Perfect for killing time! A roundup of games for three people to enjoy
What kinds of games can you play when there are three people—like a close-knit trio, three siblings, or a family of three? Some games are easier with an even number, but once it’s an odd number, certain games get harder to play, right? In this article, we’ll introduce games you can play with your body or hands that work for three people.
We’ve gathered games you can use in various situations: to get some exercise, to burn off extra energy, or to kill time when you have a free moment.
Spend a fun time moving your body and hands together with your children or friends!
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- A card game for three players. Enjoy mind games and psychological battles!
- Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation games.
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- Kill time while waiting or stuck in traffic! A roundup of games four people can play
- Perfect for killing time! Fun games you can easily play on LINE
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- Recreation Ideas That Truly Excite High School Students! A Fun Collection of Activities
Classic Board, Card, and Video Games (1–10)
Mario Kart
Mario Kart, the classic racing game from Nintendo, is a title you can really get excited about, thanks in part to its colorful world.
Beyond enjoying it on a big indoor screen, you can also play on the go using a handheld system.
The tactical back-and-forth—like using items to disrupt opponents—is a key element that makes the game more exciting, so it’s especially fun when you can chat while playing.
It’s also interesting how players’ personalities come through in their choices of characters and driving styles.
The Game of Life
Let’s try playing The Game of Life! We’ll play using toy money and a roulette spinner.
You decide for yourself whether to buy insurance—it’s a game from the start, but it feels very real.
Decide the turn order and spin the roulette.
Move forward the number of spaces shown.
Read the space you land on and pay toy money, get a windfall, or even go into debt—it’s a realistic and super fun game.
The first person to reach the goal wins! How much will you have left at the end? It’s a game everyone—kids and adults—can enjoy together.
Give it a try!
Genshin Impact
How about trying three-player co-op in the hugely popular game Genshin Impact? It’s a feature unlocked at Adventure Rank 16, and playing with multiple people has lots of benefits: boss farming becomes easier, and the companionship EXP you can earn for characters is doubled.
There are also chests that can’t be opened unless there are at least two players, so if you can, there’s no reason not to try it.
Another nice perk is cross-play across mobile, PC, and consoles.
One thing to note: the player with the lowest Adventure Rank needs to be the host.
Catan
Catan is a board game released in Germany in 1995 and is indispensable when talking about the subsequent board game boom.
The rule is that the player who develops an uninhabited island and makes it the most prosperous wins, so deciding how to act is crucial.
To score higher, you need to anticipate your opponents’ moves as you proceed, and that back-and-forth makes the game more exciting.
Since dice introduce an element of luck, it’s a game where it’s important to build your strategy with that in mind as well.
Classic Board, Card, and Video Games (11–20)
MINECRAFT
Minecraft, also famous as “the best-selling game in the world.” It’s a sandbox game where you survive in a blocky world! Build houses, travel in search of new scenery, head out to slay a dragon—there are countless ways to play depending on your imagination.
And of course, since we’re introducing it here, it supports multiplayer.
Play with friends and both your efficiency and fun will multiply.
Try finding an obstacle-course (parkour) server, log in together, and compete in character control—it’s a blast!
SEQUENCE
The board game SEQUENCE is hugely popular in the United States.
It’s a board game that uses playing cards and is somewhat similar to Japan’s gomoku (five-in-a-row).
To play, you place a chip on the space that shows the same card as one in your hand, and the first player to line up five chips wins.
With its simple rules and flexibility for anywhere from 2 to 12 players, it’s an easy, casual game you can enjoy anytime with anyone.
karuta (traditional Japanese playing cards)
Karuta is a traditional Japanese game that’s strongly associated with New Year’s.
The rules involve listening to the reader’s words and quickly grabbing the corresponding card.
The phrases that are read aloud vary depending on the set being used, so your ability to clearly catch the words is put to the test.
Many sets have picture-only grabbing cards as well, so it’s important to use your imagination to visualize the situation from the words.
The combinations of phrases and cards also help build excitement, so be particular about which karuta set you choose to use.