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
Rock-paper-scissors-type game (1–10)
Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors
On rainy days, we tend to stay cooped up indoors, which can really build up stress for the kids.
A great indoor activity for times like that is a game called “Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors.” In this game, participants stand on an opened sheet of newspaper and play rock-paper-scissors.
Whoever loses folds their newspaper in half and keeps standing on it.
You repeat rock-paper-scissors until someone can no longer stand on their newspaper.
Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors
Let’s play ‘Evolution Janken,’ which is like looking at the stages of human evolution.
Everyone starts lying face down on the floor, and while staying face down, you move around and play rock-paper-scissors.
The loser remains in their current posture, and the winner goes up on their knees into a crawling position.
Then you move again to find the next opponent and play rock-paper-scissors.
Winners evolve through the stages: face down → on all fours → bear crawl → standing on two feet.
The first person to stand on two feet wins.
Body Rock-Paper-Scissors
The key to this version of rock-paper-scissors is its full-body dynamism.
For paper, stretch your arms and legs out wide to make a big X shape with your body; for rock, curl up small; and for scissors, stretch your body forward and backward in a strong motion.
The movements aren’t complex, but if you keep going, it becomes a workout that leaves you out of breath.
Since there’s winning and losing, you can make it into a game—like having the loser sit down—to naturally ramp up the excitement.
Exaggerating the movements turns it into proper exercise, so definitely give it a try.
Snake Rock-Paper-Scissors
With “Snake Rock-Paper-Scissors,” kids can build teamwork while playing.
First, prepare some vinyl tape.
Use it to make a wavy, snake-like line and draw a circle at each end.
One player starts from each circle, and they follow the line; if they reach the opposing team’s circle, they win.
When players meet along the line, they play rock-paper-scissors.
The loser must step off the line.
Because of this, coordination—like signaling the next teammate—is important.
It seems perfect for kids and teachers to play together, too.
Number Rock-Paper-Scissors
These days, many children in kindergartens and nursery schools have already started studying math.
A fun recreation that I recommend, which also helps with math practice, is “Number Rock-Paper-Scissors.” In this game, players hold out any number of fingers as in rock-paper-scissors, and the rule is that the person who can answer the total number of fingers the fastest wins.
It’s simple but a good brain workout, so it’s also recommended for adults.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
Let’s play Rock-Paper-Scissors Train, a game where you make a long train! At first, everyone moves around freely while the music is playing.
When the music stops, you play rock-paper-scissors with the person in front of you.
If you lose, you line up behind the winner and connect to form a train.
The winner stays at the front and keeps moving around with the people behind them.
Repeat this until there’s no one left to challenge.
The person who remains at the front until the very end is the winner.
Since the line will keep getting longer, play in as large a space as possible.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Basketball
Let me introduce “Rock-Paper-Scissors Basket,” a game that’s fun with a large group.
If you know the game “Fruit Basket,” think of this as a rock-paper-scissors version.
First, everyone forms a circle, and the It player stands in the center.
Everyone plays rock-paper-scissors with It; anyone who loses must move from their current spot to a different one.
Whoever can’t find a new spot stands in the middle and becomes the next It.
It’s easy to understand if you play seated in a circle on chairs, so that’s recommended.
As long as players are old enough to understand rock-paper-scissors, they can enjoy it—give it a try!
ladder rock-paper-scissors
Divide into two teams and decide the order of players in each team.
Place a rope ladder or similar on the floor, and have one representative from each team start from opposite ends.
When they meet, play rock-paper-scissors; the loser yields the way, and the winner runs toward the opponent’s territory.
As soon as someone loses, the next player on that team should start immediately.
The team that reaches the opponent’s territory first wins.
It’s a very simple game, but since rock-paper-scissors is based on luck, plenty of dramatic turnarounds await.
It can get pretty heated!
playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent’s move (i.e., acting with hindsight/cheating)
Rock-paper-scissors is deeply ingrained in everyday life as a quick way to decide an order or settle something.
Precisely because the game is so instinctive, this challenge is tricky: it’s a game where you must instantly choose a late move that results in the specified outcome.
Since we’re conditioned to unconsciously throw a winning hand, producing a losing hand or a tie really tests your concentration and judgment.
Switching the required outcome on the fly or increasing the speed at which you must play ramps up the difficulty and makes the game even more engaging—highly recommended.
Psychological rock-paper-scissors
@cocoskip♪ Original song – Yuzu (๑′ᴗ‵๑)♪ – Yuzu (๑′ᴗ‵๑)♪
A new kind of invisible rock-paper-scissors! Introducing the idea for “Psychological Rock-Paper-Scissors.” In this game, you face each other with a wall between you so neither can see the other’s hand.
While talking—saying things like “I’m throwing ___” or “Are you throwing ___?”—try to guess what your opponent is putting out.
Until the time limit is up, you can change your hand as much as you like.
When time’s up, who will be winning? It’s a thrilling, heart-pounding way to play.