A roundup of games and recreational activities for relieving stress
Some of you may be looking for recreational activities or games that can help relieve everyday stress and lingering frustrations.
In this article, we’ve picked out a selection of stress-relief games that will leave you feeling refreshed.
You’ll find a wide range of ideas—from easy, no-equipment activities to creative twists on nostalgic games.
We’ll focus on options with strong game elements, like moving your body to music or competing for points, so be sure to use this as a reference when you need to blow off some steam.
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- [Sports] Play that gets you moving. A roundup of exercises perfect for adults.
- Recommended toy for killing time. Also good for relieving stress.
- Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation games.
- A roundup of fun games and recreational activities using balloons
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for spring
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- A roundup of recreational activities and games using paper cups
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- [For Seniors] Enjoyment at Day Care: A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities
- Fun recreational activities recommended for travel
A roundup of games and recreational activities for stress relief (1–10)
Bottle Cap Challenge
This is a game that aims to open a plastic bottle cap with a kick, and its stylish look is part of the appeal.
The full-body motion of delivering a powerful kick might also help relieve stress.
It’s a challenging game where the height and force of the kick, as well as the exact spot you strike on the bottle, all matter—so let’s work together and aim for success.
Once you get good at hitting it with your regular shoes, try adding restrictions, like changing your footwear, to make it even harder.
Earphone Loud Telephone Game
It’s a game of telephone that also helps relieve stress by listening to your favorite music at high volume and shouting loudly.
In a situation where voices can’t be heard, each person’s concentration and ingenuity are tested in how accurately they can read and pass on the words.
If words alone don’t get the message across, it’s recommended to include gestures—which also help release stress by moving your body.
Another highlight is reviewing how the sentence drifted when the words weren’t conveyed correctly, which really livens things up.
Mozzarella Cheese Game
The “Mozzarella Cheese Game” started becoming known as a recreational party game around 2014.
It’s a simple game where you just keep saying “mozzarella cheese,” but there’s a rule that you have to say it with more enthusiasm than the previous player.
By the end of the game, you have to let go of your embarrassment and fully commit, which makes it perfect for drinking gatherings.
In the 2020s, it was introduced in books for elementary school students, and it began to be enjoyed by a wider range of age groups.
Roundup of Stress-Relieving Games and Recreational Activities (11–20)
Rhythm Gesture Game
It’s a gesture game that progresses to the beat of the background music, adding the fun of moving your body freely.
The rule is that when you express the given theme with your movements, you must always stay in rhythm, which adds a layer of difficulty because your body is constantly in motion.
It’s important to clearly picture the theme and pick the specific movements you’ll use—choose ones that are easier to sync with the beat.
You can also convey the scale of the theme through the size of your rhythm-based movements, so it’s crucial to stay mindful of every motion.
Shooting game
Here’s a fun idea for a target-shooting game that’s simple and satisfying.
First, prepare a cardboard tube from a roll of plastic wrap.
Cut slits into one end of it.
Next, take a toilet paper tube and set it up so that a rubber band is stretched across its hollow center.
Then, place the toilet paper tube over the plastic wrap tube and release—it will shoot out like a bullet.
For targets, try using lightweight items like paper cups.
Decorating each piece can make it even more exciting.
Paper cup whack-a-mole
We’d like to introduce a handmade “Whack-a-Mole” game using paper cups, inspired by the classic arcade game.
First, draw mole faces on lots of paper cups.
Next, make a hammer by attaching a pair of disposable chopsticks to a paper cup.
The rules are a bit different from the real Whack-a-Mole: you stack and collect the mole cups using the hammer you made.
Whoever collects more moles within the time limit wins.
The rules are simple, and you can quickly see who collected more by comparing the height of the stacks, so both children and older adults can enjoy it.
Paper Balloon Battle
It’s the “paper balloon battle” you sometimes see on TV shows.
The rules are simple and perfect for recreation: the first person to pop the paper balloon attached on top of their opponent’s head wins.
Since you use stick-shaped items as weapons, make sure to prepare ones made of soft materials to avoid injuries.
It might also be best to remove glasses just in case.
All the materials are easy to find, so you can start right away.
Put prizes on the line and the battle is sure to get everyone excited!