Basic Games

9 out of 10

9 out of 10 is a debate game. This game may be played by any number of players, but it works best with 4-8 people. To play, the players split up into two teams and are given a ridiculous topic to debate like, for example, whether or not to fill the public swimming pool with Jell-O. One team would be for filling the pool with Jell-O, and the other team would be against it. One person may argue a case at a time. While speaking, they must stand in the designated spot between the two teams. If a player on the opposing team hears a flaw in the speaker's case, they may call "Objection!" and point out that flaw. If the ref agrees with the challenging player's argument, then they allow that player to step into the box and argue their team's point. The game usually lasts about two minutes. At the end of that time, whichever team has a player in the box wins the game.

Hitchhiker

Hitchhiker is a game in which four chairs are set up in a square to symbolize a car. Three players sit in the "car" and, based on an audience suggestion, pretend to drive to a location. During the game, a fourth player will stand near the car and hold out their thumb as if they were hitchhiking. The hitchhiker takes the empty seat in the "car." The hitchhiker enters the vehicle with a trait, usually an accent. The three players who were already in the car must all take on the trait of the new player. When another player sticks their thumb out, the player in the driver's seat leaves the car. The player in the passenger seat takes the driver's seat, and the new player takes the passenger seat. The new hitchhiker will also have a trait. All four players in the car must present the same trait at one time.

Switch Interview

Switch Interview is a game in which two players play together. This game may be played while sitting on chairs or while standing. In the game, the player on the audience's left interviews the player on the right about a topic that is provided by the audience. The "interviewee" must pretend to know everything about the topic and must answer every question that the "interviewer" asks. After a short, 30 to 60-second conversation, the ref calls "Switch!" The interviewee would then get up and leave, the interviewer would take the place of the interviewee, and a new player would become the interviewer. Another topic would be given, and the game would continue until the ref calls "Scene!".

What Are You Doing?

Two players are on stage at a time. After receiving either a topic, initials, or a word to rhyme with, one player begins with a random action. The second player asks the first player, "What are you doing?" If, for example, the players were given a topic, then the first player would answer the second player by saying something that they weren’t actually doing but was relative to the topic. The second player would then do what the first player said that they were doing. When the first player asks the second player, "What are you doing?", the second player must also answer relative to the topic. If initials were provided, then the first major word in every response has to begin with the first initial, and the second major word must begin with the second initial. If a word to rhyme with was provided, then the last word in every response must rhyme with that word. 

Look, Ma!/Try That On For Size

Look, Ma! is, in a way, the opposite of What Are You Doing? In Look, Ma!, two players stand next to each other. Based on a topic provided by the audience (usually a sport or other active hobby), one player begins a repetitive action. The second player copies the first, and both perform the same continuous motion at the same time. The first player says, "Look, Ma! I'm..." followed by a verb that would justify the motion. The second player then says, "Look, Ma! I'm..." and then a different verb to justify their motion. The game continues until one player cannot think of any other explanation or until an explanation is repeated.

The game Try That on For Size is the same as Look, Ma!, except that after the action is initiated, the first player says what they are doing and follows it with, "Try that on for size!"