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Popsicle Roulette

Popsicle Roulette is a mixture of sweet and gross frozen flavored fun! See what surprises lie inside and who has what it takes to finish their popsicle first.

Popsicle Roulette is a crazy fun and hilarious up front game. Shout out to James & Alysse Landa of Reclaim Youth for turning us on to it!

Before You Play

PREP TIME – 20 Minutes (plus time to freeze popsicles)

ITEMS NEEDED – Popsicle Mold(s), Popsicle Sticks, Kool-Aid Flavor Packets, Can of Beans, Hot Sauce, Peas

Game Info

GAME TIME – 5 Minutes

PARTICIPANTS – 4-6

How to Play Popsicle Roulette

Before you play, you’ll need to prep the popsicles. For this game, you’ll have 4-6 participants, so you’ll need to have at least that many popsicles, though I recommend making a couple extra just in case you run into any issues.

Next, determine what kind of popsicles you want to make. We have some recommendations listed above, but you can get creative here. You may elect to have three regular fruit flavored (Kool-Aid) popsicles and three gag ones, go all gag popsicles or even mix them up (i.e. beans inside Kool-Aid popsicle!).

Your next move is to make the popsicles. Simply mix everything and put them into a mold. You can find plenty of popsicle mold options here for around $10.

Now that you’re ready to go, call six participants up to play. Place blindfolds on them and let them know that they’ll be playing Popsicle Roulette. Reveal to everyone the flavors that have been made, but don’t tell the players which one they will be eating.

From here, hand out a popsicle to each participant and let them know that the first person to finish wins a prize ($10 Amazon Cards work great!).

Popsicle Roulette Bonus Tips

1. Have a garbage just in case someone can’t finish.

2. Take the popsicles out of the molds beforehand and place them back in the freezer. This way you’ll know if you run into any issues before the game starts.

3. Record it all and take lots of pics! Tag everyone on social media and share the craziness with everyone.

4. Have some upbeat music pumping once they begin eating and have your host give a little play-by-play.

5. Award the winner a box of refreshing popsicles!

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Quick Wit

Quick Wit is a fast-paced and highly entertaining game that asks participants to be quick on their feet.

Before You Play

PREP TIME – None (unless you take time to create your own category topics)

ITEMS NEEDED – Category Topics (provided below), Timer on Phone

Game Info

GAME TIME – 5 Minutes

PARTICIPANTS – 4-8 (can go as high as 16 or break into 2-4 teams)

How to Play Quick Wit

Playing Quick Wit is fairly simple. Once you call up your participants to the front, put them in pairs, as each pair will compete against each other. Explain to them that they will have five seconds to name something or someone from the category you name. Once player one names something, player two will have five seconds to do so. They ping pong back and forth until someone can’t come up with an answer in five seconds.

We’ve found that giving this example helps:

The category is US states. Player one might say Alabama, then player two would say New York. Player one would then say Oregon, player two responds with Pennsylvania and so on. Whoever is the last person to answer correctly has a Quick Wit!

You might think that the game will go on forever, but it’s actually harder than you think to keep on naming things in five seconds. Make sure someone is there with a timer. You can give a split second as a grace period, but try to stay as close to five seconds as possible. We’ve found that most games go less than a minute, and a highly competitive round goes two minutes.

Each pairing results in a winner, then the winners of each round play each other until you have a champion. This is why we like 8 players, as you will be able to watch 7 total rounds (4 games in round 1, 2 in the semi-finals, 1 for the finals).

We’ve listed 25 categories below to get you started, but feel free to get creative.

  • Water Animals
  • Names that Start with ___
  • Foods that start with ___
  • Fruits or Vegetables
  • Worship Songs
  • Cereals
  • Candy Bars
  • Fast Food Restaurants
  • US Presidents
  • Chips or Cookies
  • Movies Starring ___ (i.e. The Rock, Scarlett Johansson)
  • Foods that are Hot/Cold
  • Colors
  • Video Game Systems
  • Movies that had at least 3 in the series (i.e. Fast & Furious, Rocky)
  • Characters on ____ TV show
  • Things at School
  • Types of Dances
  • Genres of Music
  • Instruments in an Orchestra
  • College Mascots
  • Things found in the Fridge
  • Classes in School/College
  • Social Media Apps (past and current)
  • Shoe Brands

Alternate Version

Go back and forth with two teams instead of individuals. Be forewarned that the rounds usually last much longer because the pressure isn’t on one individual. For this reason, you may want to choose more difficult categories to keep the game moving.

