Hand Games 21

21 New Hand Games for Everyone!

If you like hand games but are tired of Rock Paper Scissors, these games are for you!

Here are 21 new hand games to play with your pals. Flip to any page, read the rules and you're ready to go. Featuring fresh takes on classics as well as totally new designs, these games are a cinch to learn, play and teach, and they work great just about anywhere. Let's play some hand games!


What is a hand game?

I bet you've played a hand game. At least Rock Paper Scissors, right? Players throw hand signs in the air, cancel each other out and the last player remaining wins. Easy! So, there's one.

Maybe you tried Thumb Wrestling: rivals lock hands and their thumbs go sumo on each other. Or a variety of cute but challenging rhythm & clapping activities? All valid, all hand games!

Have you played any others? Perhaps tried out variants or even made your own games, looking for a fresh experience? Did you ever wonder if there's more, and you just missed it somehow?

I wondered, and with some research found that there are indeed more hand games. ...But not enough! And not many that evoke the design ideas we see in today's board and video games.

So, I made new games! Completely new hand games for you, me and everyone. 21 games that require just your hands and maybe your voice. Simply read the rules and you're ready to play anywhere - you've got the equipment on hand.

Inspired by the world of play, you'll see games based on classics as well as totally new ideas, from simple guessing to social deduction. They are also easy to learn and play: all games play ages 8 and up and take just 5 to 15 minutes.

Here is among the oldest and newest, most portable form of play possible. Learn, play, share, and check out the final pages for tips on making your own games. This is just the start. I hope you enjoy these 21 hand games.

- Don Eskridge