Recommended games for two people that you can enjoy without any equipment
When it comes to games you can play without any tools, many of them use words.
Word-based games are great because many can be enjoyed by just two people, making them perfect for friends or couples! In this article, we’ll introduce wordplay and brainy games you can play in pairs without any equipment.
We’ve gathered a variety of games—from classics like Shiritori, the Yamanote Line game, and games where certain words are forbidden, to activities that have trended online and on social media.
There are also plenty of games you can play remotely, so try them out with friends or partners you can’t easily meet in person!
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Wordplay, Shiritori, and Brain Games (11–20)
Favorite-things shiritori
Shiritori, where you take the last sound of a word and connect it to the next, rarely leads to mistakes and can go on forever, right? This version adds new gameplay elements so you can enjoy strategy and mind games while also probing each other’s thoughts.
The theme is “what you like about the other person.” Following shiritori rules to pick up letters, you can speak in full sentences about what you like.
If you get embarrassed by your own words, you lose.
Choose words that will make the other person blush more, while being careful not to embarrass yourself—deliver your feelings plainly and directly.
Answer checking game
It’s a game where everyone announces the first answer that comes to mind from a given theme all at once, to see if you can come up with the same answer.
If your answers match, you can feel the bond between the two of you and get excited; if they don’t, it becomes a great topic for conversation afterward.
You can keep it simple as a game to see whether your thoughts align, or try a variation where one person predicts the other’s answer—this tests how well you understand your partner and is highly recommended.
Try checking your differences in thinking from multiple angles, from simple themes that yield instant answers to niche topics you may never have considered before.
Introducing someone else
Rather than introducing yourself, this is about introducing what kind of person the other person is.
It’s a simple game, but it tests how well you understand them, and it can also give you a chance to learn how you’re seen by others.
If you include memorable episodes you’ve shared, you’ll likely feel the bond between you.
It might also be fun to incorporate aspects of the person that only you know, creating a playful moment of mild embarrassment for them.
Ogiri (Japanese improv-style comedy wordplay game)
How about enjoying your free time with a simple yet challenging and fun ogiri (improv joke game)? In ogiri, you respond to a prompt with answers that are both appropriate and funny—a tough game that really tests your wit.
It’s a simple activity where you write your answers to the captain’s prompt on a sheet of paper and present them.
You’ll be surprised by unexpected answers and impressed by clever ones—guaranteed to liven things up.
It’s great with a crowd, but perfectly fun with just two people as well.
Play ogiri and laugh out loud!
Two-letter shiritori
Want 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 ends with an “n” loses, right? This game adds one rule: you can only answer with two-letter words.
It’s perfect when regular shiritori feels too easy and boring.
If you want to make it even harder, try banning repeated words or playing to a rhythm.
It’s a real test of your vocabulary!
Impromptu Novel Relay
It’s a game where you improvise a story-like passage, read it aloud, and then continue by building on the words spoken by the other person.
It tests not only writing skills but also mutual trust and creativity, such as how you expand the story from your partner’s words.
If two people are rallying back and forth, your turn will come quickly, so proceed while trying to anticipate how your partner will develop the story.
Since it can go on endlessly without rules, it’s a good idea to set things like keywords to use and how to wrap it up in advance.
Wordplay, Shiritori, and Brain Games (21–30)
Lyrics Shiritori Game
A fun game where you play shiritori using song lyrics.
Sing a line from a song, then continue with lyrics from another song that start with the last character of the previous line.
It’s great for everyone from kids to adults—you’ll recall familiar tunes and discover new ones.
Not only for people who love singing, it’s also a chance to encounter songs you don’t know.
Perfect for karaoke, parties, and school activities.
Even those who aren’t confident singers will naturally smile—simple yet surprisingly deep.
Put your musical knowledge and creativity to use and have fun playing!
