[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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- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
- Games to Liven Up the Freshers’ Welcome Party
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- Break the ice with intros and team battles! Party games to spice up your welcome event
[For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities (61–70)
Match the answers game
It’s a “Match the Answer” game where someone gives a prompt, and you try to match the answer that the person who gave the prompt would choose.
For example, if the prompt is “What’s the best ramen shop?”, you write down the ramen shop you think that person would say.
It’s a game that tests how well you understand a close friend’s likes and hobbies.
Here’s hoping a streak of wrong answers doesn’t create an awkward atmosphere (lol).
U.S.A. game
This is the “U.S.A.
Game,” a craze sparked by the comedy duo Chocolate Planet.
Players say American ‘relatable facts’ in time with a segment of DA PUMP’s hit song “U.S.A.” If you miss the rhythm or your statement isn’t a true ‘relatable’ point, you’re out.
You’re also out if what you say isn’t widely known.
A game where you work with your teammates to guess your own good qualities
This game might make you a little shy or embarrassed.
It’s a game where everyone works together to guess each person’s good qualities.
Beforehand, ask people who aren’t joining the game—like friends you’re close with—to share positive traits about the participants.
Then, everyone discusses and consults with each other to figure out what’s great about each person and guess their charm points.
Still, it’s a bit embarrassing to say things that sound like you’re praising yourself—and if you slip up, it might stick in everyone’s memory from now on (lol).
No-Laughing ○○ Showdown
“Don’t Laugh: ○○ Showdown” is a game inspired by NTV’s iconic ‘Absolutely No Laughing’ series.
As the name suggests, the only rule is that you must not laugh.
It sounds easy, but once you’re told not to laugh, you can’t help it! The game’s excitement hinges on how surreal and offbeat the material is.
Prepare funny videos of your friends or deliberately do half-baked impressions to make the participants crack up! If the penalties are too mild, the game gets sluggish, so make sure to prepare some tough punishments in advance!
Intuitive Tasting
Put on a blindfold and pinch your nose with a clothespin or something similar so you can’t smell, then try to guess what you’re eating.
It sounds easy, but with your eyes covered and no sense of smell, you’re left with only texture—and you really can’t tell what it is.
How exciting it gets depends on the foods you choose.
It’s funny how things can seem like something completely different!
Rotating Shiritori 21
This is a game where you use a 21-square grid and play shiritori within the grid.
In the end, the last letter must be the same as the very first character you wrote.
It’s a bit challenging, but it’s a game you can enjoy by showing your boards to people around you.
Cash-Grab Rock-Paper-Scissors
It’s a “Cash-Grab Rock-Paper-Scissors” game where your money increases each time you win.
Beat A and you get 100 yen, beat B and you get 1,000 yen, beat C and you get 10,000 yen—the amounts level up as you go.
But here, it’s a dreamy twist: you earn the amount you won multiplied by the number of people you beat! The thrill rises with every victory.
Becoming rich in one go might not be just a dream!
The King Who Doesn’t React
This is a game where players compete to see how well they can maintain a no-reaction face no matter what happens.
Using familiar gag items from variety shows—like electric shock gadgets—or challenges like inhaling pepper, the key is how well you can suppress reactions that almost anyone would instinctively have.
If you can’t get special items like shock gadgets or don’t want to make a mess with pepper, you can substitute everyday things, such as eating an extremely spicy cup of instant noodles.
It’s a game that’s fun whether you break and react or manage to endure—definitely one to try.
Make only your target laugh game
I think most people have seen the year-end staple TV program, Downtown’s “Absolutely No Laughing” series or Amazon Prime Video’s “Documental.” They’re shows where the only rule is “don’t laugh.” Let’s try a twist on that: a game where you aim to make just one targeted person laugh.
On campus or in the dorms, everyone teams up to make the chosen person laugh.
Of course, the person who laughs loses and swaps out with the next person.
The winner is the one who holds out the longest without laughing.
It’ll be even more exciting if the winner gets a prize—like everyone buying them a drink or some other reward!
No equipment needed! Air catch ball
“Air Catch,” a make-believe game of tossing an imaginary ball without any props, is a very simple team-building activity.
Participants form a circle.
Someone calls another person’s name while miming a throw of the “air ball,” and the next person pretends to catch it and continues in the same way.
The rules are: make eye contact and call the person’s name before you throw.
Once everyone gets used to it, you can increase the difficulty by tossing multiple balls at once or speeding things up.
It builds communication skills and concentration and gets people laughing, making it great for training icebreakers and strengthening team cohesion.
It takes about 5–15 minutes, so give it a try!
