8 Quarantine-Friendly Games to Overcome Cabin Fever

Take a break from your Netflix binge and play a good old-fashioned game instead.

Surprise, surprise. If you aren’t an essential worker (but are doing your part), that means you’re still stuck inside like the rest of us. And there’s only so much baking and home workouts you can do.

So if you’ve run out of activities, join us in one of these fun, quarantine- and social distancing-approved games instead.

Games for Groups

This goes without saying, but this isn’t the time to invite your friends over. Instead, we’re suggesting group games for those in larger or family households.

Jenga

Ah, the classic “don’t-knock-over-the-tower” game. People of all ages enjoy Jenga, and there are infinite possibilities to make the game more fun or challenging.

Ideally, you have an official Jenga game set with wooden blocks. But if you don’t, you could try your hand at building your own “Giant” Jenga — just scrounge around for some two-by-fours and a table saw.

Charades

This one is the ultimate game option for those who might not own any games. All you need is yourself, your family, and a few scraps of paper. You could even play at a distance with your next-door neighbors.

The rules of charades are as simple as it gets: two teams with a scorekeeper and timer. You act out clues to a phrase devised by the opposing team while your teammates try to guess it. It’s a riot.

Spikeball & Pingpong

Inspired by volleyball, Spikeball has gained popularity in recent years due to its easy setup and the fact that it can be played almost anywhere, from the beach to your backyard.

With a net that’s 3 feet across (combined with game strategy), Spikeball players are usually 4-6 feet apart, making this a great active and high-energy game with no contact necessary.

Pingpong only works if your family has a pingpong table, net, and paddles. But if that’s not you, luckily there are nets that can attach to any table for sale online.

Official tables are 9 feet long, so you may have to revise your strategy on smaller kitchen tables. This game is a great indoor or outdoor option and can also be played with teams if you have a large family.

Games for Pairs

Chess

Anyone who enjoys board games probably already owns a chessboard, making it a great “let’s pass some time” choice. Chess games can be fast and competitive or last for days. It’s not too hard to learn the concept, and the game gets even better once you pick up basic strategy.

Our editors have hunkered down with this game through hurricanes and snowstorms. And as a bonus, it keeps your mind sharp and allows time for conversation and contemplation.

You can grab a good standard folding chess set on Amazon for $29.