Why Minute to Win It Games Are Perfect for Youth Groups
Organizing games for youth groups can be tricky. You need activities that are fun, engaging and easy to set up for all kinds of personalities, from the shyest introverts to the most outgoing leaders. Minute to Win It games hit all those marks—they’re fast-paced, inclusive and create an atmosphere full of laughter and friendly competition. In this guide, we’ll dive into 35 exciting Minute to Win It games that can bring energy to any youth group gathering.
Unlike some other game ideas you might come across, our list is packed with variations, creative tips and all the details you need to make each game work seamlessly. Whether you’re running a church event, a school group, or just a fun gathering, these games will have everyone on their feet and eager to join in.
Why These Games Work for Youth Groups
Youth groups thrive on participation and these games guarantee it. They’re designed to encourage teamwork, quick thinking and creativity. What’s even better is that they can be customized to fit your group’s unique needs. Want to tie in biblical themes or geography trivia? Many of the games can be adapted with minimal effort, making them versatile for any youth setting. The key here is simplicity and the ability to keep players engaged—perfect for kids and teens who need constant entertainment to stay focused.
In the following sections, we will cover everything from simple games you can set up in minutes to exciting challenges that bring out the competitive spirit in everyone. Let’s get started!
The Ultimate List of Minute to Win It Games for Youth Groups
1. Pretzel Dive
What you’ll need: Chopsticks, Pretzels, Bowls
Players are given a pair of chopsticks and a bowl of pretzels. The goal? Pick up as many pretzels as possible using only the chopsticks… held between your teeth! This game is a hilarious test of dexterity and patience.
Pro Tip: Add a variation by using gummy worms or any slippery snacks to make it even more challenging.
2. Breakfast Scramble
What you’ll need: Empty cereal boxes, Scissors
Cut the front panel of a cereal box into 10-12 puzzle-like pieces. Give each player one minute to reassemble the puzzle. The first player to finish wins.
Enhancement Idea: For younger players, use fewer pieces. For teens, increase the difficulty with more puzzle pieces or even a double-sided puzzle!
3. Whipped Cream Worm Search
What you’ll need: Gummy worms, Whipped cream
Here’s a fun, messy game: players must retrieve as many gummy worms from a bowl of whipped cream as they can, without using their hands. It’s a surefire way to get everyone laughing.
Safety Tip: Make sure to keep towels or napkins handy for easy clean-up!
4. Face the Cookie
What you’ll need: Cookies
Place a cookie on each player’s forehead. The challenge is to move the cookie down to their mouth without using their hands. The first to eat the cookie wins. It’s simple yet incredibly entertaining to watch.
Challenge Level: For an added twist, use smaller or more slippery cookies, like crackers or thin wafers, to increase the difficulty.
5. Tissue Toss
What you’ll need: Tissue boxes
Each player receives a full box of tissues. The goal is to empty the box, one tissue at a time, in under a minute. It sounds simple, but the rapid pace and frantic action make it a fun spectacle.
Variation: Try using both hands to make it faster or one hand for an added challenge.
6. Defying Gravity
What you’ll need: Balloons
In this game, players must keep three balloons in the air for a full minute. It’s harder than it sounds! The balloons must not touch the ground or any other surface.
Tip for Large Groups: Add an extra balloon for every round to increase the difficulty level for bigger groups.
7. Sticky Marbles
What you’ll need: Marbles, Double-sided tape
Players are given an equal number of marbles and a strip of double-sided tape. They must roll the marbles and see how many can stick to the tape within one minute.
Pro Tip: Switch to a wider tape and increase the number of marbles for a greater challenge.
8. State of Fun
What you’ll need: Paper, Pens
Test geography skills by having players list as many state capitals (or countries, depending on your group’s theme) as they can within a minute. This game is perfect for mixing a bit of education with fun.
Custom Twist: For church groups, swap state capitals with Bible verses, missionary names, or other themed trivia!
Easy Games for Every Personality
When planning games for a diverse group of kids and teens, it’s essential to choose activities that cater to various personalities. Whether your group consists of shy introverts or competitive extroverts, these Minute to Win It games guarantee fun for all!
