15 Best Party Games With No Equipment You Can Play Anywhere

You have a group of people ready to play a game, but nobody brought cards, dice, a board game, or anything else that might actually help.

That does not mean game night is over before it begins. Some of the best group games require nothing except enough people to play them.

And when we say these are party games with no equipment, we mean no equipment. You will not suddenly discover halfway down the list that you need a deck of cards, a pad of paper, a ball, or an app on someone’s phone. If you have the people, you have everything required to play these games.

Some work particularly well with children, others are better for adults or mixed groups, and several can be adapted for almost anyone. Whether you need an icebreaker, something active, or a game everyone can play while sitting around a room, there is an option here.

Best No-Equipment Party Games at a Glance

No-Equipment Party Games for Almost Any Group

These games are the easiest place to start when you have a mixture of players and do not know exactly what everyone will enjoy. They require little explanation, can accommodate different group sizes, and can usually be adjusted to suit the people playing.

1. Charades

Charades is one of the most adaptable no-equipment party games because the only thing you really need is an idea to act out. One player silently acts out a word, phrase, title, person, or activity while everyone else tries to guess the answer.

For a completely equipment-free game, skip written cards and have someone privately give the actor a prompt. You can also choose a category before each turn and let the actor select their own answer within that category.

Players can compete individually or divide into teams. If you do not have a timer available, simply keep turns moving rather than enforcing an exact time limit.

For hand signals, scoring options, and other variations, see our complete guide to how to play Charades.

2. Telephone

Telephone works particularly well with larger groups and requires absolutely nothing to set up. Players sit or stand in a line or circle. The first person thinks of a sentence and whispers it once to the next player.

That player whispers what they heard to the next person, and the message continues around the group. Nobody can ask for the sentence to be repeated.

When the message reaches the final player, they say it aloud. The first player then reveals the original sentence so everyone can discover how much it changed along the way.

Telephone does not require scoring or even a winner, which makes it especially useful when you simply need a quick group activity. Our Telephone game rules include additional variations and tips.

3. Twenty Questions

One player secretly thinks of a person, place, animal, or object. Everyone else tries to identify it by asking questions that can be answered with yes or no.

The group gets a maximum of 20 questions to find the answer. Players can make a guess whenever they think they know it, although you should decide beforehand whether an incorrect guess counts as one of the 20 questions.

Twenty Questions works especially well with smaller groups because everyone can participate in the same conversation. For younger players, choosing a category such as animals or foods can make the possibilities less overwhelming.

4. Categories

Choose a category such as movies, animals, foods, cities, superheroes, or things found in a kitchen. Going around the group, each player must name something that belongs in the category.

Answers cannot be repeated. A player who repeats an answer, gives an invalid response, or cannot think of something new is eliminated. Continue until only one player remains.

You can make Categories more difficult by adding a letter restriction. For example, players might have to name animals beginning with the letter B. Because there is nothing to write down, someone in the group will need to keep track of answers that have already been used.

5. Word Association

Word Association may be the fastest game on this list to begin. The first player says any word. The next player immediately responds with a word they associate with it, and play continues around the group.

If the first word is “beach,” the next player might say “ocean.” The following player could say “fish,” followed by “aquarium,” “glass,” and so on.

For a casual version, simply keep the chain going for as long as possible. For a competitive game, eliminate anyone who takes too long, repeats a word, or gives an association the group decides is too much of a stretch.

No-Equipment Party Games That Get People Talking

Not every party game needs a winner. These games work particularly well when people are meeting for the first time, when a group wants something less active, or when the conversation itself is part of the entertainment.

6. Two Truths and a Lie

Each player thinks of three statements about themselves. Two statements are true, and one is false.

The player shares all three statements without revealing which one is the lie. Everyone else discusses the possibilities and guesses which statement is false before the answer is revealed.

Then another player takes a turn.

The game works best when the truths are surprising enough to sound questionable and the lie is believable enough that it could reasonably be true. No scoring is necessary, although players can earn a point for correctly identifying each lie if the group wants a competitive version.

7. Would You Rather?

One player asks the group to choose between two hypothetical options: “Would you rather explore the deepest part of the ocean or walk on the Moon?” Everyone chooses an answer and, if they want, explains why.

The questions can be ridiculous, difficult, thoughtful, or tailored to the group. Players then take turns creating the next choice.

Would You Rather? works particularly well as a low-pressure party game because there is no correct answer and no requirement to keep score. For mixed-age groups, keep the questions appropriate for everyone playing.

8. Fortunately, Unfortunately

Fortunately, Unfortunately is a collaborative storytelling game in which the group creates an increasingly ridiculous story one sentence at a time.

The first player begins with a statement such as, “Fortunately, I won a free vacation.” The next player must continue with an unfortunate development: “Unfortunately, the vacation was on a deserted island.”

The next person adds another fortunate development, and the group continues alternating between good and bad events.

There is no winner. The challenge is keeping the story going while building logically, or at least entertainingly, on whatever the previous player added.

Active Party Games With No Equipment

If the group has room to move, these games add more physical activity without requiring balls, cones, chairs, or other supplies. Make sure the playing area is clear of obstacles before starting.

9. Simon Says

Choose one player to be Simon. Simon faces the group and gives commands such as “Simon says touch your toes” or “Simon says stand on one foot.”

Players should follow a command only when it begins with “Simon says.” If Simon simply says “Clap your hands,” anyone who follows the instruction is eliminated.

The last player remaining wins and can become Simon for the next game.

The caller can make the game more difficult by giving commands quickly or performing a different action from the one being described. Our complete Simon Says rules cover the traditional game and several variations.

10. Mother, May I?

Choose one player to be Mother and have everyone else stand some distance away. Players take turns asking permission to move toward Mother with requests such as, “Mother, may I take three giant steps?”

