What's in the box? It's scary but fun—a classic crowd-pleaser.
“What’s in the Box?” is a classic, crowd-pleasing game that livens up parties and events! The rules are simple: you stick your hand into a box where you can’t see the contents and guess what’s inside based only on how it feels.
The suspense and surprise make it beloved by people of all ages.
Using items with distinctive textures—like scouring pads or slime—virtually guarantees big reactions and excited faces the moment someone reaches in, sending the whole venue into a buzz.
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended materials—from staple items perfect for hyping up your event to unexpected, quirky objects that add an extra twist!
Get the party started! Classic items for the mystery box (1–10)
toy snake
For people who are uncomfortable with insects or reptiles, even a toy can be utterly terrifying.
So, how about using a toy snake? There are many kinds of toy snakes: ones that bend in a jerky way, ones with textures close to the real thing, and ones with extremely realistic shapes.
When you reveal the trick, a toy with a realistic look and feel that makes someone think it’s real for a moment will make the scare twice as effective.
Some people are so bad with these that they might even burst into tears, so be careful about who you play this prank on.
scrubbing brush
When someone asks, “What’s in the box?” some people might recall Yomiuri TV’s ‘Star Surprise Box.’ The go-go dance at the end reportedly got especially big reactions.
If you’re curious, give it a search.
It’s a party-game classic, but a ‘tawashi’ scrubbing brush is a must-have item! If the host tees it up with a line like, “Do you like hedgehogs?” the effect is even better.
Stock both large and small tawashi brushes, and if you can rig one to move by remote control, it’s sure to be a hit!
slime
I think that fluttery feeling you get when you stick your hand into a box without knowing what’s inside is the same for people from other countries, too.
This game is sure to be a hit at cross-cultural parties as well.
In English, it’s called “Guess what’s in the box?” That cold, slimy, sticky-yet-not-moving grossness of slime seems to be universally felt, doesn’t it? Slime is definitely one of the items that gets everyone excited.
And don’t forget the host’s lead-in: “It could be dangerous if you touch it suddenly, so please feel it slowly.”
wet sponge
Try using a wet sponge with a slightly unpleasant texture.
A dry sponge isn’t all that uncomfortable once you touch it, but a wet sponge feels more repulsive simply because it’s wet, right? Until you figure it out, you’ll probably be torn between thinking it’s a living creature or some kind of bizarre oddity.
If you prepare a sponge in an unusual shape—like an animal—rather than a plain rectangular one, it will make things even more confusing.
The off-putting texture alone can be fun, so why not add one to the mix?
stuffed animal
Since it’s a simply built box, there still seem to be plenty of opportunities for creativity.
It might be nice to pack it with unprecedented extra ideas and turn this “What’s in the box?” box into a summer vacation craft project.
For those who are easily startled, prepare a stuffed toy.
The game is scary enough as it is, so including milder items like stuffed animals could add a nice contrast to the recreation.
When it’s the turn of the elderly or small children, be sure to use a stuffed toy.
Bug toy
There are a lot of women who aren’t good with bugs, right? I get it with cockroaches and flies, but some people can’t handle butterflies or dragonflies either.
Boys often have chances to keep rhinoceros beetles or stag beetles when they’re little, so maybe in that sense they build up some immunity to insects.
The toy bugs you can buy at 100-yen shops are also great for livening things up.
If you put real bugs in a bug cage and keep it nearby, it adds to the realism.
Just saying, “Are you okay with bugs, Ms.
so-and-so?” is enough to make them assume whatever’s in the box must be a bug!
wig
This “What’s in the box?” game is also popular on YouTube, and kid-focused YouTubers often feature it as one of their segments.
The host’s skill is important too, so please use this as a reference for how to hype it up.
Human hair has a very distinctive texture, so I think people will realize pretty quickly, “Oh, it’s hair.” Simply placing a wig in the box is fine, but you could also prepare a mannequin head and put the wig on it.
If someone can fit inside the box, having a real person inside will really liven things up! Just make sure they wear goggles in the box so their eyes don’t get poked.