source: www.youthwork-practice.com | 2000 Games, Devotions, Themes, Ideas and more for Youth Work
only for private using

Games without winners and losers

Games without winners and games without losers are those games where no one can say at the end of the day: „I am the winner and you are the loser!” The best thing about games without winners or losers is that the group can simply have fun and can laugh about things together without success or failure playing a role. There are surely many more games in other categories than those listed here which count as “games without winners or losers“. Do you know any other suitable games? Then send us them using the below form.

Frogs

3-4 kids are frogs and sit blindfolded in the middle of the circle. The rest of the group members stand in a circle so that there is only one exit from the circle. The frogs in the middle now grab their ankles and both try to find the way out. If one frog has found the exit, he gives the other frog a signal by croaking loudly so that he can also find the way out.
Without direction

All players close their eyes and only make movements according to the instructions of the group leader. For example, 3 steps forwards, 2 steps to the left, a half turn to the right and 2 steps backwards, 5 steps to the south… At the end of the games, everyone opens their eyes to see if they are standing where they thought. Due to that fact that the game does not have a winner, every player can close their eyes and play.
A few carry a lot

The group must try to make it over a distance with so few feet as possible. The group must stick together throughout the game.
Rope shapes

The group receives a rope and according to the group leader’s instructions, they must make the shapes which are called out with their eyes closed.
Forbidden word/s

The group leader asks questions in turn or involves the group in a discussion. If the player answers with „yes“ or „no“, there is a mark painted on their forehead (or a stone in the hand). You can of course agree on other “forbidden” words.
The sculptor and his shapes

A sculptor is chosen from the group. The sculptor must make shapes from the rest of the group members by putting them into position. Possible models might be: a house, a tree, a lighthouse on the cliffs …
Everything in slow motion

A scene is played in slow motion. Examples might be ice skating, a football game, a water fight, a wrestling match or a boxing match
Evolution

In this game the aim is to develop through the stages of evolution from egg to chicken, dinosaur, monkey to human being. The development through the “stages” is achieved by playing game of “scissors, paper, and stone”. The winner of each game achieves the next level and is allowed to represent this position. The games of “scissors, paper stone” are only allowed to be played by players with the same stage of evolution. Someone will remain stuck at a stage of development. At the beginning everyone is an egg. They lie on the ground and roll to move around. Anyone who has made to the chicken stage is allowed to waddle around and make flapping movements with their arms. The dinosaurs are allowed to move around bent over and roar like dinosaurs. The monkeys move around in a monkey fashion and shout „oo, oo, oo“. The humans are finally allowed to act like normal people.
Pole ballet or the wandering stick

Everyone stands in a circle. Every player receives a stick or a pole (sweeping brush handle, tent pole), which must be balanced vertically on one hand. On the signal, everyone lets go of their stick to the right and catches the stick on the left before it touches the ground. It is simpler if the sticks are placed on the vertically ground and let go to the right on the signal. How long can the group keep the sticks moving around the circle before one falls down?

„I have never done that before!" „But I have!"

A ball is thrown to a random person in the circle. The thrower says: "I have never lied to my best friend!" The person who catches the ball must say "but I have!" He then throws the ball to another player with a new claim and the catcher must say "but I have!" This is a funny game with brilliant claims.
Celebrity guess-who

Every member of the group has a piece of paper stuck to their back with the name of a celebrity. Each member for the group must take turns to ask the other group members questions to find who they are. The questions may only be answered with „YES” or „NO“.
Mice watch out – or mousetrap

You will need to make some preparations for this game. You will need a bucket which represents the cat (the cat can be painted on the bucket if required) and Actimel bottles (or similar) depending on the size of the group. A hole is pressed into the bottom of the bottle. An approx. 1,5 m long piece of lace is threaded through and fixed in position with a suitable screw. This ensures that the mouse has a little bit of weight and is more stable.

You can also draw the mouse with a marker.

Now you have a cat and lots of mice. Now you will need a large soft dice which shouldn’t be missing from any extensive play box. You will find such dice in good toy stores. The group sits in a circle.

The mice are positioned in the middle. Everyone must hold on to their mouse’s tail. One player throws the dice. It is good if the player can throw the dice so that the others cannot see the number of dots before the cat lifts the bucket.

