Handmade games: DIY craft ideas you can make and play
We’ve put together a collection of DIY game ideas you can make and play.
Crafts are great not only for indoor play, but also for activities in childcare settings and as summer break projects for elementary school students.
And if what you’re making is a game, kids can enjoy playing with it even after the crafting is done—which they’re sure to love.
In this article, we introduce a variety of games you can make by hand.
If you’re looking for handmade game ideas, feel free to use this as a reference.
Since they’re handmade, it’s also fun to set your own rules and difficulty levels!
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Handmade games: Craft ideas you can make and play (91–100)
smart ball
Smart Ball is a playful craft that lets you build your very own game while getting excited about the motion of a rolling marble.
Cut lumber to fit a perforated board to create a frame.
Add an incline beneath the board so the marble rolls more easily.
For the launcher, use nails and rubber bands to make a pull-and-release mechanism that shoots the marble.
Attach a plastic sheet on top of the board to enhance the sound and feel as the marble rolls.
Place small pegs called dowels to add unpredictability to the marble’s path.
With creative targets and decorations, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind original Smart Ball game.
It’s a fun way to nurture creativity and observation skills as you play.
Cardboard vending machine
Let’s introduce a cardboard vending machine that looks just like the real thing.
Insert a coin and press a button, and a drink will come out from inside.
Gather the materials—milk cartons, cardboard, bubble gum, rubber bands, paper clips, plastic sheets, tape, glue, a ruler, scissors, and a utility knife—and let’s get building.
We’ll start by making the internal parts of the cardboard vending machine.
The key is to carefully measure each part and cut it to the correct size before assembling.
Measure the base cardboard as well to ensure it’s the right size to hold the drinks, then build accordingly.
It also sounds fun to make your own original drinks!
Marble Maze
Let me introduce a marble maze that’s so much fun to roll around.
Get your materials ready: a plastic board, colored construction paper, colored pencils, a ruler, a cutting mat, scissors, double-sided tape, clear tape, a ballpoint pen, and marbles.
Cut the plastic board to create the base shape of the maze.
It’s best to assemble the base by attaching pieces around the edges.
For the maze course, cut the board and adjust the sizes as you build.
Create traps by cutting construction paper and attaching them along the course.
Adding tunnels will make it even more exciting.
Roll your marble and enjoy aiming for the goal!
Wobbly Ghost
Let’s toss shuriken at the ghosts! Here’s a fun idea for wobbling ghosts.
Ghosts are usually seen as scary, but let’s use construction paper to make cute ghost targets! You’ll need balloons, construction paper, twine, ribbon (raffia/suzuran tape), scissors, glue, tape, and colored pens.
The ghosts hanging from the twine sway back and forth, so it’ll be tricky to aim with your shuriken.
Making the ghosts together with your kids is part of the fun, too!
Pitfall Game
Let’s make a simple pitfall game you can enjoy using an empty tissue box.
Mark both ends of the box, cut them, then tape them back together to restore the original box shape.
Draw circles on the surface of the box and cut holes with scissors.
These holes become pitfalls, and the key to the game is to carefully maneuver so the marble doesn’t fall in.
If you set a rule to cover the marble with a case and move it from start to goal, it becomes a simple yet deep game.
The fine hand movements help train finger dexterity, and you can also expect benefits for concentration and decision-making.
By adjusting the crafting method, you can tune the difficulty, making it a game with a wide range of enjoyable ideas.
A soccer game you can make with straws
How about making a simple toy out of straws so you can enjoy soccer at home? It’s a fun, engaging game you can play together with friends or family! Another great point is that you can make it using familiar materials like an empty box and some straws.
Use the empty box to create the field and the straws to build the goals.
Attach straws to the player pieces you cut out from the box, and control them as you play.
It could be even more exciting to model the players after your favorite stars! This toy is sure to help kids develop dexterity and concentration.
We’ve shared detailed instructions in a video, so check it out and give it a try!
Make a bow and arrow with straws!
A piece you worked hard to make yourself becomes twice as fun if you can play with it afterward, right? So this time, we’re introducing a bow and arrow you can make with straws.
You can use either thick boba straws or regular straws.
Besides the straws, you’ll just need common household items like a toilet paper roll and rubber bands, so it’s easy to prepare.
The projectile that the bow shoots is made from the toilet paper roll and rubber bands.
Make the bow using a straw and a spherical Styrofoam ball.
Once it’s finished, just aim and shoot at targets made from paper plates or balloons.
Kids will enjoy crafting it with the excitement of being able to play with it after it’s done.
Crafts you can play with
In this Reiwa era, where digital devices have surrounded us since the day we were born, it’s nice to enjoy some analog play from time to time.
So here’s a summer craft you can make and play with right away: the “Wobbly Tree.” Glue a branching tree onto half of a toy capsule.
Hang rubber bands from the branches one by one, and the person who knocks the tree over loses.
If you substitute the toy capsule base with something else, you can make an even bigger tree.
There are also videos introducing other playable crafts, so if you’re interested, be sure to check them out.
Indoor basketball hoop craft
Let’s play with a handmade basketball set! Here are some ideas for crafting an indoor basketball hoop.
After watching Olympic basketball, many kids probably started admiring the players, right? This time, let’s try making an indoor basketball game you can build and play with.
You’ll need two hangers, yarn, cardboard, scissors, and more.
It’s great because the steps are simple.
This is also a recommended idea for when you want to get moving indoors!
Fruit Concentration
These are felt cards you can use to play Concentration (Memory)! You can choose any motifs you like—fruits, vehicles, animals, anything is fine.
However, since Concentration is a game where you match pairs of identical cards, be sure to make two cards of each design.
Cut felt into card shapes and either glue or sew the motifs onto them.
If you’re making everything out of felt, it’s efficient to layer the same fabric and cut two identical pieces at once to save time.
If you want to keep things simple, you could also use store-bought appliqués and just stick them on.
