Games by Type
A collection of play-tested, fun group games, sorted by type: action oriented games, icebreakers, stationary games, and team building exercises. See below for a description of each game type.
ACTION ORIENTED GAMES
SOURCES : http://www.group-games.com/games-by-type/
1. Amoeba
Summary: An action oriented game where people hold hands and form an amoeba-like shape, and try to get others out of the game.
Ages: 10 and up. Recommended # of People: 10-20. Messiness Factor: Sweaty. Materials Required: Safe, Durable Object. Recommended Setting: Indoors or Outdoors
The Amoeba Game
Instructions: Instruct all players to hold hands and form a large circle. Put a safe, durable object in the middle of the circle. The object of the game is to try and have other people touch the object, by pulling, pushing, etc, but the circular link cannot be broken. If a person touches the object in the center of the circle, he or she is out of the game. The game is over when there is only one person left.
Note: This “elimination” aspect of this game may not be ideal in terms of inclusivity and allowing people to play longer. Variations include: having those who touched the object leave the first amoeba, but start to form a second amoeba. You get negative points in the second amoeba by touching the object in the center. This means one amoeba is shrinking while the second one is growing. The end of the game is when there is only one person left in the one amoeba, and everyone else moving around in the second amoeba.
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2.Banana Pass
Summary: A high-paced, messy relay race in which players pass a banana using their feet and the last person must eat the mushy fruit.
Ages: 10 and up. Recommended # of People: Teams of 7-10. Messiness Factor: Quite messy! Materials: Bananas, at least 1 per team. Setting: Outdoor.
The Banana Pass Game
The banana pass is an outdoor action game that is essentially a messy relay race. The “baton” is a banana — except the catch is that you can only use your feet to pass it! Eww..
How to Play:
Players lie down on the grass, head to toe in a straight line with each person’s toes about 2 feet away from the next teammate’s head. When the game begins, 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 (ewww!). After eating it, the person then must run back to the starting line, finishing the race for the team.
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3.Capture the Flag
Summary: A team based action game in which the goal is to locate and recover the opposing team’s flag before they do the same. A “jail” houses those who have been caught (tagged by the opposing team).
Ages: 10 and up. Recommended # of People: 20+. Messiness Factor: Sweaty. Materials Required: Two flags (any durable, safe, and noticeable object). Recommended Setting: Outdoors.
Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag is a popular team-based action game that is typically held outdoors. It is a fast paced cousin of “It Tag,” with lots of running and chasing, and some strategy. The following is the traditional version, although there are many variations of the game.
How to Play :
Divide the players into two teams. Agree upon the legal boundaries of play, determine the location of two “jails” (one for each team) and set up a middle boundary between the two teams. At the beginning of each round, each team hides and defends their own “flag,” which is any object that is durable and safe to toss around and run with (e.g. a bright T-shirt or cone). The flag must not be obscured; it needs to be more than 50% visible. Optionally, you may have more than one flag if there are enough people. The object of the game is for one team to grab the flag of the other team and bring it over to their own side. When a member of the opposing team crosses over the middle boundary into the opposing team’s territory, the other team is allowed to tag the person and take them to a “jail” where they stay until they are released (tagged) by one of their own team members who has not yet been captured.
Be sure there is plenty of space outdoors, as there will be lots of running involved. Also remember: safety first. Clear the area of any dangerous obstacles or hazards.
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4. Dragon Tag
Summary: Dragon Tag is an action-based game that is like tag, but with a twist! Teams of 4-8 people form “dragons” by linking elbows and attempt to grab the “tail” of another team’s dragon. Last team remaining wins.
Ages: 12 and up. Recommended # of people: Groups of 4-8 people. Messiness Factor: Might break a sweat! Materials required: One scarf or bandana for each team. Recommended Setting: Outdoors.
