Types of Tag Games and How to Play Them
Tag, that simple game where the person who’s “it” touches someone to pass on the role, is something just about everyone has played.
It’s said that if you trace it back, its origins lie in Heian-period rituals for driving away demons.
Today, it has evolved into many different variations.
This time, we’ll introduce some of those diverse forms of tag.
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Types of tag/“oni” games and how to play them (1–10)
Tag in the pool
It’s simply a game of tag played in the pool.
Normally, tag involves sprinting at full speed to chase and catch someone, but since it’s in the water, the resistance makes it hard to move quickly, which significantly raises the difficulty.
Gacchan Demon
Choose one person to be it (the chaser) and one person to be the runner.
The remaining people form groups of two or three.
The chaser can only tag the runner.
The runner can hold hands with someone in a group.
When they hold hands while saying “Gacchan,” the person on the opposite side becomes the new runner.
This is a variation of tag.
One high school girl vs. a horde of demons
Speaking of tag, the usual version is one demon and lots of kids, but in this version it’s a terrifying game where you’re the only kid and everyone else is a demon.
It feels like you wouldn’t be able to trust anyone.
It’s an online game, but it sounds like it would be fun to try in real life, too.
Types of tag/oni games and how to play them (11–20)
Seated Demon
Within a designated area, the tagger chases the children, but cannot catch a child while they are sitting.
After counting to ten, the tagger may touch a sitting child.
The children must escape before then.
This game is also known as “Squat Tag.”
Zombie Ogre
As the name suggests, it’s a thrilling game of tag where every time the ‘oni’ touches someone, the number of oni keeps increasing.
The game ends when the last remaining person is tagged, so there isn’t really a winner or loser.
In other regions, it’s also known as ‘contagion tag.’
Wi-Fi Tag
The rules are simple: the runner escapes while carrying a pocket Wi‑Fi, and the “it” chases them by checking the Wi‑Fi signal strength on a game console or similar device.
It’s a hybrid game that combines tag and hide-and-seek.
It feels like, “Wow, the times have come this far…,” but it sounds like a lot of fun.
Mr. Wolf, what time is it now?
Let’s play tag while enjoying a call-and-response using the phrase, “Mr.
Wolf, what time is it?” First, choose one player to be “It” (the wolf).
The children face the wolf and ask, “Mr.
Wolf, what time is it?” The wolf answers with various times, and if it’s anything other than “3 o’clock,” the children respond, “Phew, thank goodness!” If the wolf says “3 o’clock,” that’s the signal to start chasing.
Run away so you don’t get caught! Whoever gets caught becomes the next wolf.
