Games to Play When Bored with Friends: Because Life is Too Short for Monopoly Every Time

When boredom strikes and you’re surrounded by friends, the quest for entertainment begins. Sure, you could default to the classic board games or mindlessly scroll through your phones, but where’s the fun in that? Instead, why not dive into a world of creativity, laughter, and friendly competition? Here are some unique and engaging games to play when boredom hits, along with a sprinkle of absurdity to keep things interesting.

1. The Storytelling Relay

This game is perfect for unleashing your inner Shakespeare—or at least your inner comedian. Gather your friends in a circle and start a story with one sentence. The next person adds another sentence, and so on. The catch? Each sentence must be more ridiculous than the last. For example, “Once upon a time, a penguin opened a sushi restaurant on Mars,” could be followed by, “But the sushi was made of stardust and served by aliens in tutus.” The goal is to keep the story going without breaking into laughter (spoiler: you will fail).

2. Reverse Charades

Charades is a classic, but why not flip the script? In Reverse Charades, one person guesses while the rest of the group acts out the word or phrase together. Imagine trying to guess “zombie apocalypse” while your friends flail around like extras from The Walking Dead. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and guaranteed to break the monotony.

3. The Alphabet Game

This game is a test of wit and speed. Choose a category, like “movies” or “animals,” and take turns naming something that fits the category, starting with each letter of the alphabet. For example, if the category is “countries,” you might say “Argentina,” “Brazil,” “Canada,” and so on. The twist? If someone hesitates for too long, they’re out. Bonus points for creativity—try sneaking in “Xanadu” for the letter X.

4. Would You Rather: Extreme Edition

“Would you rather” questions are a staple of group hangouts, but why not crank up the absurdity? Instead of asking, “Would you rather have pizza or tacos for the rest of your life?” go for something like, “Would you rather fight a kangaroo or wrestle an octopus?” The more ridiculous the options, the more entertaining the debates.

5. The Silent Game

This one is deceptively simple: no talking allowed. The last person to break the silence wins. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. The real challenge comes from your friends’ attempts to make you laugh—think exaggerated facial expressions, interpretive dance, or even just staring you down like a hawk. It’s a battle of wills, and it’s surprisingly intense.

6. Two Truths and a Lie: The Conspiracy Theory Edition

Put a twist on the classic “Two Truths and a Lie” by incorporating conspiracy theories. Each person shares three statements—two real conspiracy theories and one they made up. The group has to guess which one is the lie. For example, “The moon landing was faked,” “Birds aren’t real,” and “The government is run by lizard people.” Good luck figuring out which one is fake (hint: it might not be the one you think).

7. The Name Game

This game is a mix of memory and creativity. Start by saying a name, like “John.” The next person has to say a name that starts with the last letter of the previous name, like “Nancy.” Keep going until someone gets stuck. To make it more challenging, add categories, like “fictional characters” or “historical figures.” Warning: this game can lead to heated debates about whether “Yoda” counts as a name.

8. The Object Improv Challenge

Grab a random object from around the house—a spoon, a shoe, a rubber duck—and take turns improvising a story or scene featuring that object as the main character. For example, a spoon might become a superhero fighting against the evil Fork King, or a rubber duck might embark on a quest to find its long-lost sibling in the bathtub. The more absurd, the better.

9. The Emoji Translation Game

This game is perfect for the digital age. One person writes a sentence using only emojis, and the rest of the group has to guess what it means. For example, 🐶➕🍕 might translate to “My dog ate my pizza.” The challenge is to come up with the most cryptic emoji combinations possible. Bonus points if no one can guess your masterpiece.

10. The Whisper Challenge

Put on some noise-canceling headphones and play loud music while one person whispers a phrase to you. Your job is to lip-read and guess what they’re saying. The results are often hilariously inaccurate—think “I love pancakes” turning into “I lava panthers.” It’s a game of miscommunication at its finest.

11. The Movie Mashup Game

Combine two movie titles to create a new, absurd film. For example, Jurassic Park and The Notebook might become Jurassic Notebook, a heartwarming tale of dinosaurs falling in love. Take turns pitching your mashups and vote on the most creative (or ridiculous) one.

12. The Human Knot

This game requires a bit of physical coordination. Stand in a circle and each person grabs two different hands from across the circle. The goal is to untangle the “human knot” without letting go. It’s a test of teamwork, flexibility, and patience—and it usually ends in laughter.

13. The Question Game

The rules are simple: you can only communicate by asking questions. If someone answers a question or makes a statement, they’re out. For example:

• “What’s your favorite color?”
• “Why are you asking me that?”
• “Isn’t it obvious?” The game continues until only one person remains. It’s harder than it sounds, and the conversations can get delightfully nonsensical.

14. The Drawing Telephone Game

This is a visual twist on the classic “telephone” game. Start by writing a sentence on a piece of paper. The next person reads it and draws a picture based on the sentence. The following person writes a sentence based on the drawing, and so on. By the end, the original sentence will have transformed into something completely unrecognizable—and hilarious.

15. The Compliment Battle

Turn boredom into positivity with a compliment battle. Take turns giving each other the most over-the-top, ridiculous compliments you can think of. For example, “Your hair is so shiny, it could blind a vampire,” or “Your laugh is so contagious, it should be classified as a biological weapon.” The goal is to outdo each other in creativity and absurdity.

FAQs

Q: What if my friends aren’t into silly games?
A: Start with something simple, like “Would You Rather,” and gradually introduce more absurd options. Once they see how much fun it is, they’ll be hooked.

Q: Can these games be played online?
A: Absolutely! Many of these games, like the Emoji Translation Game or the Storytelling Relay, can be adapted for virtual hangouts.

Q: How do I keep the energy up during long game sessions?
A: Snacks. Lots of snacks. And maybe a few breaks to stretch or dance it out.

Q: What if someone gets too competitive?
A: Remind everyone that the goal is to have fun, not to win. If things get too intense, switch to a more lighthearted game like the Compliment Battle.

Q: Can I make up my own games?
A: Of course! The best games often come from spontaneous creativity. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what sticks.