Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. When those long streaks of boredom hit, most people will resort to scrolling through their news feed or binge-watching TV shows. If this sounds like you, it’s high-time to reconnect with your inner child and utilize some of those long-forgotten methods for combating boredom — games! These activities will fuel your imagination, unlock your creativity, and significantly improve your mood. Here’s our curated list of 45 games to play when bored.
Games to Play When Bored at Work
1. Excel Sheep
Your boss may think you’re actually doing something work-related when you’re playing a fun game of Excel Sheep. Disguised as a regular Excel spreadsheet, the goal of the game is to gather all your scattered sheep into the bar graph sheep pen.
2. Type Racer
Want to put your typing speed to test? Try Type Racer. Fuel your racing car by typing out the designated paragraphs in the shortest time possible to beat other players.
3. Sudoku
The classic game of Sudoku tests your logic skills. Find it online or in your local newspaper and try to fill the partially completed 9×9 grid with digits from 1-9. Make sure not to repeat any of the numbers twice because you’ll have a hard time figuring out the conundrum.
4. Crossword Puzzles
Nothing beats a nice, old word puzzle. There’s a wide variety of crossword puzzles available that will challenge your vocabulary, logic skills, as well as problem-solving abilities.
5. Hangman
Challenge your coworkers to a fun game of Hangman. Make the game more exciting and work-friendly by introducing words and phrases related to your industry and profession. Whoever loses buys lunch for the whole office!
6. Tic-Tac-Toe
Although primarily designed for children, this classic game has a lot of variants that may prove quite challenging even for the most sharp-witted adults! Ultimate tic-tac-toe is a fine example of a more complex variant of the well-known game.
7. Karoshi Suicide Salaryman
If you work in a stressful environment you can probably relate to Karoshi. This aggrieved office worker is in the business of committing suicide in the most innovative ways possible. Help the poor worker find his resting place by killing him off on each platform.
8. Office Bingo
Office bingo is one of the best games to enjoy if you want to boost morale in your office. You can customize the board to your liking and include as many people as possible. The great thing about this game is that it’s so inconspicuous that your boss won’t even know you’re playing!
9. Slack
This workspace platform is used to communicate with your team and perform office-related tasks more effectively. What most people don’t know is that Slack also offers respite in the form of easily integrated game apps you can add to your platform. Those long business meetings just got a bit more exciting!
10. Charades
Charades is a nice pick me up option for those tedious days at the office and you can personalize the themes to match your current business objectives. It’s also a great “get-to-know-you” game for work-related retreats or seminars.
11. Mad Ads
If you work in an advertising agency this may be the perfect game for you and your work buddies. Mad Ads challenges your creativity by prompting you to create an ad for something completely bizarre. Make a dashing advertisement for the abominable snowmen, a flying toilet seat or whatever else pops to mind.
Games to Play When Bored With a Friend
12. Riddle Challenge
Put your brain cells to use by challenging your friend to a game of riddles. There are numerous YouTube videos as well as internet sources of engaging and fun riddles that can keep you occupied for hours to come.
13. Truth or Dare
Want to find out if your friends are hiding something from you? Or maybe you’d be more pleased to see them do something silly? Truth or Dare gives you the best of both worlds. You can play this game with just one person or a group of friends and all you need is a bit of imagination to get you started.
14. Scrabble
This standard word game tests your vocabulary knowledge in a similar fashion to crossword puzzles. Make sure to follow the rules or your friends just might decide to challenge you!
15. Chess
The famed strategy board game dates back to the 7th century and has since gained popularity all across the globe. Playing chess can improve problem-solving skills, refine your memory and make you smarter!
16. Hive
The objective of the game is to capture the opponent’s queen bee while protecting your own. Sounds easy enough? Think again! What makes Hive special is that it uses both elements of tile and board games at the same time, making it more interesting and taxing at the same time.
17. Jaipur
A favorite among card lovers, Jaipur combines role-playing, strategy, and gambling in one game. It’s a fast-paced game for two players and the ultimate goal is to become the richest merchant in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. The rules are quite simple but the game itself can be vexing for even the most seasoned card players.
18. The Settlers of Catan
If you love history and strategy but aren’t ready to tackle some of the more complex games, The Settlers of Catan is a great way to dive into the word of strategy board games. Gather resources, build your holdings and trade with other settlements to gain the maximum amount of points.
19. Uno
The well-known game of Uno can make or break friendships. It’s super simple to learn and it’s even possible to enjoy this game with a standard deck of cards. Uno is a shedding-type card game and the aim is to lose all your cards before your opponent.
20. I Spy
One of our childhood favorites, I Spy has been an indispensable part of road trips and family gatherings. Take a trip down memory lane by employing your friends to guess the object you spy with your little eye.
21. The Alphabet Game
Quite similar to I Spy, The Alphabet Game is another guessing game suitable for all ages. Think of an object, animal, food, movie or music band starting with a certain letter and let your friend try and guess what exactly is on your mind.
