Games You Can Play Without Having to Buy Anything

Posted on April 6, 2023

The Easter holiday is coming up this long weekend, school holidays are nearing, and university students are enjoying a mid semester break around this time. Whatever stage of life you’re in, there’s nothing wrong with some fun and games (other than buying them, storing them, trying not to lose any of their pieces and eventually getting tired of them).

That’s why we’ve formulated this list of games that require nothing you don’t already have (except ideally some friendship). Here are some games you might want to play that keep in line with the affordable and compact granny flat rental lifestyle; games you can play anywhere, anytime, with no board or props required that are perfect for holidays and road trips.

Hello Govorner (21)

Although this is a memory game that involves some very basic counting, it’s also entertaining if you’ve got a creative group, I promise.

In a circle, moving clockwise, players count from 1 to 20. Once the group has reached 20, the next person in the circle says “Hello Governor!” and must make up a rule associated with another number, which continues throughout the game. The person after them then starts again at 1 and players incorporate the new rule, until adding another after 20. Everyone then has to remember what to do with each number.

The rules added each round can be pretty much anything, such as:

• Instead of saying the number 5, the player points to the next player
• Skip the multiples of 7
• Say even number in a high voice
• Everyone must applaud the number 18
• Whenever someone makes a mistake the direction of counting switches

If these rules above had accumulated, the group counting would go: "1, ², 3, ⁴, *point* ⁶, ⁸, 9, ¹⁰, 11, ¹², 13, 15, ¹⁶, 17, ¹⁸ *all applaud*, 19, ²⁰, hello governor!” And then another rule would be added.

Who Has The Box?

Attention Reader: The first rule of this game is that only you know the rules. The aim is for other players to secretly figure out the rule and start playing effectively.

The game requires at least two more players in addition to the player that knows the rule.

The rule knower begins the game with the statement, “If I have the box and give the box to [name of another player}, who has the box?”. You then answer it with either “I have the box,” or saying another player has the box.

Now you’ve made it this far, you get to hear the rule: Whoever last spoke before the question is answered, has the box. If no one else spoke after you asked “who has the box?”, then you have the box. If other players spoke, regardless of the conversation topic, the most recent speaker has the box.

Any player can ask questions along the lines of “if [player] gave the box to [player], who then gave the box to [player],” and anyone can answer at anytime, but it is the rule knowers responsibility to confirm or correct the group as to who currently “has the box”.

Although it may sound simple, it’s really enjoyable watching the other players’ confusion and slowly growing the team of people who know who has the box. There are really no winners of this game, though maybe one unfortunate loser once everyone else has figured out the rule.

Get Down, Mr President!

This game can only be played spontaneously by people who already know it, but it’s a good and easy one to learn with a group of people that you see frequently. It requires at least 3 people.

To play, without announcing the game has begun, someone holds two fingers to their ear to subtly mime listening to an earpiece. When someone else notices they hold two fingers to their ear as well. Players continue to do this until only one person there hasn’t caught on and held two fingers to their ear, in which case everyone else must yell, “Get down, Mr President,” and tackle them to the ground together.

As you can probably tell, the game is most enjoyed when unexpected, otherwise it's (quite a confusing) matter of speed. Try teaching everyone you live with the game, or introduce it before taking a holiday with a group.

Mafia/Assassin/Werewolf

There are plenty of versions of this game, but the essence is there’s a narrator, some people are secretly mafia and others are civilians. The aim for the mafia is to kill the civilians, the aim of the civilians is to correctly guess who the mafia are.

There are additional roles that can be assigned amongst the civilians like doctor and detective, but for a better description of how to play I’ll send you here: How to Play Mafia: An In-Depth Guide to the Perfect Party Game

A lot of secretive business goes down when some players have their eyes closed that the narrator oversees, so it can be a fun game of allowed deceit and betrayal with comfortably low stakes.

Scissors, Paper, Rock Tournament

This game is best enjoyed in a large group, with an even number of players. The name explains the game pretty well: the group splits into pairs to play scissors, paper, rock, then winners verse winners and losers are eliminated. Depending on how long/intense you want the game to be, you can choose whether each winner is determined through one round or if it’s the best of 3.

Losers of each round join the groupie team of their defeater. You can raise the stakes with a prize for the ultimate winner, or (for the adults only) have the losing team of each round drink.

The style of the game actually differs across Australian states, so agree on your version before the tournament begins. And, just in case you’ve managed to miss it in your lifetime, here’s a video showing how to play a round of scissors, paper, rock: How to play Rock Paper Scissors.

Sorry I’m Late

Particularly handy for road trip, this one’s in a bit of an eye-spy format, in that in each turn, one player gives a clue and others guess the answer. The first person to guess correctly then has a turn. It requires 2 or more players.

To play, someone begins by saying “Sorry I’m late…” then succinctly describes the plot of a movie as their reason for being late. The other players then guess what movie.

Tripoto gives the following great example:

Clue: “Sorry I’m late, because I had to help this guy find his son, but I kept forgetting where I saw him.”

Answer: Finding Nemo.

Additionally, Card Games

If you are fortunate enough to have a deck of cards near you, there are so many more games to be played. These are some of our favourites:

• Bullsh*t (3 or more players)
• Tongues/Spoons (3 or more players)
• Whist (4 players)
• Snap (2 or more players)
• German Whist (2 players)
• Solitaire (1 solitary player)
• Kings Cup (adults only)