Simple Fun Games for 1, 2 or 3 People

Looking for a bunch of simple, fun and interactive games for one, two or three people?

Are you a teacher or corporate trainer who engages occasionally with very small groups via a virtual platform?

Look no further, playmeo’s got you covered.

Fun Games for 1, 2 or 3 People

This post was first published when COVID-19 became a thing. playmeo was inundated with enquiries from group leaders worldwide looking for fun, interactive games for very small groups (often only one or two people) AND which could be played online.

Now, while the pandemic is pretty much behind us, there will always be a need to present group games & activities to (a) very small groups, and/or (b) online. Hence, this list will always be relevant.

Thankfully, there are dozens of fun and very simple activity ideas you can use with small groups.

If you continue to work via online platforms, then check out this post about my top four interactive games for online meetings & virtual conferences.

List of Games Ideal for Really Small Groups

Click the links below to scroll directly to the activity.

Fun Games for 1 Person

• Tea Cup Stretch
• Paper Golf
• Prediction
• Paper Tower
• Alphabet Equations
• Acronyms
• Connectiles

Fun Interactive Games for 2 or 3 People

• Your Add
• Thumb Wrestling in Stereo
• Wiggle Waggle
• Collaborative Drawing
• Mirror Stretch
• Wring-Out Stretch
• Isometric Stretch
• One-Two-Three
• Toe to Toe
• The Splits
• Rock, Paper, Scissor: Five Lives

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Fun Games for 1 Person

Tea Cup Stretch

A very simple stretch that’s as challenging as it is fun to watch. Ask everyone to grab a soft object that has a bit of weight to it, eg tennis ball, beanie-baby toy, fleece-ball, etc. Stand back a little from your screen. Then, as if holding a teacup on your outstretched, upwards-facing palm, your object is to move it in a full circle over your head and to the side of your body and back to where you started. Check the video below to view a great demonstration. Indeed, you could even embed this video into your online space to inspire your group. Lots of variations, eg non-dominant hand, different direction, new objects, etc.

Paper Golf

Ask your people to grab a sheet of paper, a pen and watch the screen as you demonstrate what you would like them to do. In short, you are going to draw the birds-eye view of a small golf course with 3 or 4 holes. Draw the clubhouse, the tees, fairways, bunkers, sand-traps and the holes. Creating the course is fun, but playing is even more so. Direct your camera to perform a quick demonstration, or use a bunch of really descriptive terms, to explain how the golf course can be played. In essence, you are going to rest the pen tip on the first tee, holding it vertically, and then gently push the pen across the paper towards the first hole. The pen will leave a trail of ink which eventually peters out. That’s your first stroke, and the second stroke starts from the end of the line. A hole is complete when the end of a particular stroke ends inside the golf hole (they are usually about 5mm (1/4″) wide.

Prediction

Ask everyone to grab a deck of regular playing cards, you too. Shuffle them and then lay them face-down on the surface in front of you. Explain that your aim is to see how far you can get through the deck before a particular event occurs. Before the (face-value of the) first card is revealed, you must declare what the card will NOT be. For example, if I say that the card I flip over will not be a 9, and I flip over a 5, I get to flip another card. As soon as I flip over a card whose face-value matches what I declared, the game is over. Count and record the number of cards you did not predict and play one ore more rounds to achieve a world’s record.

Paper Tower

Ask each person to grab a fixed number of sheets of paper. In a team context, I would typically supply 15 to 20 sheets per group, but this number works well for individuals, too. Challenge each person to build the tallest possible tower using only these sheets of paper. No staples, glue or any other form of adhesive can be used to achieve the desired lofty heights. Allow up to 10 or more minutes to complete this task. A quick tip – make it very clear that the structure must be standing at the Xth minute to qualify. You will have to rely on the honour-system when you invite each person to measure their structures. Finally, acknowledge the person who built the tallest tower.

A quick search via playmeo’s online activity database shows that there are at least 31 activities suitable for individuals – enough to keep you going for days.

You may also wish to look at a couple of fun team puzzles that can easily be adapted for use by individuals. Take a look at Alphabet Equations, Acronyms and Connectiles.

Fun Interactive Games for 2 or 3 People

Honestly, this list could be very long because there is no shortage of fun partner activities featured in playmeo’s online activity database.

In fact, a quick search revealed there are 129+ activities that are suitable for small groups of 2 or 3 people. Here are four of my favourites.

Your Add

I learned this exercise from a class of 2nd Grade students in 1990 and I’ve been using it ever since. All you need are pairs (groups of 2 people!) and a modicum of mathematical ability, and you’re set to go. In essence, each person is challenged to tally the total number of outstretched fingers on all hands and be the first to call out the correct number. Best of five rounds wins. It couldn’t be simpler, and then you’re ready to take on one or more fun variations (click the link to learn more.)

Thumb Wrestling in Stereo

Another great partner exercise that most people have played, but possibly, not in the way this fun variation is introduced. In stereo, meaning, two hands at the same time. This game for 2 (or 3) people never fails to trigger bursts of laughter from my groups. Click the play button below to see this fun partner game in action.

Wiggle Waggle

I’ve immersed thousands of people seated in a conference auditorium with this dexterous hand stunt, and it works every time because it relies on individuals trying to meet the challenge. Which means, it is perfect for one person or two or three. You’ll want your group to have practised as individuals for a while before launching into the two and three-person variation. You need nothing more than your hands and fingers at the ready.

Collaborative Drawing

This exercise will focus your group’s attention on creativity as it will team skills and collaboration. Distribute a sheet of paper and pens for each pair or trio, and then invite them to draw one picture one stroke at a time collaboratively. It often starts off quite clumsy until someone gets an idea and then their partners start to catch on.

Fun Energisers for 1, 2 or 3 People

If you’re looking for a variety of easy 1-minute energisers (brain-boosters,) take a look at these activity ideas that may also help you highlight or reinforce certain elements of your curriculum such as creativity, critical thinking and communication.

To save space here, simply click the links to be directed to the relevant activity detail page where you can access the FREE step-by-step instructions.

• Mirror Stretch
• Wring-Out Stretch
• Isometric Stretch
• One-Two-Three
• Toe to Toe
• The Splits
• Rock, Paper, Scissor: Five Lives

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Contributor Mark Collard