Instructions for Dragon Tag
Setup for the Dragon Tag Game
You need an area with a lot of space. Form teams of 4-8 people. Make human chains by having team members hold on to each others waists or link elbows. Each team of connected people is now a “dragon” with a head and a tail. Place a scarf or bandana hanging in the back pocket of the last person in the chain (the tail of the dragon).
Rules for the Dragon Tag Game
People who are part of a human chain cannot let go and get separated! The goal of the game is to have the head of each dragon (the front of the chain) to grab the scarf or bandana off the tail of another team’s dragon while staying linked. If any part of a team’s dragon gets separated, the detached tail end cannot move; only the head and the people attached to the head can move. You cannot go after another team until you have reconnected your body together.
A team can perform defense by curling up into a ball. You can curl up as a whole dragon or just the tail if the head has been detached. All teams attempt to do this simultaneously. When any team loses their flag (i.e., when another team grabs their flag) they are out. The last remaining team is the winner!
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5. Follow the Leader
Summary: A hilarious copycat game in which people try to imitate one leader’s actions, and the person in the center attempts to identify who is the originator of the actions (the leader).
Ages: 8 and up. Recommended # of People: A group of 8 to 16 people. Messiness factor: Might break a sweat. Materials: None. Setting: Indoors or outdoors.
Rules for Follow the Leader
Follow the Leader (also known as the Copycat Game) is an action game that serves as a good energizer or warmup activity. It can be pretty hilarious watching people mimic the leader, especially if the leader does some wacky movements. There is no preparation needed for the Follow the Leader game. Find a large open space, either indoors or outdoors, and you’re ready to go!
How to Play :
Ask everyone to stand and arrange the group into a circle, facing inwards. Ask one person to leave the room for a minute. This person will be the guesser for the round. While he or she is gone, the group decides who should be the “leader.” The leader will be the one who sets the movements for that round. When this person is chosen, invite the guesser to come back. The guesser stands in the very center of the circle.
When the round begins, everyone starts swinging their arms up and down. The leader will eventually begin to do other movements, and everyone else mimics the leader’s actions, without being too obvious to reveal who the leader is. The leader can do just about anything he or she wants, such as:
- clapping
- making a kicking motion with his or her leg
- jumping up and down
- singing a line from a song
- patting his or her own head
- a dance move
Everyone in the circle should be careful to avoid prolonged eye contact with the leader, so the leader’s identity is not given away. The guesser must keep turning his or her head to try to figure out which person is the leader (the person who is starting of all the group’s movements). The guesser is allowed to make up to three guesses. If the guess is incorrect, the round continues. If the guess is correct, the leader becomes the new guesser for the next round. If all three guesses are exhausted and the leader is not correctly guessed, the round ends and you can either keep the same guesser or switch it up.
This action game tends to be hilarious, as people try to copy the leader’s silly movements. See photos of an example of the game being played below.
Person in the middle tries to find the leader of the circle
It can be challenging to identify the leader!
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6. Ghost in the Graveyard
Summary: An action game that is typically played outdoors at night. One person is the “ghost” who hides. The others search for the ghost and when he or she is discovered, he or she yells “Ghost in the Graveyard!” and everyone must try to run back to base before the ghost tags them.
Ages: 10 and up. Recommended # of people: At least 5 players. Messiness factor: Hiding and a lot of running involved. Materials: None, flashlights optional. Setting: Outdoors at night, a safe, large outdoor area to play in.
Ghost in the Graveyard
Ghost in the Graveyard is a game that involves hiding, seeking, and chasing. It’s a good activity for nighttime family or group fun. Be sure to wear comfortable sneakers, as the game involves some running around.
Setup for Ghost in the Graveyard
There is no real setup necessary for this game, except to ensure that the area is safe from dangerous obstacles. Choose a central location to be the “home base” for the game.
There is no real setup necessary for this game, except to ensure that the area is safe from dangerous obstacles. Choose a central location to be the “home base” for the game.
How to Play Ghost in the Graveyard
Gather everyone at the home base. You’ll need a large outdoor play area for this game. Tell everyone the boundaries of play and make sure everyone knows not to go past these boundaries.
