32 Fun Games to Pass the Time While Waiting in Line

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Entertain yourself in line at theme parks, restaurants, or wherever!
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Whether you’re in line at an amusement park, the DMV, or even the grocery store, waiting is no fun—especially if you have kids. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself (and your little ones) entertained. In this article, we’ve gathered all the best games to play while waiting in line, including games for kids , adults , and games you can play on your phone . With all these fun options, you’ll be through the line before you know it!

Best Waiting Games for All Ages

  • 20 Questions: Have one player think of a person, place, or thing, and the other players take turns asking a total of 20 “yes or no” questions to figure out the answer.
  • Truth or Dare: Take turns asking each other to answer a question truthfully or do a silly dare.
  • Would You Rather?: Ask your friends to choose which of two hypothetical scenarios they’d rather do.
  • Head’s Up: Download the Head’s Up app and take turns trying to figure out the secret word based on clues given by the other players.
  • Fortunately, Unfortunately: Work together to tell a silly story, in which each sentence must begin with the words “fortunately” or “unfortunately.”
Section 1 of 5:

Popular Games to Play While Waiting in Line

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  1. If you need to keep yourself occupied while waiting in line with friends or family, playing 20 Questions is a great way to pass the time. Choose a player to think of a secret person, place, or thing. The other players will take turns asking yes or no questions to guess the answer. If they don’t get it right in 20 questions, the first player wins. Whoever guesses correctly gets to be the next player to choose the secret object. [1]
    • If no one guesses the answer within 20 questions, pick someone at random to go next.
  2. 2
    Would You Rather? Would You Rather is a fun icebreaker game that allows you to ask your friends and family outrageous questions. Take turns asking each other questions that start with “Would you rather…” and provide two scenarios for the other players to choose from. Asking unique and funny questions will make the game even more fun! [2]
    • For example, ask “Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?”
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  3. If you’re waiting in line somewhere where there’s a lot to look at, like at a theme park, playing the Alphabet Game is a great way to pass the time. Take turns looking around your surroundings to spot something that starts with the next letter of the alphabet. For example, the first person might find an apple for “A” and the second person might find a backpack for “B.” Challenge yourselves to find every letter of the alphabet, including tricky ones like “X” or “Q.” [3]
    • You can also try an alphabet memory game like I Went to the Market, in which you take turns listing items you’d by at the store in alphabetical order. For example, the first person would say, “I went to the market and bought avocados.”
    • The second person would say, “I went to the market and bought avocados and blueberries.” The list keeps growing until someone forgets one of the items.
  4. 4
    Word Chain Word Chain is like a trickier version of the Alphabet Game. Pick a category, like sports or food, and have a player come up with the first word, like “orange.” The next player has to come up with a word in the same category that starts with the last letter of the previous word. So, if the first word was “orange,” the next word could be “eggplant.” [4]
  5. If you have your phone on you, doing a photo challenge can be a great distraction while waiting in line—especially if you have kids. Choose a category (like “Take a photo of something red”) and have everyone take a picture. If you want to make the game more interesting, turn it into a challenge; see who can take a picture of the most interesting object or who can capture a photo the quickest.
    • If you have kids, another version of the challenge is to have them scroll through your camera roll to find specific photos, like a photo of a pet or a family member.
  6. 6
    Fortunately, Unfortunately Fortunately, Unfortunately is a fun storytelling game that can lead to some wacky scenarios! The first player will come up with a sentence to start the story. The next player will add a related sentence that starts with “Unfortunately.” The player after that will start their sentence with “Fortunately,” and the pattern continues until you complete your story. [5]
    • For example, a story might start like this: “I got a new puppy.” The next person could add, “Unfortunately, he ran away.” The next would say, “Fortunately, he came back with $100.” Then someone could add, “Unfortunately, he robbed a bank to get it.”
  7. To start playing Chopsticks , each player will hold up one finger on each hand. You’ll then take turns tapping another player’s hand to transfer your “points” to them. For example, if you were holding up one finger, then tap a player who was also holding up one finger, they would then have to hold up two fingers and you’d put yours down. When someone has five fingers up on a single hand, that hand is “dead” and out of the game. The last person with a hand remaining wins. [6]
    • This game involves basic math and strategy skills, so it may not be the best option if you’re looking to distract little ones.
    • Chopsticks may seem tricky at first, but after a few rounds, you’ll probably get the hang of it.
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Section 2 of 5:

