Memory & Chain Games

I'm Going on a Picnic

also: The Picnic Game, I Packed My Suitcase, In My Suitcase, I'm Going on a Trip

First player says "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing an apple." Next player repeats and adds a B item: "…an apple and a banana." Continues through the alphabet. Forget an item or break the order and you're out.

• Ages 5+
• 2+
• ✓ Driver

The Grocery Game

Like the Picnic Game but items must be groceries (and sometimes only foods you'd actually buy). Alphabetical: apples, bread, carrots, dates… Some variants add questions: others guess the item asking yes/no questions.

• Ages 5+
• 2+
• ✓ Driver

The Minister's Cat (cumulative variant)

See also word-games. In the cumulative/memory variant, each player must repeat all previously used adjectives in order before adding a new one. "Adorable, beautiful, cute, delightful, elegant…"

• Ages 8+
• 2+
• ✓ Driver

Holiday Memory Game

A general-purpose version of the Picnic Game. First player says "On my holiday I took X." Each subsequent player repeats the list and adds an item. No alphabet constraint required, which makes it harder to track.

• Ages 6+
• 2+
• ✓ Driver

The Wooden Man (Build-a-Sentence)

First player says a short phrase ("The wooden man"). The next adds a word to continue the sentence ("The wooden man walked"). Continues — each player must repeat the whole sentence and add one word.

• Ages 7+
• 2+
• ✓ Driver

Telephone (Whisper Game)

First player whispers a sentence to their neighbor. The sentence is passed whisper-by-whisper around the car. The last player says it aloud; compare to the original. Hilarity scales with distance.

• Ages 5+
• 3+

A My Name Is...

Each player recites the pattern using a different letter: "A, my name is Alice, my husband's name is Al, we come from Alabama, and we sell apples." Then B, C, and so on. Memory kicks in when played cumulatively or with speed.

• Ages 7+
• 2+
• ✓ Driver