Do your kids love to run around and play games? If so, they’ll love these 26 tag games! These games are perfect for keeping kids active, while also providing some laughs. So gather up some friends and family, and get ready to have some fun!
Table of contents
Tag
The game of tag is simple: one person is “it” and has to chase the other players around until they can tag them. Then, the tagged player becomes “it.” The game can be played with any number of players, but works best with at least four. To make the game more challenging, you can set up obstacles like chairs or cones to make it more difficult for the “it” person to catch their prey.
Ball tag
Ball tag game is a fun game that can be played by two or more players. The object of the game is to tag the other players with the ball, while avoiding being tagged yourself.
To play, you will need a ball and enough space to run around. One player starts off as the “it” player, and the other players scatter around trying to avoid being tagged. The it player tries to tag the other players with the ball, and if someone is hit, they become it and must chase after the others. The last player caught becomes it for the next round.
Chain tag
The game of chain tag is simple yet addictive. The objective is to tag as many people as possible without getting tagged yourself. Once you’ve been tagged, you become part of the chain and the game continues. To make things more challenging, you can set up obstacles or boundaries that players have to stay within while tagging others.
If you’re looking for a fun and fast-paced game to play with friends, family, or strangers, give chain tag a try! You might just find yourselves caught up in the excitement for hours on end.
Cops and robbers (Cowboys and Indians)
There are a few different ways to play cops and robbers, but the most common is probably to split into two teams. One team is the cops, and the other team is the robbers. The cops try to catch the robbers, and the robbers try to escape.
Another way to play is for one person to be the cop and everyone else is a robber. The cop tries to catch everyone, and the robbers try to escape.
You can also play by yourself. In this case, you are either the cop or the robber. You can hide or run away from each other depending on what you want to do.
Freeze tag
To freeze tag, all you need is a group of friends and an open space! To start, one person is chosen to be “it” and the rest of the group scatters. The goal of the game is for “it” to tag as many people as possible, which freezes them in place. Once someone is frozen, they can only be unfrozen by another player tagging them. The last person left un-frozen wins!
Ghost in the graveyard
The rules of Ghost in the Graveyard are simple. One player is chosen to be the ghost, and the rest of the players are the graveyard keepers. The object of the game is for the ghost to Scare all of the keepers away.
The game is played at night, in a dark room, or outdoors in a dark area. The ghost player hides while the keepers count to 100. Once they reach 100, they begin looking for the ghost. When a keeper finds the ghost, they yell “ghost in the graveyard!” and try to run back to safety. The ghost then chases after them, trying to tag them before they reach safety.
The best way to ghost in the graveyard game is to be very quiet and move quickly. Try to avoid being seen and stay in the shadows. If you are caught, try to bluff your way out by pretending you are another player.
Kiss chase
The basic rules of the Kiss Chase game are as follows: One person is “it” and chases the others. The others try to avoid being caught by it, and the first one caught must kiss the person who caught them. There are variations on how to play Kiss Chase, but these are the basic rules.
Some variations include having a boundary line that players cannot cross, or giving players a certain amount of time to run away before they must turn around and chase. There are also variations where players can hide, but if they are found they must still kiss the player who found them. As you can see, there are many possibilities when it comes to playing Kiss Chase!
Stuck in the mud
Stuck in the mud is a great game for kids of all ages! Here are the simple rules:
- Choose one player to be “it”.
- The other players scatter around the play area.
- When “it” calls out “Stuck in the mud!”, all the other players must freeze in place.
- “It” then tries to tag as many of the frozen players as possible.
- The first player tagged becomes “it” for the next round and so on.
- To make it more challenging, you can add additional rules, like requiring players to hop on one foot while they’re frozen.
Blind man’s buff
There are a few different variations of the game, but the basic rules are as follows:
One player is designated as the “blind man” and is blindfolded. The other players take turns leading the blind man around by holding onto one end of a scarf or piece of cloth.
The objective of the game is for the blind man to try to guess who is leading him around. Once he correctly guesses a player’s identity, that player becomes the new blind man.
