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!
- Fun two-player games recommended that you can play using conversation only
- Perfect for killing time! Games you can play with two people.
- [For 2 Players] Easy Pen-and-Paper Time-Killing Game
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- A card game for two players
- For two players: from games without equipment to tabletop games and apps
- Games for two people to enjoy. A roundup of party games that liven up drinking gatherings.
- Fun games you can play over the phone—even if you can’t meet!
- [Solo Time] A roundup of ways to kill time without using your smartphone
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [Part 2] Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for December
Fingerplays, hand play, and movement games (1–10)
Finger Catch
Finger Catch: Catch your partner’s finger with one hand while escaping your own hand with the other.
Make a tube with one hand by curling it into a circle, and raise the index finger on your other hand.
Once you’ve placed your index finger into your partner’s tube, you’re set.
When someone says “Catch,” both players try to grab the other’s finger and pull their own finger out at the same time.
Adding feints is recommended, such as saying different words like “cat” or “cap,” or dragging out “ca, ca” without saying the full word right away.
Take turns calling out “Catch.” You win if you successfully catch your partner’s finger while escaping with your own.
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!
Beef Tongue Game
How about trying a “Gyutan Game,” where you take turns exchanging words with your partner and keep going without making a mistake? It works with a large group, but playing with just two people might actually be the hardest.
It’s a brain-teasing game filled with keywords and clapping.
The person who says the word “gyū” in “gyūtan” is the owner of that turn.
The owner changes every time, and claps are added alternately.
As the number of repetitions increases, the clapping also increases, throwing your brain into chaos.
You have to instantly switch turns and count the number of claps at the same time, so it requires concentration.
It’s a recommended game you can play in spare moments without any equipment.
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!
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.
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.
Change Janken
This is a game that adds a psychological-warfare element to rock-paper-scissors, which is usually seen as a one-shot, winner-takes-all contest.
You enjoy reading each other’s words and facial expressions.
Place a divider between the two players so their hands can’t be seen, then start rock-paper-scissors.
As you talk and watch each other’s expressions, you’re free to change your hand to one that can beat your opponent.
You then declare which hand you switched to, and the other player tries to judge from your expression and the nuances of your words whether that’s true.
Since the back-and-forth can get heated and make a single game take a long time, it’s also recommended to set a limit on the number of times you can change your hand, so players focus on fewer, more meaningful exchanges.