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!
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation games.
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- Recreation Ideas That Truly Excite High School Students! A Fun Collection of Activities
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- Kill time while waiting or stuck in traffic! A roundup of games four people can play
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [For University Students] A Roundup of Fun Games and Recreational Activities
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
- Team-based recreational activities for adults that are fun even with large groups
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
Recommended games and activities you can play with 5 people (31–40)
The more people there are, the harder it gets! Finger Catch
The “Finger Catch Game,” which trains your reflexes and lets everyone have fun, is played with everyone standing in a circle.
Put the index finger of your right hand into the open palm of the person to your right, just lightly touching it.
In turn, participants chant, “Ka, ka, ka, catch,” and at the moment someone says “catch,” everyone tries to pull out the finger they had inserted.
At the same time, you must quickly grab the finger that’s been inserted into your own open hand before it escapes.
If you fail to pull your finger out or fail to catch your neighbor’s finger, you’re out.
The last person remaining wins.
The exact timing of saying “catch” is key.
It’s a game that tests concentration, timing, and careful observation of others.
A number-guessing game that everyone can enjoy, from children to adults
The number-guessing game, where communication skills and powers of observation are key, is a game that large groups can enjoy.
The rules are simple: on the cue of “Ready, go!”, players take turns calling out the next number.
Each person also decides, at that same cue, whether to stand or sit.
If the number called does not match the number of people standing, the game ends there.
Because you have to observe others and decide which number to call while watching your opponents, the key is not to succumb to tension or pressure.
Give it a try!
Guess the person game
A recommended guessing game for deepening communication is one where participants get lively conversation going and make new discoveries about each other.
The person posing the question should first choose a very well-known person as the subject.
The respondents ask the questioner about what kind of person it might be while imagining the answer, and the questioner should reply only with “yes” or “no.” If it’s too difficult, it’s also helpful to give simple hints, such as the person’s gender or a basic characteristic.
Set a time limit, and try it as individual or team play, adjusting to the ages of the group.
Jump into a rock-paper-scissors game!
The “Rock-Paper-Scissors Jump Game,” which combines rock-paper-scissors with jumping, is a playful activity that helps children learn how to use their bodies while potentially improving their athletic ability.
Create waiting spots on the left and right, and have participants play rock-paper-scissors with the person next to them.
The winner then jumps while moving from their current waiting spot to the one on the opposite side.
It’s a simple game that repeats this process, so any child old enough to play rock-paper-scissors can join.
For the jumping styles, start with a “rock” jump keeping both feet together, then move to a “scissors” jump.
After that, switch to a gallop and finally to a “paper” jump.
Don’t make a sound! The Silent Game
The no-noise game, where even the slightest sound means you’re out, is a fun activity for everyone from small children to adults.
You can use anything as the subject, but simple, everyday items like plastic cups make preparation easy and help you enjoy it casually.
Try focusing your attention and being extremely careful to avoid making sounds while getting creative with tasks like stacking paper cups, wrapping with tissues, lining up juice cans, or folding aluminum foil.
Once you get used to the game, it’s also recommended to add a time limit or use paper bags to increase the difficulty.
No Going Home Until We Get 10 (Perfect Score)
This is a popular TV show segment where participants keep eating the items they guessed until they correctly identify the top 10 best-selling products at a chain store.
Adjust the number of items to eat based on the number of participants and whether anyone is a big eater, and aim to clear it as quickly as possible.
If someone already knows the correct answers, they can join only by eating without having the right to guess, so everyone present can enjoy it.
Since this takes time, it’s better to do it as takeout rather than in the store.
Who did what, when, and where game
A game where each participant prepares a slip of paper with “when,” “where,” “who,” and “what they did,” and you create short sentences by randomly combining them.
The more people there are, the more patterns you get, so it’s especially fun with five or more players.
There’s no winning or losing—the goal is to enjoy how funny the sentences become—so it’s suitable for everyone from young children to adults.
All you need to start are slips of paper for the prompts, pencils, and a box to shuffle the papers, making it an easy, casual game to enjoy.
A command game popular with both children and adults
It’s a fast-paced game that tests your listening skills and split-second decision-making.
The rules are very clear: if someone says, “Order: do XX,” you perform the action; but if they say only “Do XX” without the word “Order,” you must not move.
If you react by mistake, you’re out, so observation and concentration are essential.
The teacher’s feints will spark laughter across the classroom, creating a fun atmosphere.
Despite the simple rules, there’s a lot of strategy in the rhythm and timing, and it stays exciting no matter how many times you play.
Move or stay still—the instant you decide determines the winner.
Number-Taking Corps
Let’s play “Kazutori-dan,” a game where you mustn’t mess up numbers and units.
Players sit facing each other in a circle and, going clockwise, call out numbers and units to the rhythm of “Boom-boom! ◯◯.” For example, if the first player declares the theme by saying “Boom-boom! apple,” the second player responds, “Boom-boom! 1 piece,” and then declares the next theme.
The theme can stay as apple or be changed.
If the theme changes to banana, the third player should say, “Boom-boom! 2 bunches.” Repeat this, and anyone who gets the unit or number wrong loses.
Cockroach Poker
A slightly unusual game where you don’t decide the winner—you decide the last-place player.
It’s called “poker,” but despite the name, it’s a completely different, fresh style of card game.
Players pass cards around while doing a bit of acting—saying things like “This is a stink bug” or “This is a bat”—so those with a flair for performance might have an advantage.
You lose if you run out of cards or if you end up collecting four of the same card.
Enjoy the bluffing and mind games as you play.