Categories
Action Games

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: One group of 8 to 16 people. Messiness factor: Might break a sweat. Materials: None. Setting: Indoors or outdoors.

Categories
Action Games Ice Breakers

Giants, Wizards, and Elves

Summary: An icebreaker / action oriented game good for medium and large sized groups.  Similar to a game of rock, paper, scissors, two teams face off and decide to become either “giants,” “wizards,” or “elves.” Giants defeat elves, elves defeat wizards, and wizards defeat giants.

Ages: 10 and up.  Recommended # of People: 20 and up (large groups work fine too!).  Messiness factor: Might break a small sweat!  Materials Required: None.  Recommended Setting: Indoors or Outdoors.

Categories
Action Games

Amoeba Game

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

Categories
Action Games

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.

Categories
Action Games Card Games Ice Breakers Party Games

A Thousand Blank White Cards

Summary: A unique open-ended activity that lets players create the rules on white cards!

Ages: All. Recommended # of People: 5-6. Messiness Factor: You’ll move around. Materials Required: pens, blank white cards, an open space.

A Thousand Blank White Cards

How to Play

A Thousand Blank White Cards is a fun game that will ask players to make up creative rules.  Everyone starts with a wide open blank canvas.

The facilitator should prepare small stacks (7-8) of white index cards.  For about $10 you can large packs of cards online from Amazon.  Give each person a pen.

Instruct everyone on how to create a good card.  Each card should have (1) a title, (2) a consequence, and (3) a simple drawing.

For example:

  • A giant dinosaur arrives.  Everybody must scream in fear.  Everyone loses 1200 points.
  • Cookie Monster.  For each card in the discard pile, cookie monster eats these.  You get 100 points each.
  • Ghosts come alive.  Search the cards in the discard pile and take one.  Play it.
  • Exercise bunny.  While this card is in front of you, you must do 8 jumping jacks before you take your turn.
  • Pirate ship.  Speak like a pirate for one turn, then disc-ARRRRR-d this card.

Some cards can describe a way to win the game.  Other cards can react to that (an “Undo” card or a reaction card if someone seemingly wins, it can take away their win).  More explanation on that below.

Each player writes various cards, each with the 3 required parts as described above.  It should have the title, consequence and drawing.  It can be funny and involve silly actions as well.  Collect all the cards once they are written.  Place the deck in the middle of the room on a table or anywhere easy to reach.  There will also be a “discard pile” in the center for cards that have been discarded.

Playing the Game

Follow the following steps:

  1. On a player’s turn, he or she first draws a card from the deck.
  2. He or she then plays a card from their hand.  Place the card in front of any player or on the table.   For instance, a beneficial card could be played in front of himself or herself, or a negative card could be played in front of another player.  Some cards will be played in the center or perhaps impacts everyone.  Some cards will be discarded in the center after used.  All of this depends on the rule written on each card.
  3. After the first player has finished their turn, play continues clockwise, either until there are no cards left in the deck, or until some card effect has determined the end of the game.

If you’re not sure what to write on a card, just ask yourself what cards would be interesting to see in the game. This might be a reaction to another card — for example, if one player creates a card that says “When this card is played, you win the game,” another player could create an “Undo card” or a silly card that reads “Opposite day: If a player wins the game, play this card immediately. That player loses the game and exits this round”

At the end of a game, you can discuss as a group which cards were good and should be kept for play in future games. The fun of this game is not so much winning, but rather being creative in making unique cards that can be retained for future play.

Categories
Action Games

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 ask “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.

Categories
Action Games

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.

Categories
Action Games

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.

Categories
Action Games Ice Breakers

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.

Categories
Action Games

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.

Categories
Action Games

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.

Categories
Action Games

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.

Categories
Action Games

Chubby Bunny Game

Summary:  A hilarious action game that involves stuffing marshmallows in your mouth and trying to yell, “Chubby Bunny!”

Ages:  10 and up.  Recommended number of players: 3 and up.  Messiness factor:  Have a trash can and paper towels ready for a marshmallow mess.  Materials required:  A few bags of medium to large sized marshmallows.

Categories
Action Games

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.

Categories
Action Games

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

Categories
Action Games

Ultimate Ninja Game

Summary: An action-packed, fast paced, hilarious game in which the object is to become 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!

Categories
Action Games

Drip, Drip, Drop Game

Summary:  An action game that has some similarities to Duck, Duck, Goose.  It involves guessing and potentially getting a cup of water dumped on you!

Ages:  8 and up.  Recommended number of players: 5 and up.  Messiness factor:  People will get wet.  Materials required:  A large cup and water.