Kids’ birthday party: games with little reading
At a kids’ party, the main thing is that nothing stalls. Children don’t want to wait while someone reads out the rules, and text-heavy games leave the younger ones out. What works best are games you understand after watching a single round.
- for 3–6 people
Each child needs a phone or tablet on the same Wi-Fi – usually the adults’ devices are enough, since parents are around at pick-up anyway. If you’re short on devices, two children can take turns on one.
Games that fit
Corner Chaos
1–6 players3–5 minCorner Chaos explains itself: hold the phone sideways, turn it like a steering wheel, hit the gas. Up to six kids race at once, and computer drivers fill any empty spots.
Crazy Mau
2–8 players5–15 minworks without a TVMany kids already know Crazy Mau from the card table, and on the phone each child sees only their own cards. Calling “Mau!” reliably gets everyone excited.
Five Dice
1–6 players10–30 minworks without a TVFive Dice suits kids who can already do a bit of adding up: roll, keep some dice, pick a box. Since players take turns, it’s a calmer round after the race.
Sketch Round
3–10 players10–20 minSketch Round works once the kids can type words – the prompts are animals, food and everyday things. For the younger ones, an older child or an adult can do the typing.
Four in a Row
2 players3–10 minworks without a TVFour in a Row is the duel for two while the others eat cake or play outside. A child who isn’t in the mood for the group can also play against the computer.
How it can go
Starting line
Corner Chaos on the TV as soon as the kids arrive. It needs no explanation, and anyone without a device yet can watch the first race.
Card round
Then Crazy Mau at the table – the board shows the discard pile, the cards stay on each child’s device. A round is over quickly, and whoever loses is straight back in.
Calmer stretch
After cake, Five Dice or, for kids who can already write, a Sketch Round. On the side, two kids can play Four in a Row against each other.
Tips
- Connect the devices to the Wi-Fi and open Gather or the browser beforehand – it saves ten restless minutes at the start.
- Let the kids pick their own animal avatar; for many of them that’s half the fun.
- Don’t plan more than three games. Kids would rather play the same race twice than learn a new game with new rules.
More occasions
- Game night with friends
- Birthday games for grown-ups
- Games for Christmas
- New Year’s Eve with games
- Family gatherings: games for young and old
- Office parties and team events with games
- Game night for two
- Bachelor and bachelorette party games
- Flatshare night with games
- Rainy day: what to play when you’re stuck inside
- Holiday rental evenings: games without a TV
- School trips and youth camps: evening games
- Seniors’ club: familiar games on a new table
- Pre-party: quick games before you head out
- Getting-to-know-you night: games for new groups
- Halloween: games for a dark night
- Easter: games for the long weekend
- Family game night: playing with your kids
- Grandparents and grandkids: games for two to four
- Match night: games before kick-off and at half-time
- Cabin weekend: games for several evenings
- An evening on your own: games against the computer