22. Carcassonne
A tile-based board game suitable for two to five people, Carcassonne is an exciting game where players build the landscape around a fortified city. Develop strategies, disrupt the other player’s plans and build your path to victory!
Games to Play When Bored on Your Computer
23. Plants vs. Zombies
The celebrated tower defense game puts you amid a zombie apocalypse where you’re forced to fend off the upcoming brain-hungry beasts by using…yup, you’ve guessed it – plants. Secure the lanes around your house because if the zombies cross one it’s game over for you!
24. 2048
Slide the blocks around the grid and combine them to increase their value. If you can reach 2048 you’re a winner..and probably much smarter than the rest of the world.
25. Doom
A first-person shooter game, Doom allows you to tackle demons and hordes of the undead while playing the part of a space marine. This is one of the first games of this type and has gained worldwide recognition.
26. Frogger
Guide the frogs across a busy road in this classic arcade game. Make sure to look both sides before crossing unless you want to get squished!
27. The Sims
One of the best selling video games of all time, The Sims is a life simulation game. Build your dream life from scratch, keep your Sims satisfied and become a god of a tiny universe.
28. Cube
Enjoy a bit of mystery with your morning coffee? Try the Cube Escape Series. If you’re a fan of Twin Peaks, then this game should be right up your alley.
29. Fortnite
Are you going to be the last person standing? Enter Fortnite, a magical world of quirky characters, incredible dynamics and battle strategies.
30. Dota
Featuring unique gameplay, beautiful designs, cooperative playing and over 100 heroes, Dota is considered one of the greatest video games of all time.
31. League of Legends
Designed in a similar fashion to Dota, LOL is visually stunning and offers immersive storylines. It has a huge fan base and has become one of the most played PC games in both North America and Europe.
32. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
If you loved the original Warcraft series, then this digital collectible card game will fit you like a glove. Hearthstone has also gained massive popularity as an esport with over $4 million available in the prize pool.
Best Games to Play Outside When Bored
33. Hide and Seek
Hide and Seek remains one of the most beloved childhood games. Sometimes, going back to our roots is just what we need to lift our spirits.
34. Scavenger Hunt
Organizing a Scavenger Hunt is ideal for family gatherings and big parties. Work in groups, search for clues and use your wits to gather all the items on the list before the opposing team.
35. Capture the Flag
As the name suggests, the aim of this traditional outdoor game is to capture the opponent’s flag and bring it back to your base. The game is suitable for all ages and is best played in large groups.
36. Bocce
Earn points as you toss the bocce ball as close as possible to the pallina. The ancient game of bocce has gained massive popularity among the elderly, as well as children.
37. Ball Games
Care for some old-fashioned sports? Football, dodgeball, and volleyball will never disappoint. All you need is a ball and a spacious lawn and you’re all set!
38. Frisbee
There’s nothing better than a game of Frisbee to get your blood pumping. Even if it’s just you and your furry companion, this simple game of toss will keep you entertained hour upon hour.
39. Croquet
Indulge in a fun game of wickets during your next backyard barbeque. Even if you don’t have the tools, you can easily improvise by using regular balls, batts, and homemade hoops.
40. Badminton
An ideal activity for those long summer afternoons, Badminton is loved by people of all ages. The rules are pretty straightforward and the game can easily be played in pairs, as well as one-on-one.
41. Limbo
The aim of the game is to pass underneath a bar with your chest facing upwards. The catch? After each round, the bar is placed slightly lower. Turn on some music, form a line and see who of your friends is the most flexible one!
42. Ring Toss
Also known as horseshoe toss, this casual game is a staple at carnivals and fairs. You can always get creative with bottles and homemade rings if you’re short of pegs.
43. Oversized Jenga
Remove as many wooden blocks as possible before the tower collapses. For extra entertainment, opt for an oversized version of this game.
44. Beer Pong
You don’t need to be a college student to enjoy a fun game of beer pong. Personalize the game by using drinks of your own choice and try to beat the opposing team by landing a ping pong ball in a cup at the other side of the table.
45. Roundnet
Also known as spikeball, the game consists of a small ball and a trampoline-like net placed between the players. The game ends once the ball hits the ground, so you better be quick! 28 Easy Things To Draw To Banish Boredom And Boost Your Mood 103 Things To Do When Bored In A Class Lecture 65 Fun Things To Do At Home To Banish Boredom
Which of these games to play when bored caught your attention?
The next time you sense boredom creeping up on you, make sure to check out this extensive list of fun games we prepared especially for you and your loved ones. These games will provide you with entertainment in any situation, regardless of whether you’re at the office, a friend’s house or hosting a family dinner. From textbook puzzles, classic outdoor activities to modern video games, we can assure you that you’ll never experience a dull moment again. What’s your favorite game to play when bored?
