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, child-catching demon (a variant of tag called “Kotorooni”/“Kotoro-oni”).
It’s a game played with an “it” (oni) and a line of children.
In regular tag, you run away so you don’t get caught by the tagger, right? In Kotorogui, the oni targets the child at the end of a single-file line.
The oni moves to try to tag the last child with a ball.
The child at the front of the line spreads their arms to guard the last child from the oni.
It’s surprisingly strenuous, making it perfect for kids who want to be active.
As the line gets longer, it becomes easier for the oni to exploit gaps in the guard.
Red Light, Green Light!
The ultimate high-tension game that brings out your inner child: “Daruma-san ga Koronda!” The rules are simple: while the tagger says “Daruma-san ga koronda” and turns around, the other players quietly move forward.
If you’re caught moving, you’re out! It’s a classic children’s game, but when adults play, things heat up fast.
A battle of stillness and motion—a psychological showdown.
It’s perfect for company recreation, too.
Sprinting in suits, and that unexpected colleague is surprisingly agile…? With nonstop laughter and surprises, this fresh take on a “stop-and-go” game will bring your team closer together.
Silent Tag
When you think of tag, you usually picture people sprinting away or chasing after each other, but this version is a silent tag where you flee without making a sound and give chase without making a sound.
The act of erasing your presence is interesting in its own way, and you might even feel a thrill like in a horror movie.
Top 5 most entertaining tag games in the world
Tag, a classic outdoor game for children, is actually enjoyed in many countries around the world.
Tag from around the world… you’re curious what those games are like, right? This time, we’ll introduce five versions: the Filipino tag game “Buwan-Buwan,” the Sri Lankan tag game “Gini Hangima,” the Moroccan tag game “The Hen and the Caterpillar,” the German tag game “The Spinning Top on the Rock,” and the Bangladeshi tag game “Chi-Buri.” Depending on the country, the rules and ways to play vary—like having the tagger move only along lines or adding a treasure-hunt element—so give these different kinds of tag a try and enjoy a twist on the usual game!
Adults going all out at the park!
Games we used to play as kids can be surprisingly fun even after we grow up.
So why not enjoy some outdoor games for the first time in a while? Here we introduce two types of tag games: “Kotorokotoro” and “Hyotan Oni.” In Kotorokotoro, players are divided into one chaser (oni) and the children.
The children line up, placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front.
The oni faces the line, and wins if they can tag the child at the very end.
In Hyotan Oni, you draw a gourd-shaped safe zone on the ground, and the children run around inside it.
The oni reaches in from outside the gourd, and if they manage to tag someone, they swap roles with that person.
Tickle demon
It’s a tag game called “Tickle Demon” or “Kochokocho Demon.” The demon chases the children, and when they catch one, they get to tickle them.
It’s a simple tag game that you can play with a small number of people or with young children who don’t yet understand the usual rules of tag.
athletic tag
It’s a game of tag using the playground equipment.
If your opponent touches the ground, they lose.
A tag doesn’t count when their hands or feet are touching the equipment, so the key is probably to lure them down to the ground.
It’s quite intense, so it might be better to play when there aren’t many people around.
World Play! ‘Please Statue Play’
The American game “statue game” is basically a form of tag.
However, the tagger plays the role of a sculptor, and anyone who gets tagged has to freeze into a statue within the time it takes to spin around twice, becoming whatever statue the tagger calls out.
If the tagger says “frog,” everyone who’s been caught has to hold a frog pose and can’t move until everyone is tagged, so depending on the type of statue, it can be pretty tough.
Once everyone is caught, the tagger chooses their favorite statue and names that person as the next tagger.
Tag, You’re It (Kenken-oni)
As the name suggests, it’s a game of tag played while hopping on one leg.
Both the chaser and the runners have a hard time moving, so it’s quite challenging.
Repeated one-legged jumps also help train your core.
Since it evens out the fitness gap between adults and children, anyone can enjoy it easily.
Name demon
Choose one person to be “it.” The children ask, “Oni-san, Oni-san, who is it?” The person who’s “it” names one of the children.
Then everyone chases and tries to catch the named child, and the person who is the last to catch them becomes the next “it.” It’s like the name-version of the color-tag game.