Quick Wit Bonus Tips

1. Though you don’t need to be strict, you may need to verify an answer. In that case, we recommend you take note of what was said and let them keep playing until the end of the round. If you need to come back at the end to clarify, that’s fine.

2. This is a great up front game, but it also works to pass time on a long road trip. Our students love it and have played it many times on their own.

3. Put on some light music in the background, but do make sure the participants can be heard by the audience.

4. These are great engagement video posts. Simply ask your followers what was missed from the category posted. Not only do they watch the whole video to see what was said, but then you get to see their minds at work as well.

5. Award the winning team some Smarties or Nerds for their brain-powered prowess.

Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames!

Passing Pumpkins

Thanksgiving is upon us and we’ve got you covered. Passing Pumpkins is a simple and fun group game to play with your friends or family this fall.  Really, you can use this game any time during the fall or even during the Halloween season next year. It’s guaranteed to get your group up and moving and fill the room with plenty of laughs. Here’s how Passing Pumpkins works.

PREP TIME – 2 Minutes

ITEMS NEEDED – At least 1 mini pumpkin per team

GAME TIME – 2-5 minutes (depends on size of group)

PARTICIPANTS – At least 2 teams, but can divide up into smaller groups

INSTRUCTIONS

Passing Pumpkins is pretty much what it sounds like. If space allows, have teams stand in a circle so they are all facing each other. If you’re tight on space, have them stand in a single file line.

Once everyone is in position, hand one person on the team a mini pumpkin and explain that the goal of the team is to pass the pumpkin around the circle as quickly as possible until it reaches the person it began with. The team to do so first wins.

Ah, but we can never make it that simple at StuMinGames. Mix it up by telling them they can’t use their hands for the game. This will allow them to get creative with passing techniques.

Your other option is to give them a method for passing. Some suggestions for passing pumpkins are: feet only, under your chin, elbows only, knees only, or whatever your mind can conceive! Pick your favorite, or if you have a smaller group, use multiple methods and race against each other.

By the way, if they drop the pumpkin, they simply pick it up using the method you’ve listed- remember, no hands!

Once teams start passing pumpkins, we can assure you that hilarity will ensue!

BONUS TIPS

1. Have a few extra mini pumpkins on hand. They usually don’t split open, but it is possible.

2. Bust out the phone and go live or share your game on Snapchat or Instagram stories for everyone to see.

3. Spray paint a pumpkin with gold paint and award the team the “Golden Pumpkin” award.

4. Experiment with larger pumpkins if you really want to go big!

Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames!

Get our Top 25 Christmas Games today!

Christmas is almost here, but we’ve got you covered with our Top 25 Christmas Games! You’ll find plenty of games to make your Christmas gathering, party or event a hit. Everything from relay races and team activities to fun up-front games and trivia. Check out our Top 25 Christmas Games, get your game on, and have a very Merry Christmas!!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS RELAY

A simple fast-paced relay game involving the 12 Days of Christmas. Get some paper & bottles (buckets or cans work as well) and you’re ready to go!

AN AWKWARD CHRISTMAS

If you’re looking for something different, this is the perfect game for your group! Use our awkward Christmas photos and head out to reenact them with random people. Trust us, hilarity is sure to ensue!

ANTLER UP

A fun up-front game or one that everyone can participate in. Pantyhose, balloons and a frantic race are a great recipe for laughter and fun for everyone.

CANDY CANE CONNECTION

This team game gets people working together to see just how many candy canes they get connected in 60 seconds or less. Be careful not to snap those candy canes if your team wants to win this one!

CHRISTMAS JINGLE JUMBLE

Work together to put Christmas Songs back in order with Hershey Kisses. Super simple and super fun for everyone!

CHRISTMAS SCAVENGER HUNT

Head outside for an exciting hunt for some common and unique Christmas items. Find enough of them fast enough and your team may just wind up winning!

CHRISTMAS SONG CHARADES

See how well your group can act out some Christmas Classics. Creativity & quickness are key if you are to be victorious.

CHRISTMAS TRIVIA PPT – WORLD RECORD EDITION!

Test your useless Christmas knowledge with this great trivia game. Everything is on PowerPoint, so all you have to do is upload and play!

COVERED IN COTTON

It may or may not be snowing where you are, but this game is sure to get one of your team members covered in white. Pick up some duct tape and cotton balls and you’re ready to roll!

KRISPIE CREATIONS

One of our most creative games involves Rice Krispies Treats and a whole lot of imagination. See what creations your groups can come up with- they may just shock you with what they craft.

NAME THE CHRISTMAS MOVIE POWERPOINT GAME

Are you a Christmas Movie buff? Put your knowledge to the test with our downloadable PowerPoint game.