The game can be played with as few as two people, but is usually more fun with four or more players.
British bulldogs (Sharks and minnows)
Playing British bulldogs is a great way to have fun with friends and family. Here are the basic rules of the game:
- One player is “it” and stands in the middle of the playing area.
- The other players line up at one end of the playing area.
- When “it” says “go”, all the other players run to the other end of the playing area.
- “It” tries to tag as many people as possible while they are running.
- Once someone is tagged, they become “it” for the next round.
- The game continues until only one person remains
Capture the flag (Stealing Sticks)
The rules of capture the flag vary depending on who you ask, but there are a few key elements that are always present. First, each team must have a designated base or “flag station” where their flag is placed. The objective of the game is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to your own base. To do this, players must infiltrate enemy territory, dodge enemy players, and avoid getting caught by the opposing team. Some variants of the game also include special zones which award extra points if captured. The game usually ends when one team has successfully captured the other team’s flag, but some variants continue until all players on one team have been eliminated.
Duck, duck, goose
The basic rules of Duck, Duck, Goose are as follows: One person is chosen to be “It.” That person ducks around the room, tapping people on the head with a hand while saying “duck” until they tap someone who is not paying attention and says “goose.” That person becomes “It” and the process repeats.
Duck on a rock
The Duck on a Rock game is a popular playground game. The objective of the game is for one player, “the duck”, to balance on a large rock, while the other players, “the ducks”, try to knock the duck off the rock using smaller rocks.
There is no definitive set of rules for playing Duck on a Rock; different communities and groups may have their own variations. However, some general rules that can be followed include:
- The duck must stay on the rock at all times; if they step off, they are out.
- Players are not allowed to touch the duck or the rock directly; they can only use rocks to hit other rocks.
Kabaddi
There are two teams of seven players, each. The aim is to either touch the opponent’s team’s “territory” or tag out as many opponents as possible before they manage to do the same to you.
There are four specific ways of scoring in Kabaddi:
- The first way to score is by raiding the opponent’s half and touching any of the opponents players within that area.
- The second way to score is called an ‘all out. This happens when the raider touches all seven of the opponent’s players without being captured themselves.
- The third way is by ‘loning’. This is when the raider touches the bonus line with at least one foot, without being touched by any of the defenders.
- The fourth and final way to score is called a ‘do-or-die’. As the name suggests, in this case, the raider has one last chance to cross
Kick the can
The rules of the game are pretty simple. One person is chosen to be the “kicker” and the rest of the players are can-kickers. The kicker starts by kicking the can into play and then everyone else takes turns trying to kick the can as close to the starting point as possible. The person who kicks the can farthest from the starting point is out, and play continues until there is only one player left.
Marco Polo
The rules to playing Marco Polo are quite simple. One player is chosen to be Marco Polo, and the other players are Polos. The object of the game is for Marco Polo to find thePolos using only his voice.
To begin, Marco Polo stands in the middle of the playing area and calls out “Marco!” The other players then respond by calling out “Polo!” from their hiding places. Using only these auditory clues, Marco must find all of the Polos.
Once he has found them, he must tag each one before they have a chance to escape. If even one successfully evade him, then he becomes a Polo himself and the game starts over.
Monkey on Woodchips (Grounders)
There are many variations of the Grounders game, but the following is a basic outline of the rules.
The game is played with two teams of two players each. One player from each team stands at either end of the playing area, and using a long stick called a grounder, they hit a small ball back and forth to their partner. The object of the game is to hit the ball through one of the two hoops that are set up at either end of the playing area.
If a player misses the ball or hits it out of bounds, their team loses possession and the other team can try to score. The first team to score five points wins the game.
Patintero
The patintero game is a Filipino street game that can be played by two or more players. The aim of the game is to race each other to touch the opposite side of the court using any part of the body except the hands, and then return to your original spot without being tagged by an opponent.
