Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
I’m going to introduce games that can be played using only conversation, without any props.
There are times—like during school breaks or in the car—when you want to play but don’t have any tools or can’t move around freely, right?
In those moments, wouldn’t it be nice to have games you can play just by talking?
In this article, we’ve gathered popular conversation-based games you can enjoy simply by talking, singing, or answering prompts!
Use them when you want to have fun with friends, teammates, or your partner, or when you need to kill time while waiting—whenever you’re in a pinch.
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Classic and popular! Party games that get exciting with just conversation (1–10)
An interview where you must not say “yes”
It’s a talk game set in a job interview scenario with a simple rule: the interviewee must not say “hai” (yes).
The key is that, because it’s a formal situation where polite language is used, you might accidentally blurt out “hai.” The fun lies in the conversational tactics: the interviewer tries, through phrasing, to coax a “hai” out of the other person, while the interviewee figures out how to rephrase and get through without saying it.
It’s an enjoyable game of give-and-take within the conversation.
It could also be fun to try situations other than interviews.
A-I-U-E-O Acting Showdown
It’s a game where players improvise lines for each of the 50 Japanese syllables based on a given theme, perform them, and compete on how quickly they can make it through all 50 sounds.
The fun lies in how quickly words come to mind and whether you can keep performing all the way to the end.
When the prompt isn’t something familiar, you can also get a sense of what kind of image the respondent has of it.
It’s exciting to see what brilliant answers pop up when ideas start running dry in the latter half.
If it’s hard for one person to cover all 50 sounds, you can take turns performing, and make it a rule that you’re out if you get stuck or your line doesn’t fit the situation—that could be fun too.
Chorus Speed-Singing Game
It’s a fast-response quiz-style game with a music theme.
The host says the title of a song, and players try to start singing the chorus faster than the others—a simple rule.
The key point is that it’s the chorus, not the opening line, so mistakenly starting from the beginning can be a fun twist.
In addition to timing, you could also judge accuracy of the lyrics and how far someone can sing, which might make it even more enjoyable.
It’s a peaceful, feel-good game where you can savor the joy of singing together with friends.
Classics and fan favorites! Party games that get everyone excited with just conversation (11–20)
Minori ka Rhythm 4
This is a game where each participant sets a two-syllable nickname, and the person who gets called says that word in time with the rhythm.
It was featured on the variety show “Gakkō e Ikō!” and became widely known under the name Minori-ka Rhythm 4.
As long as you can keep a four-beat rhythm, the rest runs on words alone, so it’s easy to start.
In addition to the basic rules, there are various optional rules, so it’s important to discuss which ones to apply before you begin.
Telephone (Chinese whispers)
It’s a game where a single sentence is set as the prompt, then passed along in order to each participant to see if the last person can answer without getting the prompt wrong.
Restrictions—like speaking in a low voice so only the next person hears, and limiting the number of times you can speak—make it easier for misunderstandings to occur.
The more participants there are, the more likely it is to drift from the original prompt, which is part of the fun.
The sentence chosen as the prompt is also important, and you can adjust the difficulty by changing the number of words that make up the sentence.
Werewolf game
Werewolf is a game that helps you deepen bonds with friends and teammates without using any props.
Players split into Werewolves and Villagers, and the goal is to find the hidden werewolves through discussion.
Choose a game master, then call in each participant one by one to tell them their role.
There are many roles like Seer and Knight, but starting with simple rules is recommended.
Because it’s a cooperative game to uncover the hidden werewolves, it’s perfect for building teamwork.
Give it a try at parties or retreats—it’s a game you can enjoy for long stretches.
Bamboo Shoot Gnocchi
A game where each player takes turns calling out numbers with “Nyoki” attached—like “1-Nyoki,” “2-Nyoki”—while stretching their hands upward like growing bamboo shoots.
The idea is to avoid being the one left at the final number and to avoid overlapping with others.
If you wait too long for the right moment, you’ll end up being left; but if you aim to go first, you might clash with someone else.
The back-and-forth mind games make it exciting.
The fewer the players, the higher the chance of getting stuck at the end, which creates a sense of urgency as everyone tries to bail out quickly, adding to the speed and thrill.