This is not the first time we’re talking about ‘minute to win it’ games and, most likely, this won’t be the last. That’s because you seem to love them! And we’re not even wondering why! ‘Minute to win it’ games get everyone pumped and inspire copious amounts of laughter.
They’re great for any group age, in any setting. So if you’re about to throw a birthday party for your teen, or if he’s having some friends over and he’s run out of game ideas, check out our ‘Minute to win it’ games for teens!
Where can you play ‘Minute to win it’ games for teens?
The great thing about ‘Minute to win it’ games for teens is that you can play them literally anywhere.
- Outdoors: in the backyard, during team buildings, or camps;
- Indoors;
- Even as icebreakers in which teens get the chance to know each other.
No matter where you choose to play them, make sure to have everything you need at hand, to get it started. Luckily, for all the games listed above, you know exactly what supplies they require, therefore your teens should be good to go!
1. Penny Hose
What do you need?
- Two pennies;
- A pair of pantyhose.
*Note: If your teens want to play this simultaneously, you are going to need more than two pennies and a pair of pantyhose. Multiply the supplies depending on the players’ number.
How does it work?
- The player receives a pair of pantyhose.
- He must drop one penny into the end of each leg.
- In less than 60 seconds, he must retrieve the two pennies using only one hand in each leg, simultaneously.
2. The Chandelier
What do you need?
- 5 paper plates;
- 15 empty cans;
- *Optional: A very steady hand. 😁
How does it work?
- The goal is to create a chandelier in less than a minute. This ‘Minute to win it’ game for teens is also known as ‘The Pyramid’.
- Players should start with 1 can, then place a paper plate on top. Then add 2 cans and a paper plate on top. Then add 3 cans, and so on and so forth, until they obtain a 5-layer stable structure. Good luck!
3. Vertical Golf Balls
What do you need?
- 3 golf balls;
- *Optional: A lot of patience.
How does it work?
There are no tricks for this game. You either get it done or… you don’t.
- In less than 60 seconds, players have to stack 3 golf balls vertically. They can take as many shots as possible, as long as there’s still time on the clock.
4. Junk In The Trunk
What do you need?
- A box – anything will do: wooden, plastic, even an empty tissue box;
- A belt;
- 8 ping-pong balls.
How does it work?
- In the ‘Junk in the trunk’ game, the balls are the ‘junk’, and the box is the ‘trunk’. Players must place all the balls in the box, then attach them to their waist.
- In a minute or less, they have to shake the box until all the ping pong balls are out.
5. High Roller
What do you need?
- A plastic cup;
- 5 dice.
How does it work?
- This game is all about centrifugal force. Using the plastic cup, players have to stack the dice vertically.
- The first round is about creating a tower of 3 dice; the second – a tower of 4; and the third – a tower of 5. All rounds must be completed in this particular order, in less than 60 seconds.
6. Sticky Balls
What do you need?
- A table;
- Double-sided tape;
- A bunch of marbles (at least 6).
How does it work?
- Place double-sided tape along the edge of one end of the table.
- From the other end, players must use one hand to roll marbles down and get 5 to stick to the tape. All this, in 60 seconds.
7. Wet Ball
What do you need?
- A balloon;
- A bucket or a can; A garbage can would be just perfect;
- A spray bottle with water.
How does it work?
- Place the can/ bucket 12 feet away from the player.
- Using the water bottle, he/she must propel the balloon into the can, in less than a minute.
- If the balloon touches the ground, the player must start all over again, as long as there’s still time left on the clock.
8. By A Thread
What do you need?
- 10 needles of different eyelets;
- A thread;
- A piece of foam.
How does it work?
- Insert the needles into a piece of foam. Make sure to line them up vertically, with their eyelets decreasing in size.
- Players must thread all 10, using only one hand.
*Tip: Players can wet the piece of thread. This way, they can be more precise when inserting it into the needlets.
9. Chocolate Unicorn
What do you need?