If a one or a six is thrown, the mice must run away. Anyone who is caught under the bucket is out of the game along with anyone who pulls too early or incorrectly. The last player left in the game becomes the next cat. Therefore: mice watch out. The game has become cult in our group and the effort is worth it. An entry by Peter Jünemann.
Hula hula

Everyone choose a partner of the opposite sex and both dance with a hula hoop: huuullla huuuulla!!! The important thing is not how long they can keep it going but if they can manage to swing the hula hoop in unison in time to the music! An entry from Fritz Hermann Udo Jürgen Walter Erich Johann Lukas Matthäus Spitz
Mouse watch out – or mouse trap

You will need to make some preparations for this game. You will need a bucket which represents the cat (the cat can be painted on the bucket if required) and Actimel bottles (or similar) depending on the size of the group. A hole is pressed into the bottom of the bottle. An approx. 1,5 m long piece of lace is threaded through and fixed in position with a suitable screw. This ensures that the mouse has a little bit of weight and is more stable. You can also draw the mouse with a marker.
Now you have a cat and lots of mice. Now you will need a large soft dice which shouldn’t be missing from any extensive play box. You will find such dice in good toy stores. The group sits in a circle.
The mice are positioned in the middle. Everyone must hold on to their mouse’s tail. One player throws the dice. It is good if the player can throw the dice so that the others cannot see the number of dots before the cat lifts the bucket. If a one or a six is thrown, the mice must run away. Anyone who is caught under the bucket is out of the game along with anyone who pulls too early or incorrectly. The last player left in the game becomes the next cat. Therefore: mice watch out. The game has become cult in our group and the effort is worth it. An entry by Peter Jünemann.
The blind and the seeing

2 blind people sit opposite each other. The leader chooses a certain person from one team or the other who must sneak past the two blind people. The blind people point in the direction where they heard a noise. Due to the fact that the blind people do not know if the player is from team A or team B, the points awarding system is fair. There are 2 points awarded for the team, if the players manage to sneak past undetected. There is 1 point for the team if the blind person recognises where his own team member is. There is a bonus point for blind person and his team if he works out where the player from the other team is.
Fruit salad

The well-known game “fruit salad” fits well into this category: All of the children sit on a stool in a circle. One child does not have a stool. Names of fruits are now given to the boys and girls (we always use apples, pears, plums and cherries). The child without a stool now calls out a fruit. Everyone who has this type of fruit must swap places. The child without a stool now tries to find a place. The player who does not have a stool carries on. When the words “fruit salad” are called out, everyone swaps places because you need lots of fruits for a fruit salad.
The game can be adapted accordingly by changing the names and the main word. We have played versions such as holiday camp-nuthouse-animal park. And simply picked four terms relating to this.
An entry by Birgit B.
Massive paper, scissors, stone

The players are split into two teams. There are the following figures: princess, knight and dragon. Each team silently chooses one of these figures. The groups now stand opposite each other. They present their chosen figure on the command: the dragon roars and raises his arms, the princess flutters her eyelashes and blows a kiss and the knight pulls out his sword. The princess beats the knight, the knight beats the dragon and the dragon beats the princess. The losing group runs to a previously agreed marker. The winning group tries to catch the other group. The players who are caught before the marker change over to the other team. This is repeated as often as required.
A contribution from Alice
Opposing tasks or mini chaos

Pieces of paper with tasks written on them are distributed among all players. Each player must now perform the task. However, no one knows that there is always an opposing task. For example: “open the window because it is stuffy” and “close the window because there is a draught”, “make sure that no one sits at the table” and “sit down at the table”, “set the table” and “clear the table”, “fetch a sweeping brush and sweep the floor” and “empty the bin onto the floor or spread bits of paper over the floor” etc.
The bomb is ticking

For this you will need an egg timer which is to be placed into a small bag. All the children sit in a tight circle next to each other. The egg timer is set to 1-2 minutes/ Then, the timer is quickly passed from child to child- any one can decide when to change the direction. Whoever is holding the ‘Bomb’ i.e. egg timer when it goes off receives a fright – as well as the others. People do not necessarily have to be out.
Sent in by Zuhal
Mannequins

3 children mimic dolls as realistically as possible. One child then has to remember the clothes and position of these children and then leaves the room. The other children can then change whatever they like e.g. placing arms or legs into different positions, or glasses, slippers, hair clips or less obvious details can also be changes. The difficulty and number of differences should be adjusted depending on age. The child who previously left the room now returns and begins to (hopefully) identify the changes.
Fox look out!

The children sit in a circle. One child is selected to be the fox. This child receives a small bag or other object. Then the children sitting in the circle shut their eyes and sing the song: “look around the fox is coming, carrying his sack, tarinäe tarinäe, turn around!” Whilst the children are singing this song the child selected to lay the fox lays the bag behind a child sitting in the circle. Then the children open their eyes and quickly turn around. The one who has the sack/object behind them has to get up as fast as possible and then try to catch the fox- who runs around the circle and attempts to sit in the empty spot of the child trying to catch them. If the fox does not manage to sit in the spot then he has to do the same thing again; if he does manage to sit down then the child who was chasing now becomes the fox.
Sent in by Thill Jasmine
Indians on war horses

2/3 participants sit with closed eyes (Indians don’t cheat!) in a circle on the floor. The others (warriors) creep up to them, standing behind one of the children. On the command “You are surrounded”, the children sitting down have to guess if there is a warrior behind them or not - conveying this with hand gestures.
- Whoever guesses wrong, sits out for one round.
- Whoever is surrounded and realises it swaps with the warrior and is allowed to creep.
- Whoever isn’t surrounded and guesses correctly can continue to keep guard.
- For this game, quiet and concentration are important.