Fun activities that liven up the office: recreation games
Here are some fun games and recreational activities that will liven up the office.
We interact with bosses and colleagues a lot at work, but many of us don’t have much contact in our private lives.
If you’re thinking, “I actually want to get closer to everyone…!” why not try playing a quick game when you have a little spare time?
We’ve gathered activities and games that are perfect for breaks or in-between moments at office parties, so feel free to use them for ideas.
Forget about work for just a bit, and let’s build camaraderie while having a great time together!
Fun games that liven up the office. Recreation games (1–10)
Perfect Match Game
This is a game where you try to get as close as possible to a predetermined number, called the “Spot-On Game.” For example, you decide on 100,000 as the target number.
You split into teams and ask the other team questions related to numbers—for instance, “How much is Mr./Ms.
○○’s rent?” To get closer to the initial target, it’s better to avoid questions that produce very precise numbers.
Instead, ask a few broader questions to approach 100,000, then fine-tune with smaller adjustments.
This makes the game proceed more smoothly.
“Yes” Prohibition Game
It’s a game where you’re not allowed to say the word ‘yes’—a ‘no saying yes’ game.
You’re thinking, ‘So I just have to avoid saying yes? That sounds easy!’ You over there who thinks that! This game is actually really hard—well, more like the word ‘yes’ just slips out unconsciously.
In everyday life, we use ‘yes’ all the time for responses and backchanneling without even realizing it.
Even when you try hard to be mindful, it still pops out of your mouth on its own—it’s terrifying!
Human finger smartphone (likely shorthand for smartphone operated by human finger)
It’s like the game ‘Yubi-suma’ where you guess the number of thumbs raised, but instead of thumbs, you use people.
When you actually try it, it feels fresh—almost like a different game from ‘Yubi-suma.’ If there are too many players, the difficulty gets too high, so splitting into groups of a reasonable size will help the game run smoothly.
The “Haa” game
When someone says “Haa,” it could be a sigh, anger, exasperation—there are many possible situations.
This is a game called “The ‘Haa’ Game,” where you guess the situation behind the “Haa.” You draw a card and act out the “Haa” for the situation written on it.
Everyone votes on which “Haa” it is.
Players take turns performing and then voting; those who guess correctly and the performer both earn points equal to the number of correct guesses.
The player with the highest total score wins.
Bubble Soccer
It’s a game where you play soccer wearing a transparent headgear called a “BUMPER” that doesn’t hurt even if you bump into people.
It’s becoming popular in Japan as a type of soccer anyone can enjoy regardless of skill level.
There are various places that rent out the specialized equipment, so try looking for one near you.
Who am I?
This is the “Who am I?” game that’s popular among students and others.
The guesser, who doesn’t know the answer, asks various questions within a time limit to figure out who they are.
If it’s too difficult, you can make it easier by setting a category in advance—like “animals” or “fruits”—or by choosing from a few options, such as “Which one am I among these?”
Vague Memory Drawing Showdown
Even characters from anime you always watch or familiar animals can be surprisingly hard to draw when you actually try, right? This game lets you use that idea to laugh out loud at both the look-alikes and the not-so-look-alikes.
You’ll get a clear sense of your coworkers’ artistic sides, and it’s guaranteed to be a hit.
It might be fun to pick a winner at the end, too.