Easy-to-play games that liven up your drive
A fun road trip or a drive on the way to hang out.
At first you’re excited about the destination, but as the time in the car gets longer, you start to get bored, right?
In this article, we’ll introduce fun games you can enjoy during long drives.
They’re perfect for keeping kids entertained and for getting closer with friends or your partner!
These games are easy and convenient for anyone—from adults to children—so be sure to try them out the next time you’re in the car!
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- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
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Easy, fun games to liven up your drive (21–30)
Rhythm 4
The “Rhythm 4” segment from the variety show “Go to School!” is a game that uses hand motions and names.
You start with the phrase, “Let’s go with the rhythm that begins with [Name]!” Put the first player’s name in the brackets.
After saying the name of the person you’re passing it to, say a number from 1 to 4.
The person whose name is called then says their own name that many times.
If you miss the rhythm or say the wrong number, you lose.
When playing, don’t forget to tap the desk, clap your hands, and make the two-thumbs-up gesture.
You can also add various extra rules like “Cheke” or “Bomba-ye,” so try different versions and have fun!
Super Mario game
Super Mario Game is a perfect time-killer that tests your memory and sense of rhythm.
Starting from the first player, you say the words in this order: “Sū,” “Pā,” “Mari,” “O,” “Sūpā,” “Mario,” “Super Mario.” Then, the next player says “coin,” like the sound effect when Mario collects a coin.
With each turn, the number of “coin” repetitions increases.
Anyone who says the words out of order, misses the rhythm, or gets the number of “coins” wrong loses.
Arithmetic game with both hands
This is a game where you use both hands to show the answer to a given arithmetic expression.
For example, if someone says “What’s 5 + 1?”, you make 6 with your fingers.
You can hold up three fingers on each hand, or five on one hand and one on the other—either is fine.
You’re free to choose, but syncing the answer that pops into your head with your hands is trickier than you’d think.
That’s exactly why it gets so exciting! The rules are simple, so it’s great for helping kids practice math, too.
If you’re the one giving the problems, make sure the answers don’t exceed 10!
Two-letter shiritori
Would you like to try playing two-letter shiritori? In regular shiritori, you connect the last letter of the previous word to the first letter of your word regardless of length, and the person who uses a word that ends with “n” loses.
This version adds one more rule: you can only answer with two-letter words.
It’s perfect for when regular shiritori is too easy and boring.
If you want to make it even harder, try banning repeated words or keeping a steady rhythm while playing.
It’s a real test of your vocabulary!
In conclusion
I introduced some games to make drive time more fun—did any catch your eye? You don’t need any special equipment, so there’s no worry about carrying extra stuff.
Play a game on your fun outing and enjoy the journey itself, too!