Recommended games and activities for five people
We’re introducing games and activities you can play with five people!
Whether it’s the number of close friends you hang out with or the size of a group you’re assigned on a field trip, we’ve gathered recommended games for those times when you’ve got a team of five and aren’t sure what to play.
There are options that use items like cards, smartphones, or game consoles, as well as ones you can enjoy with no equipment at all.
They’re perfect not only when you get together with friends, but also for filling small pockets of free time.
Use the games and activities we introduce as a reference, and have fun playing together as a group of five!
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Recommended games and activities you can play with 5 people (1–10)
Finger Smash
Let me introduce a super simple game that’s guaranteed to liven things up anytime: “Yubisuma.” It goes by different names depending on the region, but the rules are easy.
First, decide the order by rock-paper-scissors; starting with the winner and going clockwise, each caller says “Ready, go!” and then guesses the total number of fingers everyone will hold up.
If the guess is exactly right, that player pulls back one hand.
Players keep pulling back one hand each time they guess correctly; once someone has both hands pulled back, they’re out as a winner, and the person left at the very end loses.
Timing your breath and when you call numbers, plus reading your opponents’ intentions, are key to the strategy.
Drawing Telephone Game
A drawing-telephone game that puts your art skills to the test! Draw a picture that matches the prompt and pass it along in order.
If the last person draws it accurately and guesses the prompt, you win.
It’s even more fun if you pick quirky prompts that aren’t easy to draw, like animals, landscapes, or people.
Even if you think you and your friends or clubmates know everything about each other, many of you may have never seen how the others draw.
Hidden talents might shine—or outrageous weaknesses might be exposed.
Either way, it’s guaranteed to be a blast!
UNO
How about playing UNO, the classic party game? It became popular in the United States in the 1970s.
The rules are simple: the first player to have zero cards in hand wins.
But once you try it, you’ll see it’s surprisingly deep.
That’s because there are many cards that let you disrupt your opponents’ actions, making reading others and keeping track of the flow of play essential.
Another hallmark is the penalty you get if you don’t declare “UNO!” when you’re down to your last card.
As a staple game, the dedicated card set is easy to find—not only online, but also at toy stores and variety shops in your neighborhood.
Recommended games and activities for 5 people (11–20)
Gesture Game
A gesture game where players split into a clue-giver and guessers, and the clue-giver expresses the prompt using only gestures.
It’s a widely loved game, ranging from classic themes like animals and celebrities to more challenging topics.
Because you get to enjoy the clue-giver’s unique movements, guessers can’t help but laugh, which helps bring everyone closer.
It’s recommended to take turns as the clue-giver and adjust the difficulty of the prompts.
Precisely because no voices are allowed, the effort to communicate draws attention.
Give this game a try for easy, casual communication—even with people you’re meeting for the first time.
The Game of Life
The Game of Life is a classic board game that up to five people can enjoy.
Its appeal lies in spinning the roulette and experiencing events based on the spaces you land on.
You can enjoy various life milestones like choosing a career, getting married, and buying a house.
Of course, you can compete with friends, but you can also sometimes cooperate and plan strategies together, which helps deepen communication.
Its ease of getting started might be one of the secrets to its popularity.
It’s perfect for group activities on field trips or school excursions.
You can enjoy it even in short breaks, so give it a try the next time you get together with friends.
The “Haa” game
Here’s an introduction to a game that’s perfect for the New Year holidays: it’s called “The ‘Haa’ Game.” Here’s how it works: each player draws a prompt card and then expresses “haa” in various situations.
For example, as a question, an exclamation, a surprised “haa,” or a feigned-ignorance “haa.” It even became a trend for a while, with famous TV personalities playing it on television.
Since it calls for acting skills, it can get really lively when you play with friends.
It’s easy to pick up, so give it a try!
Without Katakana
We use katakana for many names in daily life.
Katakana is familiar, but let’s try playing without using it.
First, show items that have katakana names and have people describe them without using katakana.
For example, for “pen,” someone might answer, “something you write with that isn’t a pencil.” It’s a game where you shift your thinking a bit, describe the given topic without using katakana, and have others guess.
If the topic is “game,” you could describe it as “something where you use your fingertips to control characters on the screen.” From there, everyone tries to guess the topic together.
Explaining with your current vocabulary makes for a good brain exercise.
