Games to Play with No Resources
36 games in this category, hand chosen by experienced leaders. Every one lists the ages it suits, the group size it needs and what to bring.
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A quick reflex game played in pairs. On '4', try to trap your partner's finger on your palm while pulling your own away.
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Everyone shares two truths and one lie about themselves, and the group tries to guess which statement is the lie.
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Everyone picks an animal starting with their initial plus an action to match, then passes around the circle name-and-action style.
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A cumulative circle game where each person recites every animal name before them, then adds their own.
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A structured tip game where the assassin walks toward one target, but the target can call someone else's name to save themselves.
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A Western-themed reflex game where players must duck when pointed at, and the two people beside them shoot each other. Last to call bang is out.
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Teams must collectively place exactly the right number and type of body parts on the ground before time is called, no more and no less.
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A silly circle game where players pass a 'buck' gesture around using alternating hands. Call 'BUCKERK!' to reverse direction, and any mistake gets you out.
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A tipping game where tipped players become dead ants, lying on their back with limbs in the air, and must be carried to safety by two teammates.
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The caller performs actions saying 'do this' and everyone copies. On 'do that', everyone must freeze. Move on 'do that' and you're out.
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A large-scale rock-paper-scissors game where teams pick a character and the winning team chases the other back to their wall.
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A team tipping game where you can only tip someone who left the wall before you. The longer you're off the wall, the less fresh you are.
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Everyone moves around the space until the leader calls a number. Players must instantly form groups of exactly that size or they're out.
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Everyone grabs hands across a circle to form a giant knot, then the group must untangle without letting go.
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Players pass a phrase around the circle while hiding their teeth. Show them and you're out.
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A cumulative memory chain where everyone brings an object starting with their own initial and recites everything brought before them.
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Pairs must quickly form the correct pose when the leader calls out 'Knights', 'Horses' or 'Cavaliers'. Slowest or wrong pair is out.
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A running camp game where calling someone's name with moose antlers on your head triggers a chain of reactions.
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A circle game where a secret murderer winks people to death while a detective tries to identify them before everyone is eliminated.
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A rhythm-based name game. Say your own name on the knees, someone else's on the claps, and don't break the beat.
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A simple circle game where everyone says their name in turn, then races to see how fast the whole group can get through it.
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A classic oval game where tipped players sit and become tentacle-waving octopuses trying to tip runners going past.
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A walking-only game of tip where linking arms with somebody makes you safe, but only for three seconds.
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An ongoing camp game where you hand an object to someone saying 'random handoff!' and they must hold it until they can pass it on.
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A knockout scissors paper rock tournament where everyone you beat becomes part of your cheer squad.
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A detective tries to identify the secret dancer who is subtly changing dance moves while everyone else copies them.
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Everyone lies in a circle with eyes closed while someone throws a shoe in the air. When the leader calls 'shoe', they open their eyes and try to dodge it.
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Two teams race to pass a short message from one end of the oval to the other, by any means except moving past a teammate.
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Without speaking, teams race to line themselves up in order of height, birthday or alphabetical first name.
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Everyone lies perfectly still like sleeping lions. Any movement gets you out, and the last person to stay still wins.
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Teams of four form human spaceships, three players holding hands around a captain, and try to tip other captains without breaking formation.
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A circle game where players take turns jumping to stomp on someone else's foot while others jump to avoid being stomped.
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A cat-and-mouse chase game where the grid of players rotates on command, constantly reshaping the paths the cat and mouse can run through.
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A classic schoolyard game where tipped players freeze with legs spread until a teammate crawls between their legs to free them.
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An ongoing game where the sole rule is: if you think about The Game, you lose.
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A growing chain game where tipped players join hands with the tipper, forming a worm in which only the two end players can tip others.