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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Classics and fan favorites! Party games that get everyone excited with just conversation (11–20)
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.
Two-letter shiritori
Would you like to try playing two-letter shiritori? In regular shiritori, you connect the last letter of the previous word to the first letter of your word regardless of length, and the person who uses a word that ends with “n” loses.
This version adds one more rule: you can only answer with two-letter words.
It’s perfect for when regular shiritori is too easy and boring.
If you want to make it even harder, try banning repeated words or keeping a steady rhythm while playing.
It’s a real test of your vocabulary!
Stealthy-Stealthy Game
This is a game devised by Shohei Osada of the comedy duo Chocolate Planet, inspired by one of his own sketches.
Building on the line “sorori sorori” delivered by Osada in the role of a kyogen performer, the rule is to answer given prompts using the pattern “—ri —ri.” Since there aren’t necessarily clear-cut answers to things, what matters is whether you can give a response that convinces the other person.
Sometimes the prompts can be too difficult, so if you can’t answer, it might be a good idea to check whether the questioner has an answer in mind and use that as the basis for judging.
playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent’s move (i.e., acting with hindsight/cheating)
In regular rock-paper-scissors, both players reveal their hands at the same time to decide the winner.
However, in this after-the-fact version, you first look at your opponent’s hand, then instantly choose your own, aiming to achieve the specified outcome at the very moment their hand becomes visible.
Because the normal rule is to try to win, people tend to reflexively throw a winning hand on the spur of the moment.
So make sure to suppress that reflex before deciding your move.
The basic approach is to have players think of a losing hand after seeing the opponent’s hand, but by mixing in winning hands and ties as well, you can raise the difficulty even further.
Myanmar Game
Let’s play a fun, laughter-filled game: the Myanmar Game.
First, try saying “Myanmar.” It’s pretty hard to pronounce, right? This is a game where you keep saying tricky words like that.
With each person’s turn, the number of times you have to say “Myanmar” increases.
As you repeat “Myanmar, Myanmar,” your tongue gets more and more twisted, which makes it hilarious for both the speaker and the listeners.
It’s a game that gets everyone fired up—and you’ll be impressed if someone can say it smoothly.
Try the Myanmar Game during a little bit of free time!
riddle
Nazokake is a traditional wordplay that uses rephrasing and word construction, and it’s a staple in rakugo performances as well.
This is a game that uses nazokake to test both the breadth of your knowledge of words and your ability to construct them.
If building a nazokake from a prompt feels too difficult, proceed in a quiz format using books or videos as references.
Starting from a state where the prompt and answer are given, think up the “sono kokoro wa” (the punchline or rationale), and you’ll develop your rephrasing skills and creativity.
Classics and fan favorites! Party games that get lively with conversation alone (21–30)
Atama-Oshiri Game
The fresh, TV-famous rhythm game “Atama-Oshiri Game”! In time with the music, you answer by connecting the first and last letters of the word presented.
You have 10 seconds, and the key to winning is whether you can come up with longer words or more letters.
It tests both speed and creativity, so everyone can have fun cranking their brains together.
On the show, Banana Man and Sandwich Man take on the challenge, with unexpected answers being a highlight.
Enjoy laughs and edge-of-your-seat moments.
It’s a recommended game that gets families and friends pumped up while training rhythm and quick thinking at the same time.
