Handmade games: DIY craft ideas you can make and play

Pinball machine

Aim for a High Score! How to Make a Pinball Machine [Cardboard Craft]

Let’s handcraft an original pinball machine where you can freely decide the layout and obstacle designs.

You’ll enjoy both the process of planning the design while making it, and playing pinball after it’s finished—double the fun.

Use easy-to-handle materials like cardboard, rubber bands, chopsticks, and straws.

Cardboard is sturdy and thick, making it a great material for crafting, so try making your own handmade game board.

Start by setting up the launch area for flicking the marble and plan where to place the obstacles.

Create and play with a one-of-a-kind, original pinball machine that exists nowhere else but yours, and aim for a high score.

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nikki

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racing game

[ Slip on Banana ] DIY Car Racing Game with Cardboard. How to make Mario Kart. Tutorial.

A colorful and comical craft where a game unfolds inside a cardboard window, just like Mario Kart.

You can also test how to control Mario on this flowing course.

Install a rotating mechanism inside the base box, attach a course paper with obstacles and other designs, and by moving it, you create the appearance of a scrolling track.

Finally, attach a Mario mascot that can move left and right with a steering wheel, and it’s complete.

It’s also important to decorate it colorfully to enhance the Mario Kart atmosphere.

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kappamaki

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Rubber Band Crane Game

Join forces for the 'Rubber Band Crane Game'

It’s a game where several people hold a tool made by connecting rubber bands and strings, and thread a paper cup through its end to operate it like a crane.

Participants pull the strings together, lifting the paper cup while keeping their balance.

Placing the cup in a target spot or stacking it is challenging, requiring cooperation and concentration.

It can be enjoyed by large groups, making it great for parties and school events, and it also helps spark communication.

Although it’s made from simple, everyday materials, it’s captivating and works as a hands-on crafting game—an engaging and appealing idea.

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mutō

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Air hockey

How to make Air Hockey at home smooth Slick Puck DIY

This project shows how to make the familiar arcade air hockey game using cardboard.

The key is the puck; if you make it glide smoothly, the game will feel fast and exciting.

The overall field is basically a piece of cardboard with walls and goals attached, and laying down baking paper will make the puck slide even more easily.

The puck contains a marble inside; as the marble rolls, it helps the puck glide across the field.

The larger the field, the more strategy and back-and-forth the rallies will have, so it’s important to consider that balance when you build it.

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kappamaki

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New Year’s gift envelope game

[New Year Rec] Otoshidama Envelope Game! A recreation where you can enjoy the seasonal feeling! Let’s play while doing some calculations!

We’d like to introduce a New Year’s otoshidama cup game that naturally exposes kids to numbers and arithmetic through play! It’s easy to make: write different amounts on paper cups, stick labels on them, and tape the cups to the table.

Lining them up against a wall makes it easier to land beanbags in the cups when thrown.

Aiming and tossing helps build concentration, and the joy of getting one in boosts motivation.

By adding up the amounts in the cups, even young children can get familiar with numbers and experience the fun of calculation while playing.

It’s also fun to make your own play money, so be sure to try making it and playing together!

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kepiko

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Mini crane game with straws

@ranmaru_shien

Mini Crane Game#HandmadeToysworkChildcareEducational# developmental support (ryōiku)#AtHomePlay

♬ Super Mario Bros Main Theme – Geek Music

This is an idea for enjoying a crane game easily using just simple materials.

Bend the accordion section of a straw and secure it firmly with tape to create the arm.

Wrap construction paper around it to add strength, and cut the tip with scissors, spreading it out like petals.

This serves as the crane’s claw, allowing you to grab small prizes.

For operation, lighter materials are easier to handle, so colorful pom-poms or small beads are recommended.

Because the straw is easy to move, even children can operate it without using too much force.

It’s a fun idea that combines the ease of crafting with playability.

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mutō

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Magnet Crane Game

[How-To Guide] Perfect for at-home play and events! A magnetic crane game that also works as an educational activity

A crane game that uses magnets can become uniquely fun with just a few clever tweaks.

We recommend building a frame out of cardboard and attaching a clear plastic panel so you can see inside.

Install paper cups inside to hold prizes, and run a tension rod through the sides to create the crane’s range of motion.

Attach a magnet to the end of a string, and it turns into a mechanism that can lift prizes with metal embedded in them.

By turning a wooden rod to raise and lower the string, you can aim and drop with great control, making each attempt exciting.

It’s a compelling idea that lets you experience the fun of ingenuity while you play.

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mutō

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