Gather everyone at the home base. You’ll need a large outdoor play area for this game. Tell everyone the boundaries of play and make sure everyone knows not to go past these boundaries.
To begin, choose a volunteer to be the “ghost.” This person leaves the base and hides somewhere within the boundaries while everyone else closes their eyes. After a minute or two, the rest of the group counts aloud: “One o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock…” until they reach midnight.
At this point, everyone leaves the base and searches for the ghost. The first person to spot the ghost yells “Ghost in the graveyard!” and all the seekers rush back as fast as they can to base. The ghost chases after everyone and whoever is tagged becomes next ghost.
This game is best to play when it is early evening or dark, but be sure to take measures to keep everyone safe, as running in areas with low light can lead to possible injury. Keep safe and have fun!
(Contributed by Vince) Thanks Vince!
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7. Mother May I?
Summary: Mother May I is a classic kids’ game in which kids request to take a certain number and type of steps (baby, normal, giant, etc.) towards the “mother”. Kids must remember to as “Mother May I?” The first to touch the mother wins and becomes the new mother.
Ages: Younger kids. Recommended number of people: Less than 10. Messiness factor: Might break a little sweat. Materials required: None. Recommended setting: Outdoors.
Mother May I (also known as Captain May I)
How to Play :
This game is a simple childhood action game that might be good for reinforcing the use of manners. One person is chosen as the “mother” (or “captain” if it is a male). She or he stands facing away from a line of kids and selects a child at random, or in order. The mother/captain calls out a direction, step type, and number of steps. For example, the mother/captain can say: “Scott, you may take seven (or any other number)’ baby/normal/giant steps forward/backward.” The child then responds with “Mother may I?” (or “Captain may I?” if it is a male player in charge). The mother/captain states “Yes” or “No”, depending on her whim, and the child obeys and takes the steps. If the child forgets to ask “Mother may I?” then he/she goes back to the beginning of the line. The first one to touch the Mother/Captain wins and becomes the new Mother/Captain.
An alternate version of the game is similar: each child takes turns asking, “Mother/Captain may I take [x kind of] steps?” The child who is mother (or captain) replies yes or no.
There are other kinds of steps possible for this game – be creative and come up with your own. For example, there are:
- Bunny hops: hopping like a bunny.
- Frog hops: going down on all fours and hopping up like a frog.
- Scissors steps: jump while crossing your feet, then jump while uncrossing them was one step.
- Skip steps: steps as though one is skipping.
- Banana step: the child lies down with his or her feet at current spot, noting where the top of his or her head is, and standing up there for the new spot.
(Submitted by Paul A. Thanks Paul!)
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8. Pulse Game
Summary: An action oriented icebreaker that works especially well with large groups of people. A game of quick reflexes and passing on the pulse!
Ages: All. Recommended # of People: At least 40 people. Messiness Factor: Might break a small sweat. Materials Required: A coin, a chair, and any small object like a tennis ball. Recommended Setting: Indoors.
Pulse Game
The Pulse Game (also known as the Electric Current Game or the Electricity Game) is a great way to break the ice, especially if you have a large group people. In a fast paced action game, two long lines of humans resemble a fast moving electric current!
Setup
To set up the Pulse Game, you need to form two teams of equal size. The easiest way to do this is probably to have each player pair off with another person. When you’ve divided the group evenly, have each team member face the same direction, and have each team facing each other. Instruct each team to hold hands to form two long human chains. At the end of the two lines, place a chair with a small object (e.g. a tennis ball) on it. The referree stands at the front (see picture below).
