21 (a numbers game)

As a group, you’re basically counting up towards 21. However, the goal is to not be the person that hits 21+. Mainly a drinking game, but I guess you could add your choice of “punishment” for losing.

Rules

• The game starts at 1, and ends when a player reaches 21 or more, or someone makes a mistake.
• When it is a player’s turn, they have 3 choices: 1 number (e.g., one), 2 numbers (e.g., one two), 3 numbers (e.g., one, two, three)
• 1 number will pass the turn to the next player depending on the direction
• 2 numbers will reverse the direction
• 3 numbers will skip a person in the original direction
• The play starts with a person saying: I declare a game of 21 to my [left/right], [number(s)]
• You can’t double a double (e.g., if person 1 says one-two, person 2 can’t follow up with three-four)
• You can’t triple a triple (e.g., if person 1 says one-two-three, person 2 says four-five-six, then person 3 cannot say seven-eight-nine)
• The round ends when a player makes a mistake or a player is stuck saying twenty-one.
• A mistake includes: saying the wrong next number, saying numbers out of turn, not responding quickly enough (i.e., did not realize it was your turn)
• The loser needs to do the punishment, and will start the next round
• If the game reaches 21, then the player who lost gets to make a rule
• Rules might include changing the name of a number, e.g., instead of “four” you need to bark like a dog

Example Say we have four players, clockwise 1,2,3,4 (i.e., player 2 is to the left of player 1, and player 4 is to the right)

1: I declare a game of 21 to my left, one-two

4: three-four-five

2: six

1: seven-eight

2: nine

3: ten-eleven-twelve

1: thirteen-fourteen

4: fifteen-sixteen-seventeen

2: nineteen-twenty

3: twentyone (loser)

Player 3 would get to choose a rule, and would start the next round.

The game gets increasingly harder as new rules are introduced.

We sometimes play an improv game called “1-2-3 WORD”.

The goal is to get 2 players to shout the same word at the same time. Best if played in a group of 3 or more, but the bigger the group, the better.

You start the game someone throwing out a word for inspiration (ex: “pizza”).

To play the game, two players next to each other face each other and simultaneously shout “1-2-3 {WORD}”, where {WORD} is the word/phrase which first comes to mind when each player thinks of the inspiration word (“pizza”).

If the 2 players happen to shout the same {WORD}, the game ends. If the 2 players each say a different {WORD}, play moves clockwise 1 position to the next player and the new inspiration are the {WORDS} which the prior 2 players said. You may not reuse words previously said.

It is a very quick game that can be played on car trips and usually gets a laugh when you finally get a pair that says the same word. It’s also helpful to go AS FAST AS YOU CAN in saying the words. The idea behind the game is to get in sync with the other players so you’re all starting to think alike.

Example: Players - 4 Inspiration word - PIZZA

Player 1 & Player 2 face off: P1 word - “Cheese!” P2 word - “Dominoes!”

Words don’t match, so next round begins: Inspiration words - CHEESE and DOMINOES

P2 word - “Bread sticks!” P3 word - “Board games!” (because “dominoes isnt just a pizza company, it’s also a board game and that very well could be a conclusion someone could draw from the inspiration words)

Words don’t match, so next round begins: Inspiration words - BREADSTICKS and BOARD GAMES

P3 word - “Game night!” P4 word - “Game night!”

Words match, so the game ends!

It usually takes MUCH longer than 3 rounds to match up (unless siblings are facing off - it’s best to separate close friends so the game doesn’t end too early).

Two truths, one lie is pretty fun even if you really know someone

The Mafia/Werewolf social deduction type games can be played without any equipment if someone knows the rules well enough. Alternatively you can use the free companion app that is meant for the One Night Werewolf version guides you through it.

My favorite is Botticelli. Easier to demonstrate than explain, but I get a kick out of it.

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