Lovely Play & Recreation

Fun two-player games recommended that you can play using conversation only

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!
10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.

All you need are your voices! Here are two-player games you can play using conversation alone.

We’ve gathered games you can enjoy with a friend, a partner, or a parent and child—any time there are two of you.

No props required, so they’re perfect for spare moments or even during a call! From classics like word-chain games to language-based challenges that make you think a little, there’s plenty to choose from.

If the two of you take your time and enjoy these conversation-only games, you’re sure to grow closer! Pick your favorites and give them a try!

Action and experiential games (1–10)

[Hand Play] Mochitsuki (Rice Cake Pounding)

Mochitsuki hand game – a slightly challenging hand play for two to enjoy – #play #childcare #nurseryTeacher #children #atHomePlay #handPlay #handPlaySong #games #NewYear #January #December #indoors #preschoolers #video

[Hand Play] Mochitsuki (Rice Cake Pounding)

This is a fun hand-play game for two, performed to a song themed around mochi pounding, where you move your hands rhythmically in sync with the music.

One person keeps a slow, vertical clap to mark the beat, while the other fits various movements into the gaps between those claps.

You clap above and below the keeping-beat hands, slip your hands through the space, and so on—testing your sense of rhythm and speed.

Because it’s simple, you can enjoy lots of variations, like switching roles or gradually increasing the song’s tempo.

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Yes, of course—game.

Stray Kids “Yes! Of course! GAME” (Special program airing to commemorate the release of JAPAN 1st EP)

Yes, of course—game.

It’s a simple game where you respond to emotionally stirring remarks from the other person with nothing but “Yes! Of course!” If you get flustered by what they say, you lose.

The goal is to keep a straight face and stay calm no matter what words you’re hit with.

It also matters how well the speaker knows their opponent—they’ll try to throw you off by carefully choosing content and using nuanced phrasing.

It’s also recommended to slip small jokes into the lines and steer the exchange in a humorous direction.

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CC Lemon Game

[Hand Game] What Is the ‘CC Lemon Game 🍋’ That Elementary School Kids Are Obsessed With?

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!

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Beef Tongue Game

A simple, no-props party game: the 'Gyutan (Beef Tongue) Game'

Beef Tongue Game

The “gyū-tan game” is played by clapping your joined hands in time with the chant, “Cow, tongue, cow, tongue, cow, tongue, tongue.” You don’t clap on “cow,” and you only clap on “tongue.” After each full round, add one more “tongue” to the latter half of the chant.

If you miss the rhythm or get the number of “tongues” wrong, you lose.

With two players the turns come around quickly, which makes it more confusing and even more exciting! Switch your brain into high gear and enjoy the delightful chaos!

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Gesture Game

I tried the Animal Gesture Game!!

Gesture Game

Let’s play a gesture game that’s fun for small or large groups.

It’s perfect for school or at home when you want a quick game—no props, no prep, just start whenever you like.

The rules are simple: it’s an easy guessing game, so you can jump right in anytime.

You try to guess what the other person is acting out, and you’ll likely burst into laughter at the funny moves from the person giving the prompts.

It should also be great for passing the time during long waits outdoors.

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Rock-Paper-Scissors Balance Challenge

[Kids’ Exercises You Can Do at Home] Rock-Paper-Scissors Balance & Power Challenge (For Preschoolers to Lower Elementary)

Rock-Paper-Scissors Balance Challenge

It’s a game where, depending on the rock-paper-scissors result, each player balances in a specific way, aiming to become more stable than the opponent.

If you win rock-paper-scissors, the basic posture is standing on one leg for 5 seconds.

If you lose, you spin 3 times before taking the one-legged stance, and if it’s a tie, you spin 2 times before the stance.

If you can maintain the one-legged stance, you proceed to the next round of rock-paper-scissors.

The more you lose in a row, the harder it becomes to keep your balance.

A fun twist is that even if you don’t win the rock-paper-scissors, you might still win overall if your sense of balance is good.

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Finger Catch

[Must-See for Nursery Teachers] 5 Hand-Play Games You Can Do on the Spot

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.

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