Party GamesHuman Knot
A group stands in a tight circle, everyone grabs two different people's hands across the middle, and the tangle must be undone into a circle without anyone letting go. People step over arms, duck under, turn round and give each other orders. It is a co-operative puzzle and a quick way to get strangers talking.
- Ages
- 10 and up
- Players
- 8 to 12 per knot
- Time
- 10 to 15 minutes
- Place
- open space
- Energy
- active
- Group size
- Medium group (9 to 20), Large group (over 20)
- Good for
- Teenagers, Adults, Office
What you need
Nothing. A clear space.
How to play
- Form circles of eight to twelve, standing shoulder to shoulder.
- Everyone puts the right hand into the middle and takes the hand of someone who is not standing next to them.
- Then everyone does the same with the left hand, taking a different person's hand.
- Without letting go, the group must untangle itself into one open circle. Grips may be loosened and turned so that wrists are not twisted.
- Some knots end as two linked circles, or a circle with a few people facing outwards. Both count as solved.
Who wins
The group wins when the circle is open. With several groups, the first to finish wins.
Variations and tips
- Silent version, or a version in which only one named "director" may speak.
- If a knot cannot be solved in ten minutes, allow one "surgery": the group chooses one pair of hands to release and rejoin.
- Rope version, with no touching: each person holds the ends of two short ropes instead of hands.
Safety and kindness
This game involves close contact. Offer the rope version, or a role as observer, to anyone who prefers it, without asking why. Move slowly, never pull an arm, and stop at once if someone says "wait".
Common problems and how to fix them
- The group gives up early. Suggest starting from one person and following the chain of hands.
- One loud person directs everyone. Give that person the task of saying nothing for two minutes.
Party plans that use this game
Host tools
Time the round with the party timer, make chits or random teams with the chit maker, and keep the points on the scoreboard.
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See all 29 party games.