PROBLEM SOLVED?

You’ve got a problem and someone else has a solution. Put these comical situations together and get ready to for a good laugh!

SANTA’S SLEIGH

Need a little chaos? Then get your group up and moving with this awesome relay that everyone will enjoy. Make sure to be videoing this one- it will be an instant classic!

UNWRAP BATTLE

Want to say thank you to your team or group? Or maybe you just want to watch people go crazy for some prizes. Either way, this is one of the most intense and fun games on the list. Get some prizes and watch people go wild!

WRAP BATTLE

Decorating a tree is a lot of fun, but decorating a person is even better! Do your best, or worst, decorating job and see who comes out on top.

Minute To Win It Games

Select one or play multiple Christmas Minute To Win It Games. These are great to play, but also a ton of fun to watch!

#1 Deck The Balls

#2 Merry Fishmas

#3 Christmas Jingle

#4 Christmas In The Balance

#5 Christmas Cliffhanger

#6 Jingle In The Trunk

#7 Face The Gingerbread Man

#8 Wreath Relay

#9 Lollipop

#10 Christmas Ball

Bonus Game: Holiday Kiss

There you have it, our Top 25 Christmas Games that your group is sure to enjoy!

Make sure to check out over 200 games in our free Game Archive and make your gatherings great all year round.

Have a great game that you think others would enjoy. Shoot us a message on our Facebook page for the opportunity to be featured in our Game of the Month blog starting in January!

Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames!

Unwrap Battle

A couple years ago we introduced you to Wrap Battle, so today it makes sense to present Unwrap Battle. That’s right, win fun prizes by testing your unwrapping skills. When we recently played we had a blast, plus we learned some important lessons we’ll share with you from our go at it last year. Unwrap Battle is a great and fun way to show appreciation to your team for all their hard work during the year. Of course, this game can be played by any group.

PREP TIME – 10 Minutes

ITEMS NEEDED100 Feet of Saran/Plastic Wrap (minimum), 2 Dice, Paper Plate (or something to roll dice on) Candy, Money (optional), Gift Cards (optional), Oven Mitts (optional)

GAME TIME – 5-15 Minutes

PARTICIPANTS – Everyone

INSTRUCTIONS

In preparation for Unwrap Battle you will need to purchase candy, several prizes (gift cards) or have some money available. Take individual prizes and candy and intersperse them within the plastic wrap. For example, take your largest prize and begin to wrap it in the saran wrap. Once you’ve covered it sufficiently, add another card with some candy. Repeat this process until all the plastic is used and all the prizes and candy are used.

Once everything is prepared, get two dice and a small plate that can be passed around (if you can sit around a table, that works great). To start the game, get everyone into a circle and select someone who will be first to unwrap the ball of plastic wrap. Before they start, give the plate with two dice to the person on their left.

The goal is for the person who is rolling to try and roll doubles as fast as they can. Once they do, the person who is unwrapping must stop immediately and pass the ball of plastic wrap to them and the dice move to the next person on the left who starts rolling. Anything that is unwrapped and falls (or is taken) out belongs to the person who unwrapped it.

Two important rules to the game. First, if you are playing with families or spouses, they can not sit next to each other. Let’s just say we had a few people gaming the system.

Second, they must keep the ball in their lap as they unwrap. No throwing it to unroll it faster or raising it up in the air. A good rule of thumb is that one hand must be on the ball at all times, allowing them one free hand to unwrap it as they hold onto it.

If you want to make it bit more challenging, have the person unwrapping the ball wear oven mitts while doing so. This will make the game a bit more challenging and help it last longer.

We had an absolute blast with this game and we bet you will too!

Alternate Version

Instead of using dice, have Christmas music playing and have people pass the ball around until the music stops. Whoever it stops on unwraps until the music comes back on.

BONUS TIPS

1. Play some Christmas music in the background for better atmosphere.

2. The amount of prizes will depend on the size of your group, but make sure you have plenty in there so everyone at least has a chance to win something.

3. Take some pictures or video of the action and use the post to thank people in your group.

4. If you use money, we recommend folding it up a few times. Paper is fairly easy to tear through in the chaos of the game.

Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames!

Christmas Jingle Jumble

You’re going to love Christmas Jingle Jumble! We recently played it at a Christmas gathering and I immediately knew we had to share it with you. It’s a fast-paced, fun game that involves some healthy teamwork, focus, and someone who knows Christmas songs is a definite plus!

