[Rec] Interesting! A roundup of wordplay games
When you hear “word games,” do you mostly think of shiritori? It’s something everyone must have played as a child.
But if you take a look at this page, you’ll see there are actually quite a few types of word games.
In this article, we’ll introduce some fun word games and games that use language! They’re perfect for quick games with friends when you have some spare time, for recreation periods in preschools and elementary schools, and as icebreakers for working adults.
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- Challenge together! A roundup of word games for adults
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
- [For Adults] Fun recreational games. Perfect for short breaks too!
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation games.
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Tongue twisters that will make you laugh out loud! Super funny
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
- [Recreation] Challenge! A roundup of tongue twisters recommended for elementary school students
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
[Rec] Interesting! Wordplay Game Compilation (21–30)
Mozzarella Cheese Game
The “Mozzarella Cheese Game” is an easy game you can play without any props.
The rules are simple: take turns saying “mozzarella cheese.” However, when it’s your turn, you have to say it with more enthusiasm than the person before you.
If you start off too hyped, it can get exhausting, so it’s best to begin a bit subdued.
That said, there’s also a strategy of deliberately starting with high energy to make it harder for those after you! Try playing it in a place where it’s okay to be loud.
Atama-Oshiri Game
Let me introduce a fun group game called the Head-and-Tail Game.
The quizmaster announces the first letter (head) and the last letter (tail).
Respondents must quickly think of a word that fits and answer on the spot.
It’s recommended to start with an easy theme—like fruits or vehicles—before asking questions.
It’s a game that tests your flashes of inspiration and your ability to make instant decisions.
Compete to see how many you can answer while having fun.
If you keep a steady rhythm by clapping along as you answer, you’ll get that exciting, time-pressured feeling as you participate.
Onomatopoeia Game
@user92800579326613 We played an onomatopoeia game and it was way too funny lol
♬ original sound – Justistar / Justistar Fan – Justistar / Justistar Fan
Word association is a game you can jump into and enjoy right away.
It gets even more fun if you turn it into an onomatopoeia game where you answer with sound effects for whatever comes to mind.
For example, if the previous person says “train,” you could reply with “clackety-clack.” Another tip is to keep giving the prompt “computer” repeatedly before switching to a different prompt.
Suddenly changing the prompt creates a sense of urgency in the answers.
There’s also a tense, exciting anticipation about when the prompt will change or when someone will change it.
Liven things up with unique prompts and onomatopoeia!
Infinite Shiritori
@hannariz.haru Only people with a really good memory can do this, lol.#HannariestranslationTranslation
♬ Original song – Hannaries – Hannaries
This is a game of shiritori—where you take the last character of a word and connect it to a new word—that adds a memory element.
Instead of just saying the next word, you also line up all the words that have been said so far and then add the next one.
As the turns progress, it gets harder because you have to recall the sequence of how you got to the current word.
If you keep the turns moving to a rhythm, the difficulty increases but the rhythm helps you remember, so that pattern is recommended.
Abbreviation guessing game
https://www.tiktok.com/@oideyo_gafter/video/7302724727364259073To keep everyday conversations flowing smoothly, we often have chances to use abbreviations.
This simple game turns those abbreviations into quiz prompts, asking players to guess the original terms.
The key is to play to a rhythm, using the pressure of needing instant answers to ramp up the difficulty.
Some abbreviations are even more common than their full forms, so incorporating those well could spark deeper interest and knowledge about language.
When a pig hit a pig, the pig that got hit hit back the pig that hit it, so the pig that hit and the pig that got hit both collapsed.
It’s a comedic tongue twister that depicts a quarrel between pigs.
At first glance it’s hard to follow, so let’s split it into two parts.
In the first half, “When a pig hit another pig, the pig that got hit hit back the pig that hit it,” it shows a pig striking another and getting counterattacked.
The second half, “The pig that hit and the pig that was hit both toppled over,” depicts both of them falling down, ending in a draw.
If you clearly distinguish between “buta” (pig) and “butta” (hit), your success rate will improve.
Wasshoi Game
@kiki_holdings A quick game for spare moments. Wasshoi Game. It gets super hard as the character count increases.
♬ Original Song – kiki_holdings – kiki_holdings
In the “Wasshoi Game,” one person picks a kana from the Japanese syllabary and declares, “Wasshoi [kana]!” Everyone raises their pinky finger like in the finger-counting game “Yubi Suma,” and you count the total number of raised pinkies.
Players then think of a word whose length matches that number of letters and that ends with the chosen kana; whoever shouts it out first with “___ wasshoi!” advances.
For example, if the chosen kana is ‘sa’ and there are four pinkies raised, someone might say, “Arekusa wasshoi!” It’s a playful hand game that’s both funny and great brain training.
