A collection of simple indoor recreational games
Looking for team-based games that can get everyone excited indoors? Indoor recreational activities that use open spaces and simple tools actually hide a lot of charm.
From easy games using familiar items like balloons and plastic bottles to idea-driven challenges that make the most of teamwork, we’ll introduce a variety of fun options.
Why not discover new ways to play with your friends and family? Welcome to the world of indoor recreation, where everyone can smile!
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- Team-based recreational activities for adults that are fun even with large groups
- [Part 2] Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for December
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- Elementary School Fun Day a Big Hit! Indoor Game Idea Collection
- Fun Indoor Games for Elementary School Kids Without Any Equipment
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
Indoor Games for Children (1–10)
Drop the Handkerchief
Many adults probably played this game when they were children.
Try livening things up with friends or family by playing the classic “drop the handkerchief” game.
The basic rules are: the person who is “it” places a handkerchief behind someone seated in a circle.
If the person notices the handkerchief, they chase “it,” and it’s fine if they catch them.
Since the rules vary by region, be sure to agree on the rules beforehand if you’re doing it for a company recreation activity.
If you’re playing at school, the gym is recommended! Enjoy it in a spacious area where you can make some noise.
Bomb game
The “bomb game” is a fun indoor activity that even kindergarten and nursery school children can play.
In this game, you pass a ball to the friend next to you in time with the music, and if you’re holding the ball when the music stops, you’re out! It gets especially thrilling toward the end of the song, so it can be quite exciting.
Since you only need to pass the ball to the person beside you, it might be suitable not just for children but also for older adults with weak legs.
Sinking Game
The Sinking Game lets you feel the thrill and excitement of an adventure, like you’re aboard a pirate ship! You place mats in a large space, and those become the ships.
The children are the crew, and the teacher plays the shark.
When they hear someone call, “We’re sinking!” they have to quickly move from the ship they’re on to another one.
If they can move without getting caught, they’re safe! It’s also fun to use music as the cue for “We’re sinking.” It’s a great indoor activity that gets kids moving and sharpens their reflexes.
It’s a fun game everyone can enjoy together, perfect for rainy or cold days!
Fruits Basket
Fruit Basket is a type of musical chairs that many people played as children.
Here, we introduce how to play the English version of Fruit Basket.
First, prepare one fewer chair than the number of players.
Next, divide the players—excluding the tagger—into groups.
Unlike the usual Fruit Basket, use the names of the seasons in English: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
Once the grouping is done, start the game.
All players ask the tagger, “When is the season?” The tagger calls out a specific season, and the players belonging to that season change seats.
At that moment, the tagger should try to take a chair from one of the players.
In this way, the role of tagger changes hands.
Also, if the tagger shouts “All seasons” instead of a specific season, everyone changes seats.
Using English makes the game more challenging and even more fun than the regular Fruit Basket!
Red light, green light
In the game Daruma-san ga Koronda, the name and the phrases can vary by region.
The “oni” (it) stands facing a tree or wall and says, “Daruma-san ga koronda.” While the oni is speaking, the children move closer, but when the oni turns around, they must freeze completely.
Anyone who is caught moving gets tagged by the oni.
A player who manages to reach the oni touches them and then runs away.
At the oni’s command to stop, everyone freezes; the oni moves a set number of steps, and the person who gets caught becomes the next oni.
Musical chairs
Musical chairs is a game where players compete over a number of chairs fewer than the number of people.
While music plays, everyone circles around chairs arranged in a circle, and the moment the music stops, you must quickly sit down so no one else takes your seat—a classic indoor game.
Anyone left without a chair is out.
If two or more people end up on the same chair, the winner is decided by rock-paper-scissors, a judge from the onlookers, or by wresting control of the seat.
The number of chairs keeps decreasing until only one remains.
That’s the standard way to play, but it’s also fun to add variations, like trying it blindfolded or introducing a losers’ bracket for a comeback chance!
Indian poker
Indian Poker is a game where you bet while guessing whether the value of your own hidden card beats your opponent’s.
First, draw one card from the prepared deck and place it against your forehead like an Indian feather so you can’t see your own number.
You can see your opponent’s number, so if you predict yours is higher, you bet; if you’re not confident, you fold.
The more players there are, the stronger the psychological element becomes, so if you have a deck of cards handy, give it a try!