9. Stack It Up
What you’ll need: Plastic cups
Players are challenged to stack 21 plastic cups into a pyramid, then unstack them back into one pile—all in under a minute. It’s fast-paced and requires both precision and speed.
Pro Tip: Make it more difficult by increasing the number of cups or reducing the size of the cups.
10. Nut Stacker
What you’ll need: Hex nuts, Chopsticks
Using only one hand, players must stack hex nuts on top of each other. It requires focus and a steady hand, but the thrill is real as they race against the clock to balance five to eight nuts.
Make it Harder: Introduce a “no-touch” rule—players can only use chopsticks to stack the nuts.
11. Junk in the Trunk
What you’ll need: Tissue boxes, Ping pong balls, Belts
Attach a tissue box to a belt and fill it with ping pong balls. Players must shake, jump and twist to get all the balls out of the box, hands-free, in under a minute. This game will have everyone cracking up at the silly movements.
Group Tip: Play this in teams and have players pass the box along, keeping the laughter going!
12. Suck It Up
What you’ll need: Straws, M&Ms
Using only a straw, players must transfer M&Ms from one plate to another. The catch? They can only use the suction from the straw—no hands allowed! It’s a lot trickier than it sounds and the competitive spirit will soar in this game.
Variation: Swap M&Ms for Skittles or other small candies to add variety to the challenge.
13. Scoop It Up
What you’ll need: Spoons, Ping pong balls, Bowls
Players use a spoon held in their mouth to transfer ping pong balls from one bowl to another. It’s a hilarious balance game that requires good coordination.
Advanced Play: Introduce obstacles like cones or chairs to make the journey from bowl to bowl even more exciting.
14. Tower Test
What you’ll need: Paper plates, Plastic cups
Players alternate stacking paper plates and plastic cups to create the tallest tower possible within a minute. If the tower collapses, they have to start again!
Pro Tip: Use heavier plates for an added balance challenge.
15. Tic Tac Tweezers
What you’ll need: Tic Tacs, Tweezers
Players use tweezers to transfer Tic Tacs from one plate to another. The real challenge comes from the small size of the candies—one false move and they could spill everywhere!
Team Play: Have teammates work together to transfer as many Tic Tacs as possible, adding a layer of cooperative strategy.
16. Cups By The Yard
What you’ll need: Plastic cups, Yardstick
Players must balance 10 plastic cups on a yardstick while walking across the room. The first player to successfully carry all cups across wins.
Advanced Version: Shorten the yardstick or add an extra cup for more difficulty.
Quick Youth Group Games Minute Challenges
These fast-paced challenges are perfect for keeping the energy high during any youth group event. They’re quick, exciting and guaranteed to get everyone involved.
17. Penny Hose
What you’ll need: Pantyhose, Pennies
Place one penny at the bottom of each leg of a pair of pantyhose. Players must reach down through the hose and retrieve the pennies. It’s a surprisingly tricky game that will have everyone in fits of laughter as they struggle to reach the bottom.
Pro Tip: Use knee-high stockings for younger kids to make the game a bit easier.
18. Keep It Up
What you’ll need: Feathers
Players must keep a feather in the air by blowing on it. The goal is to move the feather from one end of the room to the other without letting it touch the ground. It’s a fun and lighthearted game that requires good breath control.
Make It Harder: Add multiple feathers for older players, or have them complete an obstacle course while keeping the feather afloat.
19. Blow It Down
What you’ll need: Balloons, Plastic cups
Players blow up a balloon and then use the air inside to knock over as many plastic cups as they can. The challenge is in controlling the air flow to aim precisely at the cups.
Variation: Play this in teams, with each team competing to see who can knock over the most cups in one minute.
20. Getting Dicey
What you’ll need: Dice, Popsicle sticks
Balance dice on the end of a popsicle stick. To up the ante, players can try balancing the stick in their mouth. The goal is to stack as many dice as possible in one minute.
Pro Tip: Use smaller dice for a more challenging game, or try using multiple sticks for team play.
21. Wrap It Up
What you’ll need: Streamers, Toilet paper, or Ribbon
Teams of two work together to wrap one player in streamers, toilet paper, or ribbon. The goal is to fully wrap the other player as fast as possible, with the most creative or neatest wrap winning.