PREP TIME – 10 Minutes

ITEMS NEEDEDHershey Kisses, Words to Christmas Songs (suggestions below), Black Sharpie, Ziploc or Christmas Bags

GAME TIME – 2-5 Minutes Per Song

PARTICIPANTS – Minimum of 2 Teams (3-8 per team)

INSTRUCTIONS

Before you gather, purchase some Hershey Kisses and select your songs for Christmas Jingle Jumble. We’ve recommended some Christmas songs below and let you know how many words are in each song/chorus so you know how many Hershey Kisses to purchase. On the bottom of each kiss, write one word from the song. Once you have all the words, mix them up and place them in a Ziploc bag.

Joy To The World – 36 Words

Joy to the world
The Lord has come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing

We Wish You A Merry Christmas – 39 Words

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Good tidings to you wherever you are
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year

Jingle Bells – 43 Words

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh, hey
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer- 88 Words (44 in first half, 44 in second half)

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight
Then how all the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
You’ll go down in history

Teams will work together to reorder the song in it’s proper order. Once a team is done, they will let you know and you can verify the correct order. Play one round or several depending on the size of your group and time available. Whichever team gets the most songs is the winner!

BONUS TIPS

1. Play some upbeat Christmas music in the background or even play the song they are trying to unscramble to help them get the order right.

2. Make sure to do a quick run through with each bag full or words to ensure you’re not missing any!

3. To know how many Hershey Kisses you need, you can always check the bag, but in general, you will find 100 pieces per pound.

4. Go live on social media to capture some of the chaos. If your group is remotely competitive, this game is gold!

5. Let teams know that the winning team gets all the Hershey Kisses from the game. It gives a little extra incentive for anyone with a sweet tooth!

Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames!

Candy Cane Connection

Candy Cane Connection is the game that combines finesse, speed and best yet, mini candy canes! Seriously, what’s better than one candy cane? How about 50 miniature ones!

PREP TIME – None

ITEMS NEEDEDMini Candy Canes, Upbeat Christmas Song

GAME TIME – 2-5 Minutes

PARTICIPANTS – 2-5 Teams of 5 (or more!)

INSTRUCTIONS

This game is a fantastic one to highlight teamwork and creativity. Each team is given a minimum of 50 miniature candy canes. You can unwrap them or leave them wrapped if they are packaged tightly. If you choose to leave them wrapped, I recommend giving them each a bonus minute to unwrap them before the game begins.

Once the mini candy canes are unwrapped, explain to each team that they are to see how many of those candy canes they can hook together in 60 seconds. The team with the most candy canes connected at the end of the 60 seconds is the winner!

It sounds easy, but the candy canes will break if too much pressure is applied, so teams that can combine finesse and speed will win. Whoever has the most candy canes on their chain at the end of sixty seconds wins!

Note: Some people were asking for a picture to clarify. Here is one sent in from Gloria Halfacre and her group. As you can see, they are connected together and we’ve seen off shoots on these as well. In 60 seconds, most groups will get 15 or so connected, but we’ve seen 30+! Let us know how many you get!

Candy Canes - Gloria Halfacre

Alternate Version

Use full sized candy canes. You can actually get quite a few more because they don’t break quite as easily. They also make great prizes for your group once they’re done.

BONUS TIPS

1. Play some fun Christmas music to enhance the atmosphere.

2. Check to make sure candy canes aren’t broken before handing out to teams.

3. Play the game up front or involve everyone. Either way, it’s a great win!

4. Take some pics and video to put on social media. Go live during the action to share the fun with friends.

Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames!

Christmas Song Charades

Christmas Song Charades is the super fun, super simple game that will get your group moving and laughing. If you’re looking for a no set up, no prep game for the holidays, this is it!

PREP TIME – None

ITEMS NEEDED – List of Christmas Songs (suggestions below)

GAME TIME – 10-15 Minutes

PARTICIPANTS – 2 Teams

INSTRUCTIONS

It doesn’t get much simpler than Christmas Song Charades. Just like charades, there are a few ground rules you’ll need to remind everyone of…

  • No Sounds
  • No Signs
  • No Letters or Numbers

Once you’ve established the basic rules of charades, let each team know that they will have 2. 60 second rounds to guess up 3 songs and a final round to guess as many as possible in 90 seconds.

Each round can have one person acting out the song or you can rotate players after each successful guess or pass. Give them one pass that they can come back to at the end per round. If they pass more than once, one point is deducted.

Round 1 – Team 1

  • Silent Night
  • Away In A Manger
  • I Saw Three Ships

Round 1 – Team 2

  • The Little Drummer Boy
  • Deck The Halls
  • Go Tell It On The Mountain

Round 2 – Team 1

  • Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
  • Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
  • Joy To The World

Round 2 – Team 2

  • Jingle Bells
  • All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
  • Mary, Did You Know?

