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!
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Movement games and hand-play games (11–20)
Camera Boxing
A game invented by popular YouTubers Fischer’s: “Camera Boxing.” It’s a fun activity you can play anywhere with two players, one referee, and two smartphones! Boxing sounds painful… that’s what you might think.
But this game is very safe! Instead of throwing punches, you take photos of your opponent with your smartphone, and the number of times you capture them in your camera becomes your score.
Keep both feet planted without moving them, and for 30 seconds use your upper body to the fullest to avoid being caught on your opponent’s camera.
It’s quite a workout, so it’s recommended for anyone who feels they’re not getting enough exercise!
Stack and slam
Didn’t you play this when you were a kid and had free time? It’s a hand-only game called “Stack and Slap.” Everyone puts both hands out in front and stacks them at random without overlapping their own hands.
One person pulls out one hand and slaps down from above; the person who gets slapped is out, and the slapped hand leaves the game.
The last person with a hand remaining wins.
If the slapper misses, that hand is also out.
Finger Smash
Yubisuma is a game where players sit facing each other and try to guess the total number of thumbs that will be raised on a cue.
Many people may remember it being popular and playing it often back in their student days.
Since it requires no equipment at all, you can play it anytime, anywhere—it’s a very easy pick-up game.
The rules are as follows: First, all participants face each other.
Then each person makes fists in front of their body with both thumbs resting on top of their fists, not raised.
Next, the “caller” says a number after saying “Yubisuma,” declaring how many thumbs they think will go up on that cue.
If the caller says, for example, “Yubisuma, three,” and the total number of raised thumbs is indeed three, the caller wins that round and lowers one of their hands.
The first person to lower both hands is the overall winner.
Gesture game where your partner doesn’t get it
This is a cooperative gesture game played in pairs.
If there are three players, split into a pair and a solo player and rotate team members as you play.
The two players act out a prompt devised by the opposing team, but one of them must join the performance without knowing what they’re acting out.
While participating, that person should infer the storyline and, when the gestures end, state what the prompt was.
It’s a game where the key is how well the person who knows the prompt guides their partner.
Hide-and-seek
I think everyone played hide-and-seek when they were kids, but it actually gets pretty exciting even when you play it as adults.
As you know, the rules are simple: you hide, and the seeker tries to find you.
In a small area you’ll be found quickly, so it’s more fun to play somewhere out and about.
If there’s a reward for the person who stays hidden until the end, everyone gets really into it.
Turtle-turtle hop
This is a game whose appeal lies in the instant, hand-based outcome and the simple setup, and it could also serve as a trigger for a penalty game.
At the signal from the leader—“Kame Kame Pyon”—everyone lifts exactly one finger from the hand placed on the table.
Anyone who raises the same finger as the leader loses; if no one matches the leader’s finger, the leader loses.
When playing with three people, proceed using three fingers; adjust the number of fingers to match the number of participants.
It’s important to set things up so that the leader also has a real chance of losing.
Presence Slash
The indoor game “Kehaigiri,” which is also popular on YouTube, is a battle game played while blindfolded.
All you need are blindfolds and sticks made of foam or similar material.
If you don’t have those, loosely rolled paper sticks will work too.
The rules are: first, all participants put on their blindfolds.
Then everyone spins in place three times.
From where they stop, they take three steps in any direction, and the game begins.
Use your senses—such as the sounds of your opponent’s movements and their scent—to sense their presence.
It’s a thrilling game where you try to slash your opponent while avoiding being slashed yourself!
KY game
Participants take turns suggesting a prompt, and everyone simultaneously strikes a pose inspired by that prompt in this “KY game.” Anyone whose pose doesn’t match with anyone else receives a minus point; in the end, the person with the most minus points is deemed “KY,” meaning they failed to read the room.
The more participants there are, the more complex it becomes and the more clearly KY tendencies stand out, making it a lively party game.
Since it requires no equipment, you can start it right away even at an outdoor gathering.
Give it a try!
Dancing Gesture Game
This is a “Dancing Gesture Game” that blends music into a game where you guess what’s being expressed using only gestures.
The presenter listens to music and expresses it through dance.
The viewers don’t hear the music and try to guess which song the dancer is moving to.
The dance must be original—using choreography from the actual song is not allowed.
It might be a bit challenging for both the dancer and the guessers, but it gets really exciting.
All you need is a smartphone and earphones to play this easy, pick-up-and-go game!
Chopstick Game
Do you know the chopstick finger game? I think it has different names depending on the region.
Each player points their index fingers forward with both hands and plays rock-paper-scissors to decide the order.
Then you tap your opponent’s fingers, and the person who gets tapped adds that number of fingers.
For example, if you have 1 finger out and you’re tapped by 2 fingers, you go up to 3.
When a hand reaches 5 or more fingers, that hand is put down.
The first person to lose both hands loses the game.