Mother can approve the request by saying, “Yes, you may,” or change it by giving the player a different movement or number of steps.

If a player moves without first asking, “Mother, may I?” they return to the starting line. The first player to reach Mother wins.

Our guide to how to play Mother, May I? includes additional movement ideas and common variations.

11. Red Light, Green Light

One player serves as the caller and stands at one end of the playing area while everyone else lines up at the opposite end.

When the caller says “Green light,” players move toward the caller. When the caller says “Red light,” everyone must immediately stop. Anyone caught moving after the red-light command can be sent back to the starting line or moved backward, depending on the rules established before play begins.

The first player to reach the caller wins and can take over the role for the next game.

See our complete Red Light, Green Light rules for variations and options for different age groups.

12. Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

Ordinary Rock Paper Scissors becomes a party game when you turn the entire group into a tournament.

Pair everyone up for the first round. Each pair plays Rock Paper Scissors, with rock beating scissors, scissors beating paper, and paper beating rock. The winners find another winner and play again.

Instead of leaving the game after losing, eliminated players can become supporters for the person who defeated them. As the tournament continues, the remaining competitors accumulate increasingly large cheering sections until the final two players face each other.

If the group has an odd number of players, one person can receive a first-round bye or join the next available matchup.

Credit: iStock/AnnaStills

Quieter Games With No Equipment

These games work when there is not much room to move or when the group wants something calmer. They can also be useful while traveling, waiting for an activity to begin, or sitting around a table or living room.

13. I Spy

One player secretly chooses an object that everyone can see and says, “I spy with my little eye something…” followed by a clue, traditionally the object’s color.

The other players take turns guessing which object was selected. The person who correctly identifies it becomes the next player to choose an object.

I Spy works particularly well with children, but the difficulty can be increased by choosing less obvious objects or using clues based on shape, location, or another visible characteristic.

14. I’m Going on a Picnic

The first player says, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing…” followed by an item.

The next player repeats the first person’s item and adds another. Each player must repeat the entire growing list in the correct order before adding something new.

For example:

“I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing apples.”

“I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing apples and sandwiches.”

“I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing apples, sandwiches, and lemonade.”

The list continues growing until someone forgets an item or puts the items in the wrong order. You can eliminate that player and continue until one person remains, or simply start a new list whenever someone makes a mistake.

Some groups play a different version in which a hidden rule determines what can be brought on the picnic. That is a separate guessing variation and does not require players to memorize an ever-growing list.

15. Wink Murder

Wink Murder gives a larger group a simple mystery to solve. One player secretly becomes the murderer while everyone else tries to identify them.

The murderer eliminates other players by making eye contact and winking at them. After being winked at, a player waits briefly before dramatically announcing their demise or otherwise leaving the active game.

The remaining players watch for suspicious behavior and try to determine who is responsible without becoming the next victim.

The only complication in a truly equipment-free version is secretly choosing the murderer. One person can act as a moderator, have everyone close their eyes, and quietly tap the selected player on the shoulder. Once the role has been assigned, nothing else is required.

For accusation rules, moderator options, and other versions, see our full guide to how to play Wink Murder.

How to Choose a No-Equipment Game

The best choice depends less on the game itself than on the group you have in front of you.

For a group that wants to move, Simon Says, Mother, May I?, and Red Light, Green Light are easy to start. Charades, Telephone, and Wink Murder can accommodate larger groups without requiring much space. Twenty Questions, Word Association, and I’m Going on a Picnic work when everyone would rather stay seated.

Icebreakers are a different situation. Two Truths and a Lie and Would You Rather? give people something to talk about without demanding that anyone immediately perform in front of a room full of people they just met.

Age matters too. Simon Says and I Spy are easy choices for younger children, while games such as Twenty Questions, Categories, and Fortunately, Unfortunately can become more challenging as the players get older.

What Counts as a No-Equipment Game?

For this list, the standard is deliberately strict. A game qualifies only if you can play it without cards, dice, paper, pencils, balls, boards, phones, apps, or other supplies.

That does not mean every version of these games is always equipment-free. Charades is often played with written prompts, for example, and some groups use cards to assign roles in Wink Murder. Each game listed here, however, has a practical version that can be played without those extras.

A clock or phone can certainly be used as a timer if one is available, but none of the games on this list requires one. If a turn feels too long, the group can simply move things along.

Party Games With No Equipment FAQs

What are some easy games to play with no equipment?

Word Association, Twenty Questions, Telephone, Simon Says, and I Spy are among the easiest games to start because they require very little explanation and no preparation.

What no-equipment games work for a large group?

Charades, Telephone, Wink Murder, Simon Says, and a Rock Paper Scissors tournament can all accommodate larger groups. The amount of available space may determine which one works best.

What games can adults play without equipment?

Twenty Questions, Categories, Charades, Two Truths and a Lie, Would You Rather?, Word Association, Wink Murder, and Fortunately, Unfortunately can all work with adult groups. The prompts and subject matter can be adjusted to suit the people playing.

What no-equipment games are good for kids?

Simon Says, Mother, May I?, Red Light, Green Light, I Spy, Telephone, and I’m Going on a Picnic are simple options for children. Choose games appropriate for the children’s ages and the amount of available space.

Can you play party games without a phone?

Absolutely. None of the 15 games on this list requires a phone or app. A phone can provide a convenient timer for some games, but it is optional.

Game Night Does Not Need a Supply List

Cards, boards, dice, and elaborate setups can make for great games, but they are not prerequisites for getting a group playing together.

Sometimes the useful question is much simpler: What can everyone play right now?

These 15 games answer that question without requiring a trip to the store, a printer, an app download, or even advance planning. Pick something that suits the group, explain the rules, and start playing.