For two players: from games without equipment to tabletop games and apps
Have you ever found yourself at a loss for what to do when you’re spending time with someone—family, friends, or a partner—just the two of you?
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of two-player time-killing games that are perfect for those situations!
We’ve picked a wide range: simple activities that require no props at all—or just a bit of paper and a pen—deeper tabletop options like card and board games, and even smartphone apps that two people can enjoy together.
There are plenty of fun games that might start as a way to kill time but before you know it, you’ll be totally hooked! Use this as a handy reference when you’re looking to pass the time.
- Perfect for killing time! Games you can play with two people.
- Fun two-player games recommended that you can play using conversation only
- A card game for two players
- [For 2 Players] Easy Pen-and-Paper Time-Killing Game
- Recommended games for two people that you can enjoy without any equipment
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- Exciting! Multiplayer games everyone can play. Time-killing app games
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- Games for two people to enjoy. A roundup of party games that liven up drinking gatherings.
- Games you can play in the car! Fun activities to liven up drives and traffic jams
- [Solo Time] A roundup of ways to kill time without using your smartphone
- A collection of icebreakers you can enjoy with a small group
- Single-player games: a roundup of time-killing games
Games You Can Play Without Equipment (11–20)
acrostic using the Japanese syllabary (aiueo poem)
An acrostic is a game where you take each letter of a given word and use them, one by one, to compose a sentence.
It doesn’t require any tools or preparation and is easy to play, but making someone impressed or laugh takes a fair bit of flair—so it’s perfect for killing time.
If you get bored with the usual rules, you can make it even more fun by combining it with drawings like in this video.
Shiritori
When it comes to classic ways to kill time, shiritori definitely tops the list.
The rules hardly need explaining at this point.
Many people played it as kids, but it’s surprisingly fun even as an adult.
If you add a time limit for answers or restrict words to a specific category, it gets more challenging—so give those twists a try when you play.
Ogiri (Japanese improv-style comedy wordplay game)
Oogiri is a game where you respond to a prompt with something funny or relatable.
Many people have probably seen comedians or rakugo performers do it on TV.
These days, YouTubers are doing oogiri too, so more people beyond professional comedians are enjoying it.
It’s quite hard to come up with pro-level answers, but among friends that’s part of the fun—so I recommend it.
Hand-push sumo
Many people probably remember playing hand-pushing sumo during school recess when they were little.
The rules are simple and you can do it anywhere, so it’s perfect for killing a bit of time.
It feels great because you can sometimes beat an opponent who’s much heavier if you get the timing right.
It gets even more exciting if you prepare penalties or rewards.
CC Lemon (fights using actions for attack, defense, and charge by clapping hands twice)
I think many of you played this game when you were kids, but what’s its official name? Some people might have called it things like “CC Lemon” or “Sushi Janken,” while many others probably didn’t have a specific name for it.
The way you play is: after clapping your hands twice, you choose one of three actions—attack, defend, or charge.
Defense can block an attack, but you can’t attack unless you’ve charged; after charging three times, your attack can break through a defense.
There are all kinds of local rules like these.
It might be fun to come up with your own rules again!
Picture shiritori
Are you all good at drawing? This is a game that tests your drawing skills and illustration abilities: picture shiritori.
As the name suggests, it’s a game where you keep the shiritori chain going by drawing pictures.
That’s why, if people can’t tell what the illustration is supposed to be, accidents can happen where someone interprets it differently and draws something completely unrelated.
The “Uh, I have no idea what this is” moments are actually part of the fun, too.
Checking the answers at the end is another exciting part of the game.
A game where you lose if you reach 5
This game doesn’t seem to have a widely known official name, but most people probably know it.
You stick out one index finger at a time and tap your opponent’s finger; the person who gets tapped changes the number of their fingers to the sum of their own fingers plus the number on the tapper’s hand.
You keep going, adding as you play.
When a hand reaches five fingers or more, that hand goes down.
The player who has to put both hands down loses.
It’s a very simple game but guaranteed to get heated, and as long as you can do basic addition, even young children can play.
Finger Smash
The game commonly known as “Yubisuma” goes by many different names depending on the region and generation.
It’s a simple game that anyone can play anywhere using both thumbs.
You hold out both hands in fists, and the total number of thumbs up is counted; with two players, the maximum is 4 and the minimum is 0.
After the call of “Yubisuma,” if the number you called matches the number of thumbs raised at that moment, you can lower one hand.
The first person to lower both hands wins.
It’s a game for two or more players, and with the minimum of two, it tends to be a dead heat from the start.
USA game
This is a game played using the lyrics and rhythm of DA PUMP’s 2018 hit song “U.S.A.” It’s said to have been created by the comedy duo Chocolate Planet.
The rules are simple: after saying “Come on, baby, America,” you continue by adding something that’s obvious about America, a common trope, or something that feels American.
If you fall out of rhythm or can’t say anything, you lose.
Coming up with funny lines is key, and when two people play, your turn comes around repeatedly, making it thrilling and fun.
Personality test
Psychological tests are a classic way to kill time during little breaks, aren’t they? This video is more of a trick question than a psychological test, but there are many kinds of test-style time killers, so if you look them up on YouTube and try them together, your free time will fly by.
If you want to understand the other person’s mindset, try a more serious psychological test as well.