Perfect for killing time! Games you can play with two people.
When you’re looking for a game for two, wouldn’t it be nice to have simple indoor games you can enjoy without any special equipment? It’s great to have something easy and fun to play when plans get canceled due to sudden rain or when you find a bit of free time.
In this article, we’ve gathered easy-to-start indoor activities for two, focusing on rhythm games and conversation games.
The rules are simple, but each one has surprising depth and will make you want to play again and again!
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Fingerplays and Active Body Games (1–10)
Finger Catch
Finger Catch: Catch your partner’s finger with one hand while making your own finger escape with the other.
Make a tube with one hand by forming a circle, and point your index finger on the other hand.
Once you insert your index finger into your partner’s tube, you’re ready.
When someone says “catch,” both players try to grab the other’s finger while simultaneously pulling their own finger away.
It’s fun to add feints, like saying different words such as “cat” or “cap,” or stalling with “ca, ca” without saying the full word.
Take turns calling out “catch.” You win if you successfully catch your partner’s finger while making your own finger escape.
Back Telephone (a game like “Chinese whispers” played by tracing on someone’s back)
Focus your nerves on your back and take on the game! Here are some ideas for a Back-Telephone game.
In a regular telephone game, once a theme is chosen, the first person passes it on to the next person using words or gestures, and so on, aiming to convey the original theme correctly to the last person.
This time, try conveying it by writing on each other’s backs instead of using words or gestures.
Animals and characters make great themes! Once you get used to it, try increasing the difficulty with sentences or logos—it sounds like it could be a lot of fun!
Fingerplays and Movement Games (11–20)
pulling sumo (hiki-zumō); a style of sumo that involves pulling techniques
Allow us to introduce the idea of “Hiki-sumo,” a game that blends nostalgia with heated mind games.
Two players stand on one leg while shaking hands, then try to pull each other off balance.
The rules are simple: if your other foot touches the floor, you lose.
Yet subtle control of strength, timing, and small feints can decide the match.
Even with size differences, you can win by cleverly shifting your center of gravity, giving everyone a chance for an upset.
It’s quick to play, requires no equipment, and can start anywhere with a little space.
Recommended for those who want an active game where laughter and seriousness mix.
Ten thousand feet in the Alps
It’s an activity where two people face each other and sing “Alps Ichiman-jaku” while communicating through hand movements.
In addition to moving your own hands, there are motions where you clap hands with your partner, so make sure to learn the sequence thoroughly and synchronize your timing.
Beyond the standard pattern, many variations have been passed down, so besides learning this one, you can also enjoy creating your own original choreography.
Adjusting the difficulty—by adding more complex variations or speeding it up—could make it even more exciting.
Try Not to Laugh Game
In this game, you face each other, and the first person to laugh loses.
You can play it in person, of course, or even over a video call! You can just stare at each other, make funny faces, or try some kind of gag…
Use whatever tactics you like to make the other person laugh! You can make it sudden-death—laugh and you lose—or compete by counting how many times each person laughs within a time limit.
You might even find that the more you like someone, the easier it is to blush and smile without them doing anything at all.
Give it a try with your partner or friends!
Which side, left or right?
Left or Right is a heart-pounding game where you risk a penalty if you choose the wrong side.
The challenger sits blindfolded, picks either right or left, and leans their body that way.
In front of them is a water gun aimed to one side; choose incorrectly and you’ll get sprayed.
Repeating the game turns it into a mind battle with the person holding the water gun—sometimes aiming the same way multiple times, other times alternating.
You can also add up/down as extra options or customize the penalty.
Simple yet irresistibly fun, it’s a game that will have you laughing and bring the two of you closer.
Can you do things like this and that?
Here’s a game you can enjoy with just two people: “Can you do this and that?” In this game, when someone says, “Can you do this and that?”, the participants imitate what was said while simply replying, “Yes, we can do this and that.” The person giving the prompts should start with simple, easy-to-understand actions.
The key is to make them gradually more difficult.
It’s a game that people of all ages—from children to adults—can enjoy, so try taking turns giving prompts and challenge the game with your friends or family!
Pose Matching Challenge
This is a challenge where two people try to match by striking the same pose at the same time for a given prompt.
It encourages you to imagine what the other person might be doing and provides a chance to deepen communication.
For example, if the prompt is “cat,” one person might get down on all fours while the other mimics a scratching motion.
Since you’ll be posing without seeing each other’s expressions, try doing several prompts in a row.
If you record it on video, you can enjoy looking back on the challenge together afterward.
CC Lemon Game
Do you know the CC Lemon game where you perform a move after the shout of “CC~”? There are three moves: Lemon, where you hook your fingertips together; Haa, which attacks the Lemon; and Guard, which blocks attacks.
After the shout, everyone does a move—if they match, it’s a tie, and if one does Lemon and the other does Haa, the person who did Haa wins! It’s like rock-paper-scissors but with gestures.
It can be hard to grasp until you learn the moves, but once you start playing, it’s surprisingly fun and addictive! Give it a try!
Towel Balance Game
A balance game where each person holds one end of a towel, stands on one leg, and pulls to throw the other off balance.
The two face each other and start pulling at the signal; the game ends when either person puts their other foot down or moves away from their starting spot.
The key to maintaining balance is to stand with awareness of your entire sole and toes on the ground.
Keeping your back straight while controlling the towel helps prevent your axis from wobbling.
If holding the towel with both hands is difficult, trying it with just one hand is also fine.
It’s a fun game that gets you moving and brings you closer to a friend or partner.