There are no definitive rules to playing patintero, as every player may have their own way of playing the game. However, some basic rules that you may want to follow include:
- You can only run while touching the ground with your feet
- You cannot run in a zigzag pattern
- You must tag an opponent before they reach home base in order to prevent them from scoring a point
Pie
The Pie Tag game is played with two teams of equal numbers of players. Each team has one pie. The object of the game is to tag all the members of the other team with your pie.
To tag someone with your pie, you must throw it at them and hit them with it. Once someone has been hit by a pie, they are out of the game and can no longer tag other players. The last team standing is the winner!
Poison
The basic rules are to avoid being tagged by the other players, and to tag other players with the word “poison”. If you’re tagged by someone who says “poison”, then you’re out of the game.
There are variations on the game, but that’s the basic idea. For example, some people play that you can only be tagged with “poison” if you’re touching someone else who has been already been tagged with it. Or, some people allow for a kind of immunity where if you touch someone who is “poison”, then you yourself become immune to being tagged with it again. There are lots of different variations, so feel free to come up with your own rules!
Puss in the corner
The Puss in the Corner tag game is a very easy game to play. You only need two players for this game. One player is designated as “Puss” and the other player is designated as “Cat”.
To start, Cat stands in one corner of the room and Puss stands in the opposite corner. Cat calls out “Puss in the Corner” and Puss responds by running to the other corner. As soon as Puss reaches the opposite corner, Cat calls out “Puss in the Corner” again and Puss runs back to the original corner. This continues back and forth until one player tags the other player. The tagged player then becomes Puss and the other player becomes Cat.
Ringolevio
The basic rules are that there are two teams, red and blue. One player from each team is “it”. The player who is “it” tries to tag the other players, who then become “it”. If a player is tagged, they must go to the back of their team’s line. The game continues until all the players from one team have been tagged.
There are some variations on these rules. For example, some people play that if you are tagged, you must free someone who has been previously tagged. Or, you can only run in certain directions (usually sideways). And, sometimes a player can be “safe” if they are behind a designated line or object.
Statues (red light, green light; Grandmother’s Footsteps)
The rules to playing the Statues tag game are quite simple. One player is chosen to be “it” and stands in the middle of the play area. The other players then spread out around the play area. When “it” says “go,” all of the other players start running around. When “it” yells “statues!,” everyone must freeze in place. “It” then walks around and tags as many people as possible who are not in statue form. The last person to be tagged becomes “it” for the next round!
Tumbang preso
The game is played with a minimum of two people. One person is “it” and the other person is the “catcher.” The object of the game is for the “it” person to throw a can, rock, or any small object at the feet of the catcher. If the catcher catches the object before it hits the ground, then they become “it.” If they don’t catch it, then they are out. The last person standing is the winner.
What’s the time, Mr Wolf?
There are no set rules, but typically one player is “it” and they try to catch the other players. The players hide, and when “it” calls out “What’s the time, Mr Wolf?”, the players reply with a time, such as “3 o’clock”. If “it” guesses the time correctly, the player who said it becomes “it” and must hide again. If “it” guesses incorrectly, the player who said it can remain safe and choose someone else to become “it”. The game continues until everyone has been caught or until everyone manages to hide successfully.
Chor Police
There are a few different variations of the Chor Police tag game, but the basic rules are always the same. One person is chosen to be the “Chor” and the rest of the players are the “Police.” The Chor must then run away and try to escape while the Police chase after them. If a Police player catches up to the Chor, they can tag them and become the new Chor. The game continues until everyone has had a turn being the Chor.
There are a few different ways to add additional excitement and challenge to the game. For example, you could make it so that only one person can be tagged at a time, or you could have two Policemen chasing after each Chor.
Takeaway
With school out for the summer, it can be tough to come up with creative ways to keep your kids active and entertained. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. From tag games that are perfect for hot days outside to indoor activities that will keep everyone occupied, we’ve compiled a list of 26 fun tag games that will have your kids (and you) moving and laughing all day long. So get ready to break out the water guns, chalk, and Nerf guns, because summer is about to get a lot more fun!