Playing the Pulse Game
To play the pulse game, have the two players at the front of the line watch the referee. Have everyone else close their eyes and face downward. Instruct everyone to be silent. For each round, the referee does the following: Flip a coin and quietly show it only to the first two players at the front of each team. Whenever the coin shows ”Heads,” the two people at the front of the line must squeeze the hand of the next person in line as quickly as possible. Whenever that player’s hand gets squeezed, he or she quickly continues to “pass the electric current” by squeezing the next person’s hand, and so on. As the “electric current” transfers along the line, the goal of the game is to be the first team to grab the object (the ball) on the chair. If heads was flipped and a team successfully grabs the ball, that team wins a point. On the other hand, if the team grabs the ball but heads was not flipped, then the point goes to the other team. After each coin flip, wait several seconds and then flip again. Keep flipping until the coin shows “Heads.” For a short game, the winner is the first team to score 10 points. For a longer game, you can increase the number of points.
Have fun playing this fast paced, quick reflex action game.
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9. Sardines Game
Summary: Sardines is like the game Hide-and-Seek, only in reverse! one person hides, and the rest of the players look for the one hidden person. When someone finds the hidden person, they quietly join them in hiding — after a while, the group begins to look like sardines!
Ages: 10 and up. Recommended # of People: 15-30. Messiness Factor: No Sweat. Materials: None. Recommended Setting: Indoors with ample space, but not open space.
Sardines (Reverse Hide and Seek) Game
Sardines is a fun game which is very much like Hide and Seek, except it is done in reverse. It can be pretty humorous, as many people end up hiding in interesting places, resembling a bunch of sardines jammed together!
How to Play :
One person is picked to be “it”. This person is given some time to hide while everyone else sits in a neutral spot with their eyes closed for a specified amount of time. When the time is up, everyone searchers for the person who is “It”. When this person is found, instead of ending the game, one tries not to let other people know where the person is; instead, he or she joins the person at their hiding spot. The object is to not be the last one left. The first person that found “It” gets to be “It” the next time. Be sure to have proper guidelines in place for appropriate boundaries and hiding spots. Safety always comes first.
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10.SPUD Game
Summary: SPUD is an action game that incorporates some elements of dodge ball. The ball is tossed up high, someone catches it, yells “SPUD!”, take three big steps, and tries to get someone out!
Ages: All. Recommended # of people: At least 8 players. Messiness factor: Lots of running and throwing. Materials required: A soft ball that does not hurt when thrown. Recommended setting: Outdoors.
The Spud Game
Spud is a simple, fast-paced action game that contains running, dodging, and throwing. It is a popular camp or kids game, but youth group students, college students and adults will probably enjoy playing this game too. Lots of variations exist for this game — be creative!How to Play Spud :
To set up the Spud Game, have each player count off and remember their number. An optional variation is to have more than one person per number. After everyone is assigned a number, have each player group together in a bunch. One person starts with the ball in the center of the bunch.
To set up the Spud Game, have each player count off and remember their number. An optional variation is to have more than one person per number. After everyone is assigned a number, have each player group together in a bunch. One person starts with the ball in the center of the bunch.
At the beginning of each round, the person with the ball (who is in the center of the bunch) throws the ball upwards to the sky while yelling a number. Everyone disperses and runs in all different directions away from the bunch except for the person(s) whose number was called. The person whose number was called catches the ball and then yells “Spud!” When he or she yells this, everyone must freeze. The person with the ball then is allowed to take three giant steps toward any player. He or she throws the ball and tries to hit someone. To dodge, players are allowed to move all parts of their body except they may not move their feet at all. If a player is hit the first time, he or she earns the letter “S”, eventually spelling the word S-P-U-D. The person who was hit becomes the new thrower; otherwise, the thrower who missed earns a letter. The next round begins and play continues. Whoever spells the letter S-P-U-D is out of the game; alternatively, if you do not wish to eliminate players, you can set a time limit and whoever has the least amount of letters when time expires is the winner.
(This game was contributed by Andy M. Thanks Andy!)
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11.Thirsty Straws
Summary: A funny relay race in which players must quickly drink as much water as they can and then pass it on to the next person.