- A bunch of chocolate. Cakes, cookies, or candies – pretty much whatever will do. Just head over to your pantry and break out some sweets!
How does it work?
- Players must stand up and lean back.
- In less than 60 seconds, they must balance 7 chocolate cookies on their forehead, and keep them there for 3 seconds.
10. This Blows
What do you need?
- A flat surface – a table or a bench will do;
- A balloon;
- 15 plastic cups. It’s important to be made out of plastic. A heavier material would not fit this game.
How does it work?
- Place all the cups on the table. They must be in a row.
- Players must blow up the balloon, then release the air trying to knock down as many cups as possible.
- They can blow up the balloon more than once in the time given. The goal is to knock down all 15 cups in less than 60 seconds.
11. Noodling Around
What do you need?
- A table;
- Penne and spaghetti. The pasta must be uncooked.
How does it work?
- Place 6 pieces of penne pasta on the table.
- Players must put a piece of spaghetti in their mouths.
- Then, they must thread all 6 pieces of penne pasta on the spaghetti, one at a time.
- The challenge of this ‘Minute to win it’ game for teens is to do this without the use of hands.
12. Keep the Change
What do you need?
- 5 quarters;
- A dollar bill;
- A mug.
How does it work?
- Players must place the dollar bill on the lip of the mug.
- Then, they have to stack 5 quarters on top.
- Here comes the tricky part: players must remove the dollar bill while leaving the pile of quarters intact.
- If the stack falls apart, they must start all over again, from step 1.
13. Rapid Fire
What do you need?
- 6 soda cans;
- Some rubber bands;
- A table.
How does it work?
- All cans must be stacked in a pyramid, at the players’ eye level. The participants have to stand 8 feet away.
- When everyone is set, they must start shooting the rubber bands at the cans.
- They have to knock all 6 down, in less than 60 seconds.
14. Stack Attack
What do you need?
- 36 plastic cups. If you’re looking for some inspiration, this could turn into a great drinking game for adults!
How does it work?
- Start the timer.
- Players must stack the cups one by one in a triangular tower.
- Then, they have to restack the cups by taking them down in individual lines.
*Note: Make this ‘Minute to win it’ game more challenging by asking players to use only one hand.
15. Speed Eraser
What do you need?
- A table;
- A handful of unsharpened pencils;
- 7 heavy cups. They should be made out of glass or metal. If they’re lightweight, they will overturn easily and that’s not what you want.
How does it work?
- Place the drinking cups in a row, on the table.
- Players must bounce the pencils off the table and get them to land inside cups.
- Every player must get one pencil inside each cup, in less than a minute.
16. Topic Songs
What do you need?
- Something to write;
- A few slips of paper.
How does it work?
- First, you have to choose a topic (Eg. music, cinematography, art, gastronomy etc.)
- Second, every player receives a piece of paper and a pen.
- Third, announce the category and start the timer.
- Players must write down song names that are related to the given category.
- Whoever comes up with the most names after 60 seconds wins the game.
17. Finish the Line
What do you need?
- Internet access (*Or a very passionate friend who knows by heart all sorts of lines, lyrics, and quotes from books, movies, and songs).
How does it work?
- Read a part of the quote/line/lyrics aloud.
- Players must come up with the missing part.
- Whoever fills in the most quotes correctly wins,
*Note: If you’re faced with two competitive players, we’re giving you a tiebreaker: ask them who said that line/quote, or who sings that song. You can even ask when the books, songs, or movies came out.
18. Blind Food Challenge
What do you need?
- 5 bowls or cups for each player;
- Spoons;
- Different foods (Eg. honey, guacamole, peanut butter, maple syrup, lemon juice, jello, apple sauce);
- Blindfold.
How does it work?
- Players are blindfolded.
- Someone spoons them with food to taste.
- The goal is to identify 5 items of food in less than a minute.
*Note: Make sure you check with everyone else for food allergies before starting to play.
Check out eTeamBuilding for other ‘Minute to win it’ games!
