[For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities
We’re introducing recommended games and recreational activities for college students!
We’ve gathered a variety of options—from exciting activities perfect for club or seminar retreats and welcome/farewell parties, to simple games for small groups, and large-scale recreation suited for spacious venues like school grounds.
There are plenty of activities you can enjoy indoors too, so no need to worry about the weather on the day!
These can be used across many event scenarios, so feel free to use them as a reference.
Let’s play some classic recreational activities and trending games, and have a great time together!
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[For University Students] A Collection of Exciting Games and Recreational Activities (11–20)
New: When-Where-Who-What Game
A game where you shuffle cards on which everyone has written “when,” “where,” “who,” and “what they did,” and then make a single sentence.
It’s a fun activity on its own, but a new version is introduced where you actually carry out the sentence.
In this version, you omit “when,” write the names of the participating members under “who,” and for “what they did,” the key is to write actions that are just barely feasible in real life.
balloon volleyball
The game where you bat a balloon back and forth so it doesn’t fall—many of us strongly associate it with childhood play.
If a regular rally feels a bit too simple, try adding some twists to make the mind games more intense.
For example, gradually increase the number of balloons you use, or incorporate a Yamanote Line game into the rally so players have to think while they move.
Because the basic rules are so simple, there are countless potential variations to try.
Perfect Match Game
This is the “Nanto Pittari Game,” where you play by asking questions to get as close as possible to a target number.
Choose one person from the opposing team and ask a question related to numbers.
Add their answer to your team’s total, and the team that gets closer to the target number wins.
However, if you exceed the target number, you’re out.
The larger the target number, the harder the questions become.
Picture shiritori
It’s a game of picture shiritori that really puts your drawing skills to the test.
You draw a picture, show it to the next person, then they draw a picture that continues the shiritori chain from what they think your picture represents, and pass it on—repeating this process.
Of course, you must not explain anything with words.
You have to convey what you drew using only the picture so the next person can understand it and continue the chain.
Serious Tag
“Serious Tag” is, as the name suggests, a straightforward, no-frills game of tag (lol).
Nothing more, nothing less.
Since college students need a decent amount of space, playing tag on campus can be a lot of fun—just make sure you get permission first! You can add special rules if you like, but keeping it simple works too.
If you use smartphones to share the location and time of people who get caught, it cranks up the thrill even more, so give it a try!
Tag (or Tag, holding hands)
This is a game that adds a new element to the basic tag rule of running away so as not to get caught by the tagger: taggers hold hands and form a chain.
When someone is caught, they don’t switch roles; both become taggers and, from then on, chase the runners while holding hands.
Quick decisions are crucial for catching runners, and this becomes more challenging as the number of taggers grows.
With more players, new strategies become possible, so in addition to speed, teamwork is also an important factor.
Up-Down-Left-Right Game
A game where people split into readers and challengers: whenever the characters for “up, down, left, right” appear in the text, the challenger must turn to that direction.
Sounds easy, right? Don’t underestimate it.
You’re not actually looking at the characters, which makes it surprisingly hard.
Of course, '上下左右' can appear as place names or in both on'yomi and kun'yomi readings.
Can you face the correct direction every time?
Introducing someone else
In settings where many people are meeting for the first time, this “introducing others” activity is highly recommended.
Unlike self-introductions where you talk about yourself, here you introduce someone else to everyone.
The method is: first, pair up, and ask each other about your profiles—hometowns, hobbies, and so on.
Then, present what you learned to the rest of the group as if giving a short presentation.
Since you’ll be talking during the preparation stage, communication happens naturally, and because you’re introduced more objectively than in a self-introduction, others can present you to the group in a more appealing way.
Spy Tag
Heart-pounding excitement! Let’s play “Spy Tag”! It’s best to play inside a building that’s a bit larger than usual compared to regular tag.
And unlike ordinary tag, the real thrill comes from the presence of a spy.
The spy’s job is to secretly tell the tagger where everyone is hiding.
No one knows who the spy—chosen by drawing lots—actually is.
Magical Banana
Magical Banana” is a word-association game that became popular from an old TV show and has since become a classic pastime.
The game starts with “Magical Banana—when you say banana, you think of?” Players answer with something associated with banana, then pass it to the next person, and so on.
You’re out not only if your association is off, but also if you fail to keep up with the rhythm.