Ages: 10 and up. Recommended # of People: Teams of 4. Messiness Factor: Better have a bathroom available! Materials Required: A liter of water per team, straws long enough to reach the bottom of container. Recommended Setting: Outdoor
Thirsty Straws Game
Instructions: In groups of four, choose the order in which each person will drink. Thirsty Straws is a relay race to see who finishes first. The object of the game is to be the first team to drink the entire liter of water – with the requirement that each member of the team can only drink once. The catch is that if each person does not drink his/her share, the last person is left to finish off whatever is left. This is usually an extremely difficult task and usually hilarious to watch.Note: This game may not be the most sanitary of games. As a cleaner alternative, consider a relay using multiple bottles of water, in which the next person can drink when the person finishes his or her one bottle.
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12.Ultimate Ninja
Summary: An action-packed, fast paced game in which the object is to be the “ultimate ninja” — the person with the quickest reflexes! Dodge the other player’s attacks and get the others out.
Ages: 10 and up. Recommended # of people: 6-12. Messiness factor: Might break a sweat. Materials required: None!
Instructions for the Ultimate Ninja Game
Ultimate Ninja is a great action-based game that involves quickness, a little bit of strategy, and skill. The goal is to be the “ultimate ninja,” or the person who has the quickest reflexes. Players try to eliminate others by successfully hitting their hands. The game is played clockwise, with each person taking a turn. On your turn, you are allowed one motion: (1) an attempt to hit another person’s hand with your hand, or (2) one movement, such as taking a step in any direction. When a player is trying to hit your hand, you are allowed one motion to dodge the strike; however, you must hold this new position once you dodge. If a player successfully hits your hand, you are “out” and you must leave the circle. The last person remaining wins.
Detailed Instructions: Gather everyone and have all players stand towards the center of a room. Have everyone say the words, “Ultimate… Ninja!” and then have everyone pose in a ninja stance. Choose one person to begin the game. On a person’s turn, he or she may try to strike someone’s hand with one motion, or he or she make move one step. Once this person does his one motion, it immediately becomes the next person’s turn (following clockwise order). The second person can immediately try to strike someone’s hand or take a step in any direction. You are allowed to dodge in one motion when you think someone is trying to strike your hand; however, you must hold this new pose after you dodge. For example, when a person named John tries to hit another person’s hand (e.g. Sally), Sally is allowed to move her arm backwards to dodge; however, Sally must hold this new pose until it’s her turn (or until someone else tries to strike her hand).
The Ultimate Ninja Game sounds complicated, but it’s actually quite simple. The following photos and videos may help explain how this game works:
The start of a round
All players make an initial ninja pose
A player (in white) must contact another person's hand to get them out
That person is "out" if successfully hit
Down to the final three
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13.WALL BALL
Summary: Wall Ball is a classic playground game that involves throwing the ball against a wall, catching it without fumbling the ball, and trying to get others out! Many variations exist for this simple group game.
Ages: 8 and up. Recommended # of people: At least 4. Messiness Factor: Get ready to break a sweat! Materials required: A small bouncy ball of some sort (e.g. a racquetball, tennis ball, etc.). Recommended Setting: Outdoors or in a very large room with a flat wall (e.g. side of a building) and a hard, flat floor.
Rules for Wall Ball
Wall Ball is a classic playground game played by children everywhere. It’s fun for adults too!
The object of the game is simple: a person throws a ball against a wall, and anyone can try to catch it. The person who tries to catch it must catch it cleanly (no drops). If a person drops the ball or touches the ball in any way without catching it, that person must quickly run up and touch the wall before another person can catch the ball and throw it against the wall.
If the ball hits the wall before the player is able to touch it, the person is given a “strike.” Each player gets three “strikes” before they are out of the game (or you can assign some form of mild punishment, like making the person do the chicken dance).
Variations
Many different various exist for Wall Ball. For example, when someone catches the ball, they can assign rules such as:
- one handed catch only
- catch on one foot
- left handed catch only
And so on. If someone forgets to follow the rule, they must also run to the wall and touch it to prevent getting an “out”.
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