Players: 4 or more
Time: 1 minute for each player
You need: Simple things from home
Ages: 8 and above
Type: Party games

Who it suits and when to play

One-Minute Games suit house parties, kitty parties, school fairs and office fun days, for players of eight and above. Each player is on stage for only sixty seconds, so even shy guests agree to try. The games use things already in the house. Choose three or four different ones, and test each once before the guests arrive.

How to play

Choose three or four games and keep the things ready on a table.
Explain the task and show it once.
Each player gets one minute. A helper keeps time and counts.
Write down each score. The highest score wins the game.
Give a small prize for each game, or add up the scores for an overall winner.

Twelve one-minute games

Straw and pulses: move rajma or chana from one bowl to another by sucking through a straw. Count the pieces moved.
Bindi board: stick as many bindis as you can in a straight line on a mirror or a steel plate.
Glass tower: build the tallest pyramid of paper glasses. It must be standing when the minute ends.
Thread the needles: thread as many needles as you can. Use needles with large eyes.
Balloon blow: blow up and tie as many balloons as you can.
Bangle sort: wear as many bangles as you can on one arm using only the other hand.
Coin tower: stack as many coins as you can, using one hand.
Matchstick words: make the longest word you can from matchsticks laid on the table.
Spoon and lemon: walk to a line and back, balancing a lemon on a spoon held in the mouth. Count the trips.
Button the shirt: button and unbutton a shirt as many times as you can.
Paper cups and ball: bounce a table tennis ball into a row of cups. Count the cups filled.
Name it: write as many flowers, or dishes, or cities, as you can.

Tips and variations

Try each game yourself before the party, to check that the task is possible but not too easy.
Keep one extra game ready as a tie-breaker.

Common problems and how to fix them

Timing is disputed. Use a phone timer with a loud alarm, held by someone who is not playing.
A game is far too hard and everyone scores zero. Try it yourself beforehand. A good one-minute game lets an average player finish about half.
The floor is littered with things after each turn. Lay out one set per player before starting, on a tray, so the next turn begins at once.

More party games

Need fair teams or someone to go first? Use the team maker. See all 45 games.