Final Round – Team 1

  • Run Rudolph Run
  • Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
  • Angels We Have Heard On High
  • The Twelve Days Of Christmas
  • Let It Snow
  • While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
  • Silver Bells
  • Carol Of The Bells
  • Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Final Round – Team 2

  • Santa Baby
  • Frosty The Snow Man
  • Jingle Bell Rock
  • Sleigh Ride
  • Do You Hear What I Hear?
  • We Three Kings Of Orient Are
  • White Christmas
  • Please Come Home For Christmas
  • O Holy Night

Alternate Games: Use this list for Pictionary or Win, Lose or Draw style games.

BONUS TIPS

1. Play a dramatic or upbeat Christmas soundtrack in the background (no words) to add to the atmosphere.

2. Extend you round times if teams need some extra time to guess.

3. Take some pics and video to put on social media or even go live to share the fun with your friends.

Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames!

$3 in 3 (minutes)

Looking for a fun way to mix it up? We’ve got you covered with our brand new game, $3 in 3 (minutes).

The game requires a bit of leg work ahead of time, but the game itself is super simple and an absolute blast!

PREP TIME – 30-60 minutes

ITEMS NEEDED – $3 per contestant & a trip to the store

GAME TIME – Video time (2-3 minutes) + 1 minute per contestant (time to record will vary)

PARTICIPANTS – 3 or 4 (you can do more, but 3-4 is the sweet spot)

INSTRUCTIONS

Before you meet with your group, pick a day to take your contestants to the store. Tell them that they will be given $3 to shop for one of the other contestants (you can pick randomly or assign them another person). The catch is that they only have 3 minutes to pick whatever they can find.

We just played with our kids and they loved it! Check out the video here from our Life of Five Channel: $3 in 3

Let them know that they can not tell anyone what they got and not to share with the others who they were shopping for. We went to the Dollar Tree, so I just went in with them and filmed them on my cell phone. You can do the filming if you want or bring someone to do it for you. Once you have all the footage, select about 30 seconds per contestant, edit it together (several apps like iMovie will do this easily if you’re not an editing wizard) and slap our graphic on the front of the video and you’re good to go.

We recommend that you explain the game on camera before they all go in so you can just roll the video. The trick is to not show what everyone got, just what they looked at since everyone will see the video first. Then move to your reveal in person by bringing everyone up front with their item(s).

Our kids bought each other things they like, but for your game they can purchase things that will get a laugh. Have fun with it and let them get creative!

Special Credit to Cody Fort, who helped shape the game idea.

BONUS TIPS

1. Put some music in the background of the video to keep it entertaining and engaging.

2. Get creative! Shop at Goodwill or a local thrift store.

3. Make it even bigger! Do $10 in 10 or $20 in $20, or $100 in… well, that might be too much.

4. Tease the video on social media if you have a fun event or share it after you’re done. Remember to catch the reveal if you’re doing it after.

Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames! And if you want to catch more craziness from our family, subscribe to our YouTube channel, Life with Five.

Antler Up

Antler Up is a fun new Christmas game that you can play today! With some pantyhose, balloons, and a little lung power, you’ll be on your way!

PREP TIME – None

ITEMS NEEDED – Panty Hose & 20 Balloons per team

GAME TIME – 3-5 minutes

PARTICIPANTS – 2-4 per team, play with as many teams as you want

INSTRUCTIONS

We love games that are high energy and impact with little preparation, and Antler Up falls into this category!

Before you begin, pick up your materials (pantyhose & balloons) and set them out for each team to grab. Once you’ve assembled teams, simply explain that they will be constructing reindeer antlers using the balloons and pantyhose in front of them.

To do so, they will blow up the balloons and stuff them into the pantyhose. The catch is that they only have 3 minutes to do so (you can give them longer if you feel necessary). Crown your winner based upon who completely fills up the pantyhose legs first or judge based upon who you think has the best antlers.

Oh yeah! They need to put the antlers on one of the team members heads for it to be complete. It’s a ton of fun and you’ll get plenty of laughs out of Antlers Up!

BONUS TIPS

1. Play some upbeat Christmas music. We suggest Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry- it’s about 3 minutes long.

2. The “antlers” work better if you stuff smaller balloons in at the ends and get bigger as you move along. Of course, the design is up to those competing!

3. Use Christmas colors for balloons to make it more festive.

4. Take plenty of pics and video to share on social media.

Get more great games and tips by subscribing to our blog, liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter @stumingames!