Chicago, IL – Midwestern winters can drag on — long nights, icy roads, and cabin fever all but guarantee people are searching for something new (or old!) to do indoors. Instead of defaulting to Netflix or another round of Mario Kart, why not borrow from a time before Wi-Fi?
In 1919, the book How to Do Things offered pages of indoor games designed to keep families entertained around the fireplace. And believe it or not, many of these simple, low-tech activities still hold up today — often resembling games we already know and love.
Here are 19 games from more than 100 years ago that could bring new life to your next winter gathering.
1. The Standing Broad Grin
Line everyone up shoulder-to-shoulder. At “go,” they must flash their biggest smile and hold it, without moving a muscle. The last person still smiling wins.
(Modern cousin: “Freeze Challenge” on TikTok, but just for grins.)
2. The Continuous Glum
Everyone lines up wearing their best sad face. The audience tries to break them with jokes, silly dances, or funny noises. No touching allowed. Last person still “glum” is the champion.
(Modern cousin: the “Try Not to Laugh Challenge.”)
3. Clothes-Pin Relay
Two teams sit in rows holding hands at the wrist. Each captain passes a clothespin down the line, one player at a time, until it reaches the end — then it’s sent back. Drop the pin? Start again. First team to return all 12 wins.
(Modern cousin: relay races at summer camp, but played sitting down.)
4. Chinese Table
Players sit in a circle, each adopting a tea-time name like “sugar,” “cream,” or “cake.” “Tea” starts by saying, “I turn tea, who turns sugar?” Sugar answers and passes it along. The leader eventually calls, “Clear the table!” and everyone scrambles back into chairs. Last one seated is out.
(Modern cousin: musical games like “Hot Potato” mixed with tongue twisters.)
5. Artists and Critics
Everyone sketches something quickly and hides the title. Papers are passed around, and others guess what the picture might be and add captions. When revealed, the “guesses” usually have nothing to do with the drawing — that’s the fun.
(Modern cousin: Pictionary or “Gartic Phone.”)
6. Heavyweight Throw
Set a basket or laundry hamper about 12 feet away. Players take turns tossing a ball in. Keep score for a set number of throws. Side with the most baskets wins.
(Modern cousin: beer pong without the beer.)
7. The Nut Game
Players answer pun-filled riddles: “What nut is good for naughty boys?” (Hickory.) “What nut grows on the Amazon?” (Brazil nut.) It’s trivia with a groan-worthy twist.
(Modern cousin: dad-joke competitions.)
8. Rainy Day Race
Each contestant starts with a shoebox holding overshoes and a closed umbrella. At the signal: untie the shoes, put them on, open the umbrella, race across the room, then reverse it all before running back. Chaos guaranteed.
(Modern cousin: timed obstacle courses like “Minute to Win It.”)
9. Potato Race
Place six potatoes on a chair at one end of the room. Each player must carry them one at a time to the other end using only a spoon. Drop one? Pick it up with the spoon before continuing.
(Modern cousin: egg-on-a-spoon relay.)
10. The Blarney Stone
Cover a stone with flour or chalk and place it on a table. Blindfolded players spin three times, then stagger forward trying to kiss it. Expect plenty of smudged cheeks and laughter.
(Modern cousin: “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”)
11. The Little Dutch Band
Everyone is assigned an imaginary instrument — violin, drum, flute. The “band” pantomimes playing together until the leader suddenly switches instruments. Everyone must copy instantly, or they’re out.
(Modern cousin: “air guitar battle” but for a full orchestra.)
12. Gratitude Game
Each person writes 15 things they’re thankful for — silly or serious — and the papers are read aloud anonymously. The group votes on the funniest, strangest, or most heartfelt.
(Modern cousin: icebreaker list challenges at team-building events.)
13. Game of Animals
Split into two teams. Captain X names an animal and begins counting to ten. A teammate must quickly name another animal before time runs out. Fail, and you’re out. For added difficulty, restrict to certain categories (only sea animals, only birds, etc.).
(Modern cousin: Scattergories or “Categories” drinking game.)
14. Game of Sculpture
Give each player a lump of putty or Play-Doh, five toothpicks, and an animal name on paper. They have five minutes to sculpt. At the end, everyone guesses what each animal is supposed to be.
(Modern cousin: “Cranium” sculpting challenges.)
15. Tossing the Smile
Form a circle. One player flashes a huge grin at another, who must grin back and then pass it to someone else. Everyone else must stay straight-faced. Smile at the wrong time and you’re out.
(Modern cousin: improv warm-up games or “pass the laugh.”)
16. Yankee Doodle Kitchen
One group pantomimes household chores — washing dishes, scrubbing floors, churning butter — while a piano plays “Yankee Doodle.” The music speeds up until everyone is frantically miming and cracking up.
(Modern cousin: charades meets Just Dance.)
17. Fish Talk
Each player must “talk like a fish” — making gurgles, puckers, or flopping noises. The sillier, the better. If you break character or can’t keep going, you’re out.
(Modern cousin: improv comedy games like “Animal Impressions.”)
18. Move the Penny
Draw a three-inch circle on a table and place a penny inside with two balls beside it (like billiard balls or tennis balls). Roll one ball gently to try to knock the penny out without hitting the other ball. Precision is everything.
(Modern cousin: tabletop shuffleboard or beer caps.)
19. Romance Story Game
Each person contributes to a shared story by filling in prompts: hero’s name, villain’s name, first meeting, trouble, rescue. The folded paper is passed until all prompts are filled. At the end, read the tale aloud — expect wild twists.
(Modern cousin: Mad Libs or collaborative story apps.)
Why They Still Work
What makes these games special is their simplicity. They need almost no supplies — a potato, a spoon, a coin, a bit of putty — and rely on people, not screens. They’re goofy, interactive, and weirdly timeless. Better yet, they’re made for modern share culture. A clip of grandma wobbling in “Rainy Day Race” or your friends flopping through “Fish Talk” has TikTok viral energy written all over it.
So the next time Midwest snow traps you indoors, channel your inner 1919 party host. Grab a clothespin, line up your crew, and see who can hold the longest grin. The old games may just become your newest tradition.
