Challenge together! A roundup of word games for adults
For example, do you ever find yourself bored during a road trip with friends or at a get-together at someone’s place? If you’ve ever thought, “I wish there were something fun to do in little pockets of free time,” good news! In this article, we’ll introduce word games and activities we recommend for adults.
They’re great for killing time, and many are also fun to dive into more seriously.
They might even serve as a bit of brain training! Be sure to give them a try!
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- [Rec] Interesting! A roundup of wordplay games
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- [For Adults] Fun recreational games. Perfect for short breaks too!
- [For Adults] A roundup of psychological tests everyone can enjoy together
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- Fun games recommended for making friends with people you’ve just met
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- [For Adults] Make the Most of Your Free Time! Ideas to Kill Time
- Team-based recreational activities for adults that are fun even with large groups
- Tongue twisters that will make you laugh out loud! Super funny
- [Battle of Wits] Stimulate your intellectual curiosity! Quiz questions that get adults excited
- Games that liven up social and networking gatherings
Group Challenge! A Collection of Word Games for Adults (11–20)
Making palindromes
Let’s think about palindromes—sentences that read the same from top to bottom, or rather, forwards and backwards.
It’s fun for everyone to share the palindromes they come up with, but since it takes a good vocabulary and some technique, collaborating to build a palindrome together could be exciting too.
An easy method is to place a word and its reverse side by side, then add letters to construct a meaningful sentence.
Focusing too much on making the words work can lead to odd, whimsical situations—and that’s part of the fun.
When a long palindrome is completed through teamwork, you’ll likely feel a strong sense of unity and accomplishment.
Tongue Twister Showdown
When it comes to games that get everyone excited without using any props, tongue-twister battles are a classic.
Gather a variety of fun tongue twisters and face off.
You can present one prompt at a time and decide rankings each round, or set multiple prompts with different difficulty levels and see who lasts the longest.
It’s a good idea to write the prompts on a whiteboard.
Since tongue twisters are tough at first glance, consider adding practice time and other tweaks so everyone can enjoy the game.
Debate showdown
A debate showdown where you deliberately take different positions and argue a theme with logical persuasion.
There are also shows on the internet and TV where celebrities face off in debate matches, right? Memorable quotes from Hiroyuki during his debate showdowns also became a hot topic.
A debate showdown game, where you skillfully put what you think and feel into words, can help you develop your ability to communicate.
It’s also crucial to listen closely to what your opponent says and, when you’re on a team with opinions different from your own, to think objectively.
How about forming teams with a few friends and giving it a try?
Lyrics Shiritori Game
A fun game where you play shiritori using song lyrics.
Sing a line from a song, then continue with lyrics from another song that start with the last character of the previous line.
It’s great for everyone from kids to adults—you’ll recall familiar tunes and discover new ones.
Not only for people who love singing, it’s also a chance to encounter songs you don’t know.
Perfect for karaoke, parties, and school activities.
Even those who aren’t confident singers will naturally smile—simple yet surprisingly deep.
Put your musical knowledge and creativity to use and have fun playing!
Brain Matching Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@sanwa_system/video/7478987592403406087Let me introduce a brain-sync game where teamwork is key.
When a prompt is given, everyone should think of a single word that matches the prompt and then say it out loud one letter at a time.
Quick judgment and imagining what words others might come up with are the keys to success.
Even if you don’t all match, the moment you compare answers and see what everyone was thinking is guaranteed to be exciting.
Give it a try and have fun together!
No Voiced-Sound Game
Voiced sounds refer to “muddy” sounds like da and ji.
For example, daijoubu and gomen are words that contain voiced sounds.
This game is about having a conversation while banning these voiced sounds.
When you talk, choose a topic and discuss it.
Saying you won’t talk is not allowed.
Remove the voiced sounds and keep the conversation going.
If you answer reflexively, you’ll end up speaking as usual, so be careful.
Announcing that there will be a penalty game for each voiced sound used will make it more thrilling!
Challenge together! A collection of word games for adults (21–30)
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.