Games to Play While Waiting with Kids

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  1. Often, kids are entertained by very simple games, like asking them what their favorites are. If you need to keep your kids busy while waiting in line at an amusement park, the grocery store, or anywhere else, have everyone take turns asking each other what their favorites are (like their favorite color, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.). Plus, this is a great way for everyone to get to know each other better!
  2. 2
    Build a Story Build a Story is like Fortunately, Unfortunately, but the rules are a bit simpler, making it easier for little kids to enjoy. Work together to create a silly story, taking turns adding one sentence at a time. This gives kids a chance to be creative, and your story can be as long as you want, so it can take up a lot of time.
  3. Rock, Paper, Scissors is a classic way to pass the time. Rock beats scissors, scissors beat paper, and paper beats rock. Turn the simple game into a tournament to crown a winner while you wait in line. If you’re in line for something fun, like at an amusement park, maybe the winner gets to pick the next activity or ride you go on. [7]
  4. 4
    I Spy I Spy is a classic game loved by many young children. Choose one person to be the spy. This player will select an object and give the other players clues by saying, “I spy with my little eye… something [x].” This clue can be a color, size, or anything else as long as it doesn’t directly give away what the item is. The player will continue giving clues until someone correctly guesses the object. That person will then become the spy. [8]
    • For example, if your object is an apple, you might say, “I spy with my little eye… something red.”
  5. If you’re a parent, the Waiting Game can help prevent your kids from complaining and give you a moment of peace while you’re waiting in line. It’s simple; tell your kids that if they can wait patiently and not misbehave for a certain amount of time, they will receive a reward. This can be anything from a piece of candy, a trip to the park, or anything else they may enjoy.
    • It may not be the best idea to do this every time you’re waiting, or your kids may come to expect it.
  6. 6
    Simon Says Simon Says can keep your kids quiet and entertained. Choose a player to be Simon. When this player gives a command starting with “Simon says…” all other players must follow the instructions. If they don’t, they’re out of the game. If Simon doesn’t say “Simon says…” before giving the command, any players who do follow instructions are out of the game. [9]
    • For example, if Simon says, “Simon says jump up and down,” players must jump up and down. If Simon only says, “Jump up and down,” players should remain still.
  7. If you have a diaper bag or a purse and a place to spread out, take a few items out of the bag and let your kiddo look at them for a few moments. Then, have them close their eyes and take one or two items away. When your child opens their eyes, their goal is to determine what you’ve taken away. [10]
    • This game is best for small children, as it helps them develop their memory and problem-solving skills.
  8. 8
    Race Ya If you have a bit of space for your kids to move around, get out your phone and see how many times they can do a certain task within a given amount of time. For example, set your timer for 30 seconds and see how many jumping jacks they can do or how many times they can spin around. If you need something calmer, like when waiting at the DMV or doctor, see how many animals they can name or how long they can go without blinking.
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Section 3 of 5:

Games to Play on Your Phone

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  1. If you have your phone on you, playing Head’s Up is a great way to pass the time. One player will hold the phone to their forehead so the other players can see the word displayed. Those players will then yell out clues until the first player guesses the answer. Whoever guesses the most answers right wins. [11]
    • If you don’t have the app , make a DIY version by writing words on index cards.
  2. 2
    Among Us Among Us is a popular online multiplayer game you can play on your phone or even a Nintendo Switch, making it a great option if you’re waiting with friends or by yourself. In the game, each player is either a crewmate or an imposter. Crewmates work together to complete tasks and vote out the imposter, while the imposter tries to kill the crewmates without getting caught. [12]
  3. Spaceteam is a local cooperative multiplayer game for 2-8 players. Each player uses their phone or tablet to control a different control panel on the spaceship. The players are given different orders, which they must verbally tell the others so the person with the relevant control panel can activate the orders correctly. As the game gets harder, players often start shouting, so make sure you won’t disturb those around you. [13]
  4. 4
    Magic: The Gathering Arena Magic: The Gathering Arena is a digital collectible card game that follows the same rules as the traditional card game . Players use a deck of digital cards to battle other players. The game allows you to play with others online, so you don’t have to have someone with you in person to play. [14]
  5. The Star Realms app is based on the card-based tabletop game of the same name. The game takes place in a distant future where different alien races compete to rule the galaxy. Your goal is to destroy your opponent by attacking them with your cards. [15] Either play against other players online or play by yourself against AI.
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Section 4 of 5:

Games to Play While Waiting with Adults

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  1. Playing Two Truths and a Lie is a great way to get to know your friends better, especially when you’re waiting around with nothing to do. Take turns telling each other three facts about yourself. The catch is, two must be the truth while one must be a lie. The other players have to guess which one is the lie. [16]
  2. 2
    Charades Charades is a fun way to pass the time no matter how old you are. If you’re with multiple people, split into two teams, or if you’re with one person, simply take turns acting things out. Set up a timer and give each team a certain amount of time to guess what the player is acting out. If they get it right, they get a point. Do the same with the other team, and whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins. [17]
  3. Truth or Dare is a classic party game that can be adapted for all ages. Take turns asking your friends, “Truth or dare?” If they pick truth, ask them a question they have to answer honestly. If they pick dare, dare them to do something silly or embarrassing in front of the group. Since you’re all adults, feel free to ask juicy or dirty questions if everyone is comfortable. [18]
  4. 4
    Kiss, Marry, Kill Kiss, Marry, Kill is a sleepover game that can still be fun as an adult, especially when you need something to pass the time. Have each player take turns listing three people. This can be characters, celebrities, people you know in real life, or a mixture of all three. The other players then have to pick which person they’d kiss, which they’d marry, and which they’d kill. [19]
  5. Never Have I Ever is a fun way to find out interesting things your friends have and haven’t done. Every player will hold up 10 fingers and take turns saying “Never have I ever…” and listing something they haven’t done. If a player has done the thing, they’ll put a finger down. The last person with fingers remaining wins. [20]
    • Since you’re all adults, consider asking more risqué questions. Just don’t get too inappropriate if you’re somewhere others can hear you.
    • If you’re waiting somewhere you can drink alcohol, players can take a drink or a shot every time they’ve done something.
  6. 6
    Telling jokes Telling jokes may not technically be a game, but it can be a fun way to pass the time. Take turns making each other laugh by sharing your best (or worst) jokes. These can be dad jokes , cheesy pick-up lines , one-liners, or since you’re all adults, dirty jokes. Make it a competition by seeing who can make the others laugh the hardest.
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Section 5 of 5:

