If you’re a fan of fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping party games, then you’re probably familiar with the classic game of Hot Potato.
This simple yet exciting game has been entertaining people for generations, where players pass around a potato-like object quickly before the timer runs out.
Now, we’ll explore exciting games like Hot Potato that are sure to keep the energy high and the laughter flowing at your next gathering.
Musical Chairs:
A classic game that shares similarities with Hot Potato is Musical Chairs. To set up this activity, arrange a circle of chairs, one fewer than the number of players. Play some upbeat music and have the players walk around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone must scramble to sit on a chair. The player left standing is eliminated, and one chair is removed. This process continues until only one player remains seated.
Pass the Water Balloon:
For a refreshing twist on Hot Potato, try Pass the Water Balloon. Gather a group of players in a circle and hand one person a water balloon. They must pass the balloon to the person beside them, but here’s the catch – they can only use their chin and neck to hold the balloon! The players must rely on their coordination and teamwork to successfully pass the balloon without dropping it or popping it.
Related: 20 Exciting Filling And Emptying Activities for Preschool Kids
Balloon Stomp:
Add a playful and energetic twist to the passing game with Balloon Stomp. Inflate several balloons and scatter them across a designated area. Gather your group and assign each person a balloon by tying it to their ankle with a string. When the game starts, players must stomp on and pop each other’s balloons while protecting their own. The objective is to be the last person with an intact balloon.
Sticky Note Dash:
Get your group moving and thinking on their feet with Sticky Note Dash. Prepare a set of sticky notes with various challenges or tasks written on them. Scatter the sticky notes around a designated area. When the game starts, players must run to find a sticky note, complete the challenge written on it, and pass it to the next player before moving on to find another one.
Balloon Volleyball:
Give the passing game a sporty twist with Balloon Volleyball. Set up a makeshift volleyball court using a rope or a net and divide your group into two teams. Instead of a regular volleyball, use a balloon as the ball. The objective is to keep the balloon in the air and pass it back and forth over the net using only your hands or any body part except for your feet. The teams must work together to keep the balloon from touching the ground while strategically passing it to the opposing team.
Hot Spoon Relay:
Put a spin on the traditional relay race with the Hot Spoon Relay. Divide your group into teams and provide each team with a spoon. Set up a course with markers or cones, and the first player from each team must balance a small object, like a ping pong ball, on their spoon. They then race through the course, passing the spoon and object to the next teammate without dropping it. The team that completes the relay without any mishaps wins!
Emoji Charades:
Combine the excitement of Hot Potato with the creativity of charades by playing Emoji Charades. Write down various emoji symbols on small pieces of paper and place them in a bowl or hat. One player starts by drawing a random emoji and silently acts it out while the timer runs. They must then pass the paper to the next player, who acts out the next emoji, and so on. The goal is to guess as many emojis correctly as possible within a given time limit.
Egg and Spoon Race:
An entertaining twist on Hot Potato is the Egg and Spoon Race. Gather a group of participants and provide each person with a spoon and a hard-boiled egg. Set up a race course with a designated start and finish line. The players must balance the egg on their spoon and race to the finish line without dropping or touching the egg with their hands. If the egg falls, they must go back to the starting line and try again. The first player to successfully complete the course without dropping the egg wins!
Pass the Hula Hoop:
Inject some physical fun into the passing game by playing Pass the Hula Hoop. Form a circle with your group and give one person a hula hoop. The objective is to pass the hula hoop around the circle without breaking the chain of hands. The challenge lies in maneuvering the hula hoop over and under each person’s arms while maintaining a steady rhythm. As the hula hoop makes its way around the circle, the excitement builds, and players must stay focused and coordinated.
Simon Says:
For a game that combines quick thinking and following instructions, try Simon Says. Designate one person as “Simon” and have them give commands to the other players, starting each command with “Simon says.” The players must follow the instructions only when the phrase “Simon says” precedes the command. If a player follows an instruction without “Simon says,” they are out of the game. Simon tries to catch players off guard by issuing commands without using the phrase, testing their attentiveness.
