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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Fingerplays, hand play, and movement games (1–10)
Finger Kendo
Finger Kendo: a game you can play using just your fingers, no bamboo swords needed.
First, clasp both hands and face each other.
Among your clasped hands, extend both pinkies and press them together.
Then, take turns tapping your opponent’s extended finger with your own.
If the pressed-together position breaks, that player loses.
The loser then extends the next finger—the ring finger—in the same way.
The player who breaks the opponent’s finger position wins and continues tapping with the same finger.
Repeat this process, and the first person to break all five fingers up to the thumb wins.
It’s easy to play, so give it a try when you have some free time!
Minori ka Rhythm 4
After the call of “Match the rhythm starting from ~,” you say a name and a number.
The person whose name is called then chants their own name repeatedly the specified number of times! Even if you don’t know the game name Minori-ka Rhythm 4, many of you may have played it with friends.
The rules people know can differ by region and generation, so it might be fun to ask, “What rules did you use?” and try it out—you’ll discover lots of variations.
While it’s often thought to be more exciting with a big group, it’s plenty enjoyable with just two people!
Knee Touch Game
Introducing the idea for the “Knee Touch Game,” a simple yet thrilling activity where two people face each other, hold hands, and try to touch the other person’s knee with their free hand.
The rules are simple, but it requires quick movements, timing, and mind games, and it can easily turn into a serious showdown.
You can use feints and aim for brief openings, making it strategic and guaranteed to get everyone excited.
Since it’s usually played standing, the game’s charm lies in engaging your whole body.
It requires no preparation and can be started right away in any spare moment, which adds to its appeal.
It’s a fun game that works both body and mind, blending laughter with just the right amount of tension.
Myanmar Game
Let’s play the hilarious “Myanmar Game,” a fun challenge that will have you stifling laughter.
Try saying “Myanmar.” It’s surprisingly hard to pronounce, right? In this game, two players take turns saying a tricky word like that.
Each turn, the number of times you have to say the word increases.
As you repeat “Myanmar, Myanmar,” your tongue gets more and more tangled, which is hilarious for both the speaker and the listener.
It’s a high-energy game that really heats up, and you’ll be impressed if someone can say it smoothly.
Give the Myanmar Game a try when you have a little free time!
Chopstick Game
It’s a game where both players hold out their hands with index fingers extended, face each other, and take turns tapping the opponent’s hand to add up the number of extended fingers.
When a hand’s total reaches five, that hand is eliminated.
The goal is to eliminate both of your opponent’s hands.
As you add your fingers to your opponent’s, you predict how their state will change and what they’ll do next, making it a psychological battle.
Because it uses both hands, the range of possible predictions widens, and it likely demands even greater concentration.
playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent’s move (i.e., acting with hindsight/cheating)
A good brain exercise: “after-the-fact rock-paper-scissors.” First, have someone tell you whether you should win or lose, then when you play, throw your hand after them to match that instruction.
If they say “win,” throw the winning hand; if they say “lose,” throw the losing hand.
You can keep throwing only winning or only losing hands the whole time, or you can get instructions right before each round and throw accordingly—also recommended.
Increasing the speed of the game or keeping a steady rhythm makes it more challenging and even more exciting!
Finger Smash
Do you know a slightly advanced mind game called “Yubi-suma”? It’s a simple psychological game played with both thumbs.
In time with a chant, you call out a number; if the total number of raised thumbs matches the number called, you lower that hand.
The first person to lower both hands wins.
When playing with two people, use both thumbs and play with numbers from 0 to 4.
If the number of raised thumbs matches what your opponent called, the one who raised their thumb loses, and the one who baited them wins.
It’s a simple battle of probing and guiding, but it’s quite thrilling and fun.
It’s also great for quick spare moments, so I recommend it.