Waiting Games That Require Equipment

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  1. While not technically a game, fidget toys can be very helpful in keeping children occupied while waiting in line. If you know you’re going to be waiting in line for a while, consider packing a fidget toy set with a variety of toys. If your kids are more hands-on, this can help keep them entertained. They can even learn to do fidget spinner tricks !
  2. 2
    Hangman To play Hangman , all you need is a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. One person thinks of a word and draws a blank line for each letter. The other players take turns guessing letters. If they get a letter wrong, the player who thought of the word will draw a part of the hangman. The goal is to solve the puzzle before the entire hangman is drawn. [21]
  3. Tic Tac Toe is a simple, two-player game you can use to pass the time. If you have paper and a pen, draw a grid consisting of two vertical and two horizontal lines. One player will be “X” and the other “O.” Take turns drawing your letter in the spaces on the grid. The first person to get three in a row wins. [22]
    • If you don’t have paper, there are lots of apps and websites where you can play online.
  4. 4
    Mad Libs Mad Libs is a fun fill-in-the-blank game for all ages! Grab a Mad Libs booklet of your preferred theme. One person will fill in the story by asking the other players to name various verbs, nouns, and adjectives. Then, they’ll read the completed story out loud. The results are usually outrageous and hilarious! [23]
    • The good thing about Mad Libs is it can be adapted for your age group. Keep things silly and innocent if you’re playing with kids. If you’re playing with adults, however, feel free to use more mature humor.
  5. If you know your line isn’t going to be moving for a long time, it may be time to break out the board games. Many board games come in travel-size options , making them easier to play when you’re on the go. Find a spot to set up, and start playing to pass the time.
    • If your line is moving relatively quickly, this probably isn’t the best option, as you’ll have to keep moving around.
  6. 6
    Conversation dice Conversation dice can be a great way to get to know more about the people you’re waiting with. Each side of the dice is printed with a different question. When a player rolls a die, they answer the corresponding question. If you don’t have conversation dice, make your own with a set of regular dice and some strips of paper. [24]
    • Make sure you have somewhere you can roll the dice where you won’t lose them!
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      References

      1. ↑ https://thegeniusofplay.org/genius/play-ideas-tips/play-ideas/20-questions.aspx
      2. ↑ https://parade.com/964027/parade/would-you-rather-questions/
      3. ↑ https://www.thegamegal.com/2010/09/25/the-alphabet-game/
      4. ↑ https://www.thegamegal.com/2010/09/25/the-alphabet-game/
      5. ↑ https://www.thegamegal.com/2011/12/03/fortunately-unfortunately/
      6. ↑ https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/chopsticks-game
      7. ↑ https://thegeniusofplay.org/genius/play-ideas-tips/play-ideas/rock-paper-scissors.aspx
      8. ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers/play-learning/low-cost-play-ideas/i-spy-turn-taking-and-talking-activity-for-children-3-6-years
      9. ↑ https://thegeniusofplay.org/genius/play-ideas-tips/play-ideas/simon-says.aspx
      1. ↑ https://greatstart.tas.gov.au/activities-at-home/memory-game-whats-missing/
      2. ↑ https://www.cnet.com/reviews/heads-up-ios-review/
      3. ↑ https://parentzone.org.uk/article/among-us
      4. ↑ https://www.mobilefun.co.uk/blog/2015/05/spaceteam-a-cooperative-shouting-game/
      5. ↑ https://magic.wizards.com/en/mtgarena
      6. ↑ https://www.starrealms.com/
      7. ↑ https://parade.com/1185071/marynliles/two-truths-and-a-lie-ideas/
      8. ↑ https://thegeniusofplay.org/genius/play-ideas-tips/play-ideas/charades.aspx
      9. ↑ https://parade.com/966507/parade/truth-or-dare-questions/
      10. ↑ https://drinkplayground.com/kiss-marry-kill-game/
      11. ↑ https://www.today.com/life/inspiration/never-have-i-ever-questions-rcna127875
      12. ↑ https://www.one-to-one.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Hangman.pdf
      13. ↑ https://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/puzzles/tictactoe
      14. ↑ http://www1.lasalle.edu/~blum/PHP2/Madlib.htm
      15. ↑ https://www.learningresources.com/media/pdf/lr/resources/At-Home-Activities-Conversation-Cubes.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoqE013JrITVo_I0_wXrFn2iddXhLCb78DWvuDI8fwiEUzfKdgk-

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