I feel very protective about our weekly Family Games Night in our house. It’s a time in the week when we all come together and turn off all screens. We play, laugh and just have fun. All the games we like to play are simple ones that you can do inside at home – no (or minimal) equipment or set-up needed. No board games or complicated rules. Just pure fun!
I know that finding these games, especially ones that work for all ages, can be a challenge.
That’s exactly why I created my book Family Games Night – which is jam-packed with creative, no-prep activities your family can play any time. I love getting all the positive feedback from other families who use and love the book.
Below are eleven playful games (inspired by the book) you can start using straight away. They require little to no equipment and work brilliantly for families who want fun, laughter and togetherness without any faff.
1. What’s Your Excuse?
This comedy game is all about quick thinking — and trying not to crack up. Three people take part: the “boss”, the “late employee”, and the “co-worker”. The boss stands facing the employee, grilling them about why they’ve shown up late. Meanwhile, the co-worker stands behind the boss where only the employee can see them.
As the boss demands an explanation, the employee must base their excuse on whatever the co-worker silently mimes. They might act out swatting insects, conducting an orchestra, wrestling an invisible creature or running a marathon — and the employee must weave it into a believable story. At any moment, the boss can whirl around and catch the co-worker mid-mime, demanding to know what on earth they think they’re doing. The co-worker must instantly invent a sensible “office-appropriate” explanation. If the boss is satisfied, the game continues; if not, they declare “You’re fired!” and a new trio steps in.
2. Master and Servant
This storytelling duel creates the most ridiculous narratives. One player becomes the demanding Master who issues commands, while the other is the Servant who must explain — truthfully within their invented story — why they can’t follow the instructions. What begins as “Bring me a drink” might spiral into “I would, but I twisted my ankle sprinting after a runaway shopping trolley, which also crushed my phone, which means I can’t order one…” and so on.
The aim is to keep the story consistent, no matter how absurd it becomes. Swap roles whenever someone’s story collapses — or whenever you’re all laughing too much to continue.
3. Cup Dash
This fast-paced two-player game gets competitive quickly. Line up a row of upside-down plastic cups on each end of a table so both players have the same number. At the far end, place a bin or box as the target.
When the round begins, each player races to move their cups into the bin – but they can only touch one cup at a time, and they’ll need to decide the best order and technique. Speed? Strategy? Chaos? The first to clear their entire row wins. Best-of-three makes for a great family showdown.
4. Family Judo
This balance-and-strength challenge is brilliant for siblings, parents and anyone feeling competitive. Two players step up at a time, placing their hands against each other’s palms. They stand about a metre apart and try to push, angle or out-manoeuvre their opponent just enough to make them shift their feet. They can’t grab clothing or touch anywhere else — only the palms count.
As soon as someone moves their feet, they lose, and a new challenger steps up. If someone clearly has the advantage (tall Dad, we’re looking at you), make them stand with their feet together to level the playing field.
A reminder that all these games, and dozens more, can be found in my book, Family Games Night!
5. Don’t Blow It
A gentle, anxiety-building game that somehow becomes the funniest thing in the room. Balance a small stack of cards on an upside-down cup. On their turn, each player leans in and blows softly to remove some cards — but not too many. The aim is to blow off just enough… without sending the final card crashing down. Whoever removes the last one loses the round, and the next player rebuilds the tower.
6. The Family Mime-Off
Grab a photo album and a timer. One person becomes the Mime Artist and secretly chooses a family photo. They then have five minutes to act out everything happening in the photo — who’s in it, what they’re doing, how they’re standing — using only gestures and silent acting. The rest of the family sketches their best interpretation on paper. When time is up, everyone reveals their drawings and compares them to the original photo. The Mime Artist decides whose drawing is closest, and that player becomes the next performer.
7. Jousting
This game is wonderfully simple and energetic. Everyone spreads out around the room, placing one hand behind their back with the palm open (their “target”) and the other hand out in front with just their index finger extended (their “joust”). At the signal, players try to tap someone else’s back hand using their joust, while dodging contact themselves. If someone taps your target hand, you’re out. The last person still in the game wins. It’s fast, funny and surprisingly tactical.
8. Can You Hear Me Now?
Split into two teams and choose one person from Team A to be the Shouter. They stand on one side of the living room while their teammate/s – the Hearers – stand on the other side.
Team B gathers in the middle.
When the countdown hits zero, the Shouter yells a chosen sentence like “We’re having pancakes for breakfast!” Meanwhile, the opposing team makes as much noise and distraction as they can to drown them out – humming, waving their hands, clapping, whooping, singing out of tune, running about.
The shouter is only allowed to say the phrase three times. The Hearers listen closely and must agree on what they think the Shouter said. If they get it right, they earn a point. Then teams switch roles. Increase the distance or volume limits to raise the chaos level!
9. Family Fishbowl
Fishbowl is essentially three games in one, and it’s perfect for a family game. Everyone writes several names, phrases and places on small slips of paper – celebrities, family members, places, popular sayings – and puts them in a bowl. Split into two teams and play three fast rounds using the same papers.
Team 1 goes first. Their chosen player stands at the front and is given one minute to describe as many of the slips of paper to their teammate without saying any of the words on the slip. They keep hold of the papers, and the next team has a go for one minute. Keep going until all the slips have been collected. Count the scores (1 point per slip) and return them all to the bowl.
Now repeat exactly the same (you may want to switch roles for each round so everyone has a go at being at the front), only in this round, you can only use mime, no words at all. Count points at the end of the round.
In the final round, you can only say one word! This is where it becomes a game of memory as the players need to try to remember what had been said in previous rounds.
Tally up all the scores to find your winning team.
10. Suuken
This addictive Japanese counting game is easy to learn and surprisingly strategic. Everyone places two fists on the table, each fist representing a “life”. The first player announces a number between zero and the total possible thumbs in play. Everyone, including the caller, then chooses to lift zero, one or two thumbs.
If the total number of raised thumbs matches the caller’s prediction, they remove one hand from the game — meaning that hand can no longer lift a thumb. Play rotates around the group until someone successfully retires both hands and becomes the winner. It’s quick, tense and ideal for families who love a bit of probability and bluffing.
If you are liking the sound of these games, make sure you grab a copy of Family Games night today!
11. Knock on the Head
This one becomes chaotic very fast, which is why families love it. Each person balances a plastic cup on their head – rim-side up for adults, rim-side down for kids to keep things fair. If your kids are younger, you can also get the adults to play on their knees.
When someone shouts “Go!”, players move around the room trying to knock cups off other people’s heads while keeping their own perfectly balanced. If yours falls, you’re out. The last person with a cup still standing is crowned the champion.
These games are just a snapshot of what you can play together at home. If you want dozens more ideas – including fast fillers, strategy games, silly challenges and quiet-night activities – grab a copy of Family Games Night. It’s designed to help families reconnect, laugh more and build a game night tradition you’ll look forward to every week.
0 Comments