Minute to win it
60-second rounds
One player, one minute, one deceptively stupid task. Minute to win it games are the reliable centrepiece of a Christmas party or a team building because they are quick, they are funny to watch, and the materials are cheap — cups, ping pong balls, straws, tissue boxes, marshmallows. Each entry lists exactly what to buy and how many, so you can shop for six games in one trip. They are also the easiest format to run back to back: set a timer, call a volunteer, go. The main thing to get right is picking volunteers rather than drafting people, since half of these are only funny if the person wants to be up there.
17 games
- Junk in the Trunk2–20 people · 5 min · HighA tissue box of ping pong balls is strapped to your back. Shake them all out in one minute.
- Face the Cookie2–20 people · 8 min · MediumA cookie sits on your forehead. Wriggle it down to your mouth using only your face — no hands.
- Blow the Cup2–20 people · 8 min · MediumBlow on a cup nested inside another so it jumps into the empty cup next to it. Most jumps in a minute wins.
- Suck It Up2–20 people · 8 min · MediumUsing only a straw in your mouth, pick up candies one at a time by suction and move them to another plate.
- Stack Attack2–16 people · 10 min · HighBuild a 36-cup pyramid, then take it all back down into a single stack before the minute is up.
- Movin' On Up2–16 people · 8 min · MediumHold a tall stack of cups with one odd-coloured cup at the bottom, and move cups top to bottom until it comes back round.
- A Bit Dicey2–16 people · 8 min · MediumHold a popsicle stick between your teeth and stack dice on the end of it, one at a time.
- Defying Gravity2–20 people · 8 min · HighKeep three balloons in the air for a full minute by tapping them. One touches the floor and you're out.
- Nose Dive2–16 people · 8 min · MediumDab petroleum jelly on your nose and move cotton balls from one bowl to another using only your nose.
- Balloon Stomp6–40 people · 10 min · ChaosEveryone has a balloon tied to their ankle. Stomp on other people's balloons and protect your own.
- Bottle Flip Challenge2–30 people · 8 min · MediumFlip a partly filled water bottle so it lands standing upright. Most landings in a minute wins.
- Keep It Up4–60 people · 10 min · HighA team must keep more balloons in the air than it has players for a whole minute.
- This Blows2–16 people · 8 min · HighInflate a balloon and let the air out at a row of cups to blast them off the table. Clear the table in a minute.
- Chopstick Candy Transfer2–30 people · 8 min · CalmMove small candies from one bowl to another using only chopsticks. Most moved in a minute wins.
- Ping Pong Bounce2–20 people · 8 min · MediumBounce ping pong balls off the table so each one lands in a cup. Fill all the cups in a minute to win.
- Breakfast Scramble2–30 people · 8 min · MediumThe front of a cereal box is cut into 16 pieces. Put the picture back together in under a minute.
- Paper Plane Contest4–80 people · 20 min · MediumEveryone folds a plane from one sheet of paper; longest flight, best accuracy and best design all win prizes.
Common questions
What materials do minute to win it games need?
Mostly plastic cups, ping pong balls, straws, tissue boxes, balloons and marshmallows. Most of it is already in a kitchen drawer; the rest is one trip to a discount store.
How do I run minute to win it for a big group?
Run it as a team relay instead of individuals, so everyone plays at once. One person per team per round keeps the whole room involved rather than watching.