Water Relay:
Beat the heat and keep the passing game exciting with a Water Relay. Divide your group into teams and set up a course with markers. Place buckets filled with water at the starting line and empty buckets at the finish line. The objective is to pass water-filled cups or sponges from one teammate to the next, transporting the water to the empty buckets at the end. The team that successfully fills their bucket first wins!
Musical Statues:
Add a twist of movement and freeze to the passing game with Musical Statues. Start by playing music and having the players dance or move around the designated area. When the music stops, everyone must freeze in their current position. One player then passes a designated object, such as a ball or a stuffed animal, to the next frozen player. The passing continues whenever the music stops, with players holding the object until the next freeze moment.
Beach Ball Toss:
Bring the beach vibes to your passing game with the Beach Ball Toss. Get a large beach ball and gather your group in a circle. Start by tossing the ball to someone while calling out their name. That person catches the ball and tosses it to another player, calling out their name. The game continues, with players rapidly passing the ball while keeping track of who they’ve thrown it to. The goal is to maintain the rhythm and prevent the ball from hitting the ground.
Ping Pong Chaos:
Introduce some controlled chaos to your passing game with Ping Pong Chaos. Gather a group of players and provide each person with a ping pong paddle and a ping pong ball. Start by having one player serve the ball to another player, who must hit it back. The catch is that each player must hit the ball to a different person each time, creating a continuous flow of passing. The game becomes more challenging as the speed increases and players try to keep up with the chaotic passing pattern.
Giant Jenga Pass:
Combine the tension of Jenga with the passing element by playing Giant Jenga Pass. Set up a giant Jenga tower and gather your group around it. The objective is to carefully remove one block from the tower using only one hand and pass it to the next player in line. The next player must receive the block and add it to the top of the tower without causing it to collapse. The game continues, with players taking turns removing and passing blocks until the tower falls.
Dance Circle:
Combine the joy of dancing with the passing game by playing Dance Circle. Gather your group in a circle and start some energetic music. One person starts by showcasing a dance move or a short dance routine. They then pass the dance to the person next to them, who adds their own move before passing it along. The dance continues, with each player contributing their unique moves to create a collaborative dance sequence.
Bag of Riddles:
Combine the passing element with brain teasers by playing Bag of Riddles. Prepare a bag filled with riddle cards or written riddles. Gather your group and pass the bag around. Each player takes a turn drawing a riddle card, reads it aloud, and has a limited time to come up with the correct answer. If they can’t solve the riddle, they pass the card to the next player, who gets a chance to answer. The game continues until all the riddles have been solved or until time runs out.
Balloon Pop Relay:
Inflate the energy of the passing game with Balloon Pop Relay. Divide your group into teams and give each team a balloon. Set up a relay race course with markers or cones. The objective is to pass the balloon from one teammate to the next, using only body parts like elbows, knees, or heads. The last player in each team must pop the balloon by sitting on it or squeezing it between their bodies before racing back to the starting line. The first team to complete the relay race and pop their balloon wins!
Storytelling Circle:
Unleash your creativity and imagination by playing the Storytelling Circle game. Gather your group in a circle and start with a prompt sentence or phrase. The first player must quickly continue the story by adding a few sentences before passing it to the next player. Each player builds upon the story, contributing their ideas and twists, while keeping the narrative flowing. The game continues, with players passing the story around the circle until it reaches a satisfying conclusion or a designated endpoint.
Picture Drawing Telephone:
Put a creative spin on the passing game with Picture Drawing Telephone. Each player starts with a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. They begin by writing a short phrase or sentence at the top of the paper. After a set time, players pass their paper to the person on their right, who must draw a picture based on the phrase. They then fold the paper to hide the phrase and pass it to the next person, who must write a phrase based on the picture.
