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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- Brain-teasing game roundup
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- Team-based recreational activities for adults that are fun even with large groups
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Recommended games and activities for 5 people (21–30)
Beef Tongue Game
The brain-teasing Gyutan game is perfect for group play, where focus and memory are key.
Players sit in a circle and say “Gyu” out loud, then on the “tan” part, they clap without speaking.
Pay extra attention because the final “tan” comes in succession.
After one round, move to the second, third, and so on, increasing the number of final “tan” claps by one each time.
As the rounds progress, the number of “tan” claps increases, so remember the count and try not to make mistakes.
Once you get used to it, picking up the tempo can make it even more exciting.
Pin Pon Pan Game
The “Ping-Pong-Pan Game” is simple but surprisingly confusing.
Participants form a circle facing inward and decide who goes first.
Once everyone says the starting chant together, the game begins.
Starting from the first person and going clockwise, each person says “Pin,” “Pon,” “Pan” in order.
The person who says “Pan” points to nominate the next person.
The nominated person then continues from there, again going clockwise with “Pin,” “Pon,” “Pan.” Even though the rules are simple, people often end up pointing on something other than “Pan”…!
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!
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.
Fun for elementary school kids too! The Rule Game
A “rule game” where you infer the underlying rule and answer.
For example, raise your index finger and say, “This is 1.” Next, raise your index and middle fingers and say, “This is 2.” Finally, raise your index, middle, and ring fingers and say, “This is 3.” Then raise only your index finger and ask, “What is this?” Most participants will probably answer “1,” but the correct answer is “3.” The rule isn’t the shape of the fingers; it’s the demonstratives: “this is, this is, this.” Try coming up with various problems and have fun with it.
KY game
Participants take turns suggesting a prompt, and everyone simultaneously strikes a pose inspired by that prompt in this “KY game.” Anyone whose pose doesn’t match with anyone else receives a minus point; in the end, the person with the most minus points is deemed “KY,” meaning they failed to read the room.
The more participants there are, the more complex it becomes and the more clearly KY tendencies stand out, making it a lively party game.
Since it requires no equipment, you can start it right away even at an outdoor gathering.
Give it a try!
Double-Double Fight Game
For a game that really gets six people hyped, I recommend the Double-Double Fight Game.
It’s a tempo-based game played to the rhythm of CANDY TUNE’s song “Double-Double FIGHT!” where players take turns saying random words in sequence.
For example, if you can smoothly say short words like “makeup,” “haiku,” or “part-time job” in 2- or 3-mora units to the song’s beat, you succeed.
If you hesitate or fall off the rhythm, you’re out.
The rules are very straightforward, and the appeal is that you’re not bound by a theme—you can say whatever comes to mind.
Every time someone slips up, everyone laughs, the tempo picks up, and the atmosphere instantly brightens.
You don’t need any preparation; as long as you have a feel for words and timing, you’ll have fun, making it a game that anyone can enjoy regardless of age or gender.
