[Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
When a large group gathers indoors and you think, “Let’s do something fun!”, do you ever find yourselves surprisingly stuck for ideas? In this article, we introduce simple games that are perfect for getting everyone excited, including team battles and cooperative play.
From games that require almost no props to ones you can play easily with everyday items, we’ve gathered activities ideal for indoor recreation.
Games that you progress through by cooperating naturally spark conversation and deepen relationships! There are also slightly brain-teasing games that adults will especially enjoy, so be sure to give them a try together.
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Classic Board Games and Card Games (11–20)
Infinite Spot the Difference
Here’s a fresh take on a spot-the-difference game that you can play virtually infinitely by changing the combinations of cards.
Looking at the left and right cards that are shown, players take turns calling out one difference each.
You must name a difference within the time limit.
If you fail to do so in time, you sit out the next turn.
When everyone times out, that round ends, and points are awarded to those who found the most differences.
Then, swap one of the two cards with another card and keep searching for differences.
After several rounds, the game ends, and the player with the highest score wins.
Othello
Board games that are easy to play indoors are popular, aren’t they? A classic among such board games is Othello.
It’s such a well-known game that an explanation of the rules might be unnecessary, but just in case: you place black and white discs on the board and flip the ones you’ve sandwiched.
These days there are Othello smartphone apps, so it’s become easy to play.
Card game ‘Robo 77 (LOBO 77)’
Players take turns playing numbered cards and adding to a running total.
If you make the total reach 77 or higher, or land on a double (matching digits like 11, 22, etc.), you lose.
Some cards have negative numbers, some double the total, and some reverse the direction of play.
It looks simple, but it actually involves a lot of reading your opponents! The pace is brisk, which pulls you in and can get surprisingly intense.
Although it’s themed as “for adults,” it’s also great for families with elementary school kids since it’s good practice for arithmetic.
Jenga
Jenga is a classic game that’s great for playing indoors.
It may be a classic, but once you try it, it always gets everyone excited—there’s a reason it’s a staple! These days, there are all kinds of Jenga variations on the market, like Love Jenga that’s perfect for mixers and Punishment Jenga for forfeits.
Choosing one that suits the occasion will make things even more fun.
chess
If you’re looking for a brainy recreation, I also recommend chess.
Chess is similar to shogi in terms of rules, but there are differences, such as the types of pieces and the fact that you can’t reuse captured pieces.
How about inviting a friend and practicing together as beginners? Plus, chessboards and pieces look cool, so they make great interior decor—you can enjoy just having them on display at home.
Trump Card Game “F Card”
When you get together with friends and find there’s nothing to do—no games everyone can play—playing cards come to the rescue.
Almost every household has a deck, and you can easily pick one up at a 100-yen shop, making them a go-to for casual fun.
This game uses a standard deck of cards.
Players lay down cards from their hands; the one with the lower number loses and takes all the cards on the table.
Anyone who runs out of cards in their hand is safe and out of the game.
It’s a simple game, but it gets exciting and surprisingly tricky as you factor in your opponent’s and your own remaining cards.
You can even play with just two people.
Nanjamonja Game
Nanjamonja is a board game where you give names to characters from the Nanjamonja Tribe and play.
Players take turns flipping one card at a time from a face-down deck.
If the character is appearing for the first time, you can name it however you like.
The next time the same character appears, quickly say the name you decided.
Whoever says it first gets all the cards in the middle.
When all the cards are gone, the player with the most cards wins.
People’s unique naming styles make it a simple yet super exciting game!
Monopoly
Monopoly is a board game enjoyed all around the world.
At first glance it looks like a simple roll-and-move game, but it’s actually a rather ruthless game where you grow your assets through real estate deals and drive other players into bankruptcy! When you land on spaces like utilities, properties, or railroads, you can buy them, and other players who land on those spaces must pay rent.
There’s no finish line, so you can decide when the game ends—such as when there are no more properties to buy or someone goes bankrupt.
Setting a time limit and declaring the richest player at the end the winner works too! The rules are simple, but beneath the surface it’s a slightly scary game for grown-ups.
The Game of Life
There are many games you can play indoors, and among them, I bet many people love The Game of Life.
These days, various versions of The Game of Life are on the market, so try choosing one that suits you best.
Even if you like it but got bored because the outcomes felt similar, a new version can make it feel fresh again.
Go and Gomoku
Many people have experience playing shogi, but it seems fewer have tried go.
In fact, compared to shogi, which has many different pieces, go has simpler rules, so beginners can pick it up more quickly.
There’s also a way to play go called gomoku (five-in-a-row); its rules are even simpler and games end quickly, so it’s a good choice when you want to play in a short time.