Welcome to our list of the top 13 indoor youth group games that are great for youth groups and families! Whether you’re planning a youth group event, a birthday party, or just having some fun at home, these indoor games provide plenty of entertainment, laughter, and friendly competition.
From classic board games to creative scavenger hunts, there is a game here to keep everyone entertained. So read on to discover the top 13 indoor youth group activities to get everyone having a great time.
Indoor Youth Group Games That Need Little To No Prep
1. Charades
Playing Charades with a youth group can be a great way to bring everyone together for some fun. It can be a great team-building game or just a way to pass the time. Here are some tips for playing charades with a youth group:
- Choose a theme. Before you start playing, decide on a theme for the game. This could be a movie, TV show, book, or anything else that the youth group might be interested in. This will help the players come up with ideas for the charades.
- Divide into teams. Divide the youth group into teams of two or three. This will make it easier to keep track of who’s playing and who’s guessing.
- Set a timer. Set a timer for each team to make sure that the game moves along quickly. This will also help ensure that the players don’t get too carried away with their charades.
- Make it competitive. Make the game competitive by awarding a prize to the team with the most correct guesses. This will help encourage the players to come up with creative charades.
- Keep score. Keep track of the score as the game progresses. This will help keep the game competitive and engaging.
- Make it fun. Most importantly, have fun! Charades is a great way to have a good time and bring everyone together.
2. Name That Tune
Name That Tune is one of our favorite indoor games for all ages. It’s a great way for everyone to get to know each other better. Here’s how to get started:
- Gather the group together and explain the rules. The goal is to guess the song title from a short song clip.
- Choose someone like a youth leader to be the DJ. This person will be in charge of playing the song clips.
- Decide how long each song clip will be. It should be long enough so that everyone can guess the song but not too long that it becomes too easy to play.
- Have the DJ play the first song clip. The group has to guess the song title as quickly as possible. Whoever guesses correctly first gets a point.
- Repeat the process with the next song clip. If nobody guesses correctly, no one gets a point.
- The group with the most points at the end of the game wins.
- Remember to have fun and enjoy the music!
3. Simon Says
Simon Says is a classic game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages but is especially popular with the youth. It’s a wonderful way to get everyone involved and have fun.
The game is simple: The leader, or “Simon”, gives a command, and everyone must obey it. The catch is that the command must begin with the phrase “Simon says.”
For example, Simon might say, “Simon says touch your nose.” Everyone must then touch their nose.
However, the leader can also give commands without saying, “Simon says.” As an example, they might say, “Jump up and down.”
In this case, no one should jump up and down. Those who do will be out of the game.
The game continues until there’s only one person left. Then, that person is the winner.
To make the game more interesting, the leader can add variations. For example, the leader can add a time limit to the commands, such as “Simon says touch your nose in five seconds”.
Or, they can add a physical challenge, such as, “Simon says hop on one foot and touch your nose.”
The game can also be made more competitive by allowing players to challenge each other. For instance, one player can challenge another to do a specific action within a certain time limit. And if the challenge is not completed, that player is out of the game.
Simon Says is a great game for groups of all sizes and ages, and it can be adapted to any setting. Playing it is a surefire way to have fun and get everyone involved.
4. Hot Potato
Hot Potato is a classic game that’s been around for generations. It’s a great game for all ages and can be played with as few as two players. The game is simple but lots of fun, and it’s sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
To play Hot Potato, you’ll need a small, soft object like a bean bag or a ball. Gather your friends and family in a circle and have one person start by passing the object around the circle.
As the object is passed, everyone should be singing the classic “Hot Potato” song. And when the song stops, whoever is holding the object is out of the game.
The game continues until there’s only one person left. Then, that person is the winner!
To make the game more challenging, you can add rules like not being able to pass the object to the person next to you or having to do a silly dance before passing the object.
Hot Potato is a great way to bring people together, have fun, and create lasting memories. It can be played indoors or outdoors and is sure to bring plenty of laughs and smiles. So, gather your family and friends, get a soft object, and get ready to play Hot Potato!
5. Heads Up, Seven Up
Heads Up, Seven Up is one of the most classic indoor youth group games for small groups. It’s a game that has been around for generations. It’s a fun and easy game that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages.
To start the game, the players must sit in a circle. Then, one player is chosen as the “caller” and stands in the middle of the circle.
The caller then calls out the phrase, “Heads Up, Seven Up,” and all the players must put their heads down and put their thumbs up.
Next, the caller walks around the circle, tapping each player on the head. Once the caller has tapped seven players, they must guess who the seven players are.
The seven players must then stand up and reveal themselves. The seven players then each have a chance to guess who the caller is. Whoever guesses correctly first wins the game.
The game can be played in different variations. For example, the caller can choose a specific category, such as animals or colors, and the seven players must guess which category the caller was thinking of.
In addition, the game can also be played with two callers. The two callers stand in the middle of the circle, one on the left and one on the right. The players must then guess which caller tapped them on the head.
The game can also be played by adding a point system. Players can earn points for correctly guessing the caller or correctly guessing the category. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
Heads Up, Seven Up is a great indoor game for youth groups, family gatherings, or even just a group of friends. It’s easy to learn and can provide hours of entertainment. So why not give it a try the next time you have a group of people together?
6. I Spy
Welcome to the wonderful world of “I Spy”! This classic game is perfect for kids of all ages and can be played just about anywhere.
I Spy is a game based around observation and deduction. To start the game, the “spy” chooses an object and says, “I spy with my little eye something…” followed by a description, such as, “…red.” The other players then take turns trying to guess the object the spy has chosen.
To make the game more challenging, the spy can give more detailed descriptions, such as, “…that’s round and sits on the table.” The other players must use their imagination and think creatively to come up with the correct answer.
When someone correctly guesses the object, it’s their turn to be the spy. I Spy is a perfect indoor game that needs no prep time and is a great way to pass the time.
7. Musical Chairs
Musical Chairs is an engaging, fun, and timeless game that can bring laughter and joy to any youth’s day, even in the midst of difficult times! To get started, you will need some chairs, one less than the number of players in your game.
All the chairs should be placed in a circle facing outwards. Once everyone is ready to play, the music starts, and the players walk in a circle around the chairs.
When the music stops, each player must find an unoccupied chair and quickly sit down. Whoever is left standing is out of the game.
Then, one chair is removed from the circle, and the music resumes for the next round. The game continues until there is only one player left standing. Musical Chairs is sure to bring lots of laughter and fun to any gathering.
8. Telephone
Telephone is an excellent way to test your memory and have a few laughs with your friends and family. It’s perfect for kids, teens, and all ages. So, how do you play “Telephone”? It’s simple.
Start by gathering your group of players – you’ll need at least three people, but the more, the merrier.
Then, one person starts off by whispering a phrase of their choosing into the ear of the person sitting next to them. That person then passes the phrase on to the next person, and so on, until it makes its way around the entire circle.
The fun part comes in when everyone is done passing the phrase along. The person who started the game whispers their phrase again, and then the last person in the circle says the phrase they heard out loud.
Telephone is definitely one of the best indoor youth group games that anyone can enjoy.
9. Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger Hunt is an exciting game that will have youth groups, your friends, or your family exploring the world around you in search of hidden treasures.
So, how do you play Scavenger Hunt? Well, it’s pretty simple. First, you’ll need to form teams of two or more players and assign each player a number.
Once that’s done, the next step is to create a list of items, places, or tasks that each team will have to find or complete. This can be anything from finding a specific item to visiting a location to asking a stranger a question.
Once you have all the items, places, or tasks written down, you can start the game. And whoever finds the treasure first wins!
Whether you’re playing indoors or out and about, Scavenger Hunt is a great way to have fun and keep everyone entertained.
10. Indoor Trivia
Indoor Trivia is a great way to test your knowledge and show off your smarts. Here’s how to play:
- Gather your group of friends or family.
- Decide on a set of topics for your trivia and write down the questions and answers.
- Divide the group into teams and have each team assign a scorekeeper.
- Begin the game! Ask a question to the group and whoever answers correctly first gets a point for their team.
- Keep track of the questions and answers as well as the team score and continue until all of the questions have been asked.
- At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins!
Indoor Trivia is sure to bring hours of entertainment and friendly competition.
11. Freeze Dance
Put on your dancing shoes because it’s time to play “Freeze Dance”. All you need is some music and a willingness to dance! Here’s how it works: First, everyone that wants to play should gather in the center of the room. Then, turn on the music and start dancing. As the music plays, show off your best moves and have a blast!
Stop the music every few seconds. And once it stops, everyone must freeze in place. Anyone who keeps dancing is out of the game. The last person standing will be the winner.
Freeze Dance is perfect for all ages and is sure to be a hit at your next youth group event. So turn on the tunes, get ready to dance, and have fun!
12. Pass The Parcel
Pass The Parcel is sure to keep everyone entertained and laughing as they pass around the parcel, full of surprises!
To play, gather your family and friends in a circle and give one person the parcel. Everyone should sit in a circle and pass the parcel to their right.
Along with the parcel, you can play music, and when the music stops, whoever is holding the parcel, will get to open it. You can either put small treats or prizes inside the parcel to give away.
To make the game more exciting, you can also add some rules to the game. For example, if a person has the parcel for more than three seconds, they have to do a silly dance or sing a song.
You can also ask the person who opened the parcel to answer a question or perform a task before they can keep the prize. Have fun and enjoy the surprises!
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13. Balloon Pop
Balloon Pop is one of the best indoor youth group games for small groups and for big groups as well. In this game, each player holds a balloon in their hands and has to try to pop it with their fingers. The first person to pop their balloon is the winner.
To get started, you will need to gather enough balloons for each player. You can use various colors or just one color. You can also choose different sizes of balloons depending on what you have available.
Once you have your balloons, the game begins! Each player places their balloon between their hands and then tries to pop it as quickly as possible. The first person to pop their balloon is the winner.
Balloon Pop is a game that is sure to bring joy and laughter to your youth groups, friends, and family.
Top 13 Indoor Youth Group Games – In Conclusion
To recap, the best indoor youth group games that made it to our list are:
- Charades
- Name That Tune
- Simon Says
- Hot Potato
- Heads Up, Seven Up
- I Spy
- Musical Chairs
- Telephone
- Scavenger Hunt
- Indoor Trivia
- Freeze Dance
- Pass The Parcel
- Balloon Pop
These fun activities will provide a positively engaging experience for the youth, our friends, and our family. They’re great for promoting healthy competition and social interaction. Now go have some fun!