Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for college students
University students are always surrounded by new connections, like in seminars and clubs.
Many of you may be looking for games that everyone can play together to build rapport with new members.
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended indoor activities and recreation games that college students can enjoy.
There are also games you can play online, so they’re perfect for remote classes too! There are plenty of games you can use when you’ve got a bit of free time with friends, so be sure to check them out!
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Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for college students (11–20)
Nanjamonja in English
@aihaori Nanjamonja game in EnglishNanjamonjaNanjamonja GameParty game @miminoosie
♪ Original song – Ai Haoriai – Haoriai Children's English Language Education Specialist
The classic table game “Nanjamonja” is the one where you give names to the creatures depicted on the cards using your own sense, and when the same card appears again, you try to quickly call out its name, right? It’s a game where you can enjoy variations like giving hard-to-remember names, but how about intentionally adding a twist to the flow itself? If you play with rules like “do it in English” or “Japanese is forbidden,” you can enjoy it at a higher difficulty level.
Not only can you get creative when naming, but tactics like steering the conversation so your opponent’s English falls apart become key points on the road to victory.
Gesture Game
A classic gesture game that works as a recreation activity and can be played without worrying too much about the number of participants.
Only the person doing the gestures sees the prompt, then uses their whole body to act it out so the others can guess.
You might find yourself wanting to blurt out words, but try to convey everything through movement without speaking.
You can tweak the rules—like competing in teams—and it’s also perfect for playing online.
It might even get oddly more exciting online than in person!
Russian roulette
It’s the classic “Russian Roulette” game! Prepare several of the same food, like pizza or takoyaki.
Only one piece is the loser—it’s extra spicy or sour.
In other words, whoever gets the bad one gets an instant penalty.
Some karaoke places even have it on the menu, so it’s easy to enjoy.
You can also make your own with mustard or wasabi.
Real-Object Shiritori
How about trying a game that’s fun both in person and online: “real-object shiritori”? It’s not the usual shiritori—you bring items that are actually around you and connect words using those objects.
If you play online, you’re at home in your own room, so you know exactly what’s available, which makes it easier to play.
It might also reveal what you have at home—like, “You collect things like this?”—and those unexpected hobbies could spark even more excitement.
Rhythm 4 Game
“Rhythm 4 Game” is a rhythm game that gained popularity after being featured on the TV program ‘Let’s Go to School!’ Many people who are now around college age probably have fond memories of getting hooked on it during their elementary or middle school years.
You can play this game anywhere, and it doesn’t require any special preparation, so it’s easy to enjoy.
It also works with a fairly large number of people, so try it out in various situations.
Yamanote Line game
The classic “Yamanote Line Game” is a great pick for group dates and drinking parties.
The basic rule is that players take turns saying words that fit a chosen theme; anyone who runs out of ideas is eliminated.
It’s a popular game with simple rules, so it’s easy to play in any situation.
If you’re with people who share similar hobbies, try going for deeper, more niche topics.
Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for college students (21–30)
Armony Game
This is the song-based game “Ah-mony Game,” which was broadcast on Fuji TV’s “AI-TV” and has become very popular.
It’s a game where you guess whether the parent’s sung “Ah—” is aiko, Seiko Matsuda, or Mizue Takada, and then everyone sings together at once.
It feels great when everyone is perfectly in sync, doesn’t it?