Creative Variation: Hold a competition to see who can create the funniest or most elaborate “mummy” costume in under a minute.
22. Ping Pong Bounce
What you’ll need: Ping pong balls, Cups
Line up six cups in a straight line. Players must bounce ping pong balls into the cups, moving on to the next cup only after successfully landing the ball in the previous one.
Team Play: Play in relay teams, with each player responsible for a specific number of cups.
23. Puddle Jumper
What you’ll need: Water, Cups, Ping pong balls
Fill a row of cups with water and place them side by side. Players must blow a ping pong ball from one cup to the next without touching the ball. The first team to get the ball across all the cups wins.
Advanced Mode: Use more cups or place them farther apart for an extra challenge.
24. No Hands
What you’ll need: Candy, Oven mitts
Players must unwrap a piece of candy while wearing a pair of oversized oven mitts. It’s harder than it looks and watching players fumble with the mitts will have everyone laughing!
Pro Tip: Add more challenging wrappers, like candy bars with multiple layers, to make the game more difficult.
Exciting Youth Group Games to Play
Wrap up your Minute to Win It game night with these final challenges that bring out the competitive spirit and leave everyone eager for more.
25. Cotton Ball Scoop
What you’ll need: Cotton balls, Blindfolds, Spoons, Bowls
Players are blindfolded and must scoop as many cotton balls as possible into a bowl using a spoon. The lightness of the cotton balls makes it tricky to gauge how many they’ve actually picked up.
Fun Twist: Add obstacles or spin players around before starting the timer to make the game even more challenging.
26. Yank Me
What you’ll need: Plastic cups, Index cards
Players stack alternating layers of plastic cups and index cards. The objective is to yank the index cards out so that the cups collapse into one another, forming a single stack. The fastest player to complete the stack without it falling wins.
Variation: Increase the number of cups or introduce a time penalty for each card that causes the stack to fall.
27. Post It Face
What you’ll need: Post-It notes
Players must stick as many Post-It notes to their face as possible within one minute. The more creative they get with placement, the funnier the results!
Pro Tip: For extra fun, have a photo session after the game so players can capture their sticky-faced accomplishments.
28. Ponginator
What you’ll need: Ping pong balls, Egg cartons
Players bounce ping pong balls with the goal of getting them into the slots of an empty egg carton. The player who fills up the most slots within the minute wins.
Advanced Play: Place the egg cartons farther away or give players fewer chances to make each bounce, increasing the difficulty.
29. Sticky Situation
What you’ll need: Peanut butter, Bread, Ping pong balls
Players spread peanut butter on a slice of bread and attempt to get as many ping pong balls to stick to it as possible in one minute. It’s a hilarious game that mixes precision and messiness in a fun way.
Safety Tip: Make sure no one has peanut allergies before starting this game. Consider using alternative spreads like sunflower butter for a safer option.
30. Nose Dive
What you’ll need: Petroleum jelly, Cotton balls
Players apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to their nose and attempt to transfer five cotton balls from one bowl to another using only their nose. It’s a funny and entertaining game to watch!
Pro Tip: Make the game more challenging by placing the bowls farther apart.
More Fun and Exciting Minute to Win It Games
31. Balloon Pop
What you’ll need: Balloons, String
Players tie a balloon to their ankle with a string. The objective is to pop other players’ balloons while keeping theirs intact. The last player with an unpopped balloon wins.
Team Variation: Have players team up and defend each other’s balloons while still trying to pop the others.
32. Pencil Flip
What you’ll need: Pencils
Each player places a pencil on the back of their hand and attempts to flip it into the air and catch it. Start with one pencil and for each successful flip, add another. The player with the most pencils caught within a minute wins.
Challenge: Try flipping two or more pencils on both hands simultaneously for an added twist.
33. Mouthful of Marshmallows
What you’ll need: Marshmallows, Bowls
Players must transfer marshmallows from one bowl to another using only their mouth—no hands allowed! The player who moves the most marshmallows in one minute wins.
Safety Note: Ensure players are careful and do not stuff too many marshmallows at once.
34. Paper Plane Cornhole
What you’ll need: Paper, Bucket
Players must create paper airplanes and try to throw them into a bucket or hoop