in the photo win!
Twist– Either put the camera on self-timer or click randomly.
8. Telepathy Game
Requirements– 2 pairs of headphones, pre-prepared chart of dialogues.
Players– 4 or more (two-player teams)
Rules– Prepare two charts of dialogues, they could be personal, popular movie dialogues, jokes, connecting phrases or songs! On the first chart, only write half of the dialogue, and write the other half on the other chart. Put them in random order, like match it questions.
Now, two players from a team will put on headphones with loud music on. To protect your ears, you can use ear warmers and cotton swabs. Now the first player will read a random phrase from their chart to the second player and the second player will read a phrase from their chart. If their phrases connect, the get a point. The team with most points wins! This is a great party game if you prepare it accordingly!
9. Subtract, Not Multiply
Requirements– None
Players– 2 or more
Rules– A player is given a multiplication question, but he has to subtract the second number from the first instead of multiplying it. They have to answer instantly and whoever delays or gives the wrong answer is eliminated. Each person is asked 3 continuous questions at a time. An enjoyable game for a children’s party!
Example– As per this game-
3×6 = 3-6 = -3
2×2 = 2-2 = 0
12×7 = 12-7 = 5
10. Hand & Mouth Separately
Requirements– None
Players– 2 or more
Rules– The player is asked a mathematical question. They have to say the right answer but show a wrong answer with their hand simultaneously. If they say the wrong answer, they are eliminated. If they say the right answer and also show the right answer with their fingers, they are eliminated. This is a fast-paced game, so the answer has to be given instantly. If the answer is delayed, the player is eliminated.
This is a fun game that requires a lot of focus and concentration towards the question. It’s not as easy as it looks! This is another great game for a children’s party!
Example– As per the game-
2-1 = 1 (say this but show two or more fingers)
5-1 = 4 (say this but show more or less than four fingers)
8-6 = 2 (say this but show more or less than two fingers)
11. Odd-Even
Requirements– Coins or any small object in numbers.
Players– 2 or more
Rules– The gamemaster puts some coins in their fist and asks a player to choose between the possibility of them being odd or even. If the player says even and the coins are even, the game continues to the next player until one player remains. Each player is given three chances and they have to guess correctly at least two times to succeed.
12. 5-second Logic
Requirements– A few sets of 5 random words
Players– 2 or more
Rules- A player will be given a set of 5 random words and they have to say sentences that involve all those words within 5 seconds. They can make any number of sentences as long as they answer within the allotted time. If the players find it difficult to process
Example–
Set of words- Tea/Song/New Zealand/Laptop/Sun
Answer- I wanted to drink tea and listen to my favourite song in New Zealand. My laptop suddenly became hot, maybe it was because of the sun.
If you find a game confusing, make sure to reach out to me via email or any of my social media channels and I’ll be happy to help you understand.
13. Mouth Rock Paper Scissor
Requirements– None
Players– 2 or more
Rules– Unlike the standard rock paper scissors, the symbols in this game will be made by the player through their mouth.
Rock- Pout
Paper- Mouth wide open
Scissors- Tongue
Here’s how you play it-
14. Pinnochio’s Answer
Requirements– None
Players– 2 or more
Rules- Whatever you’re asked, just lie. If you tell the truth and nobody knows if its the truth, then you are saved. If you’re caught, you’ll be eliminated. Last player remaining wins!
15. 20 Questions
Requirements– None
Players– 2 or more
Rules– One player thinks about a person you all know and the other players have to guess the right person by asking 20 Yes/No questions collectively that could lead to the answer. This is a great option in family games because it tells how much do you know about your family or family friends!
Example–
You can ask the following questions to inquire about that person-
Q. The person is bald?
A. Yes/No
Q. They have visited us this month.
A. Yes/No
Q. They are close relatives?
A. Yes/No
16. I did/I did not
Requirements– None
Players– 3 or more
Rules– Each player pulls up their hand. The motive is to make someone pull down all their fingers and give them a punishment. How do you do that? Each player on their turn say a thing starting with the phrase- Everyone who __________ put down a finger. It can be anything that they have done or not or a characteristic/or a feature. Everyone who has done that thing has to put down one finger. The game goes on until someone forms a fist. Now the player on who’s turn they got eliminated will punish them. The game goes on until all players are eliminated and the last one standing, wins! This is one of my favourite party games!
Example–
P1- Everyone who wears glasses put down a finger.
P2- Everyone who has bathed today put down a finger.
P3- Everyone who has their phone in their pocket put down a finger.
17. Draw & Find
Requirements– Pen and Paper
Players– 4 or more
Rules– A player or more of each team will go around a designated place and look over three things of their choice and come back. Now they will draw the three things that they chose. One player of each team will go around the place and bring those things that were drawn by their teammates in a set time. Whoever comes first, wins the game. This is also an exciting option of family games unless you make a mess and invite the wrath of your mother dearest. Make sure to keep the things you bring back to their place when you’re done with the game.
18. Song relay
Requirements– None
Players– 2 or more
Rules– A player starts with a song and has to sing at least two lines. The next player has to pick up the last word from that song and sing another song and so on.
Players are eliminated when they are unable to sing a song in one minute. This game is a variant of another popular family game- ‘Antakshari’. Can be moulded as per preference and ease.
19. Zero Game
Requirements– None
Players– 5 or more
Rules– This is a game of chance. Each player randomly calls out a number. If the number of hands raised is the same as the call made, the player wins. The player’s hand is also counted.
Example–
P1- Calls out 3
Hands Raised- 1
P2- Calls out 1
Hands Raised- 2
P3- Calls out 2
Hands Raised- 2
20. Flying Coin
Requirements– Coins, Big Bowl of water
Players– 4 or more
Rules– Every player of every team has to manage to throw their coins in the bowl of water from a set distance, say 2 metres. Alternate chances to each team are given. Whichever team finishes first, wins.
21. 5 Second Rule
Requirements– Timer
Players– 2 or more
Rules– Each player is asked a question and has to give three answers to it in 5 seconds or less. This is a game that I’ve seen on The Ellen Show.running
Example–
Q- Things found on your bedside table?
A- Medicine, Charger, Notepad
Q- Nicknames you’ve been called?
A- X, Y, Z
22. Non-Stop Talking
Requirements– Hard Sentences from the Internet
Players- 2 or more
Rules– Each player has to read a tricky or hard sentence without stopping or hesitating in one go in 30 seconds. If they mess us, they re-start the sentence and try to finish it in the remaining time.
Example–
Pin this post for later- 15+ Tool-Less Indoor Family Games For All Ages
Playing games with your family is also a great chance to bond with them while having fun. These tool-less family games will ensure that you have hours of unlimited fun with them without having to make too many arrangements. I’ll keep updating this list with more games as I remember them. These can also be used in hosting house parties, I’ve done it many times.
I’ve picked most of the games on this list from a popular Korean variety show called Running Man. It’s so good that once you watch it, you’ll forget about playing and start watching it instead. On Christmas day, each year, I plan lots of games to play with my family, these above are some of the tool-less games that we play. I’ve tried each of the games above, so I can ensure you that you will not be bored!
I’ll put up a list of board games that I have and are super fun to play in my next post.
Until next time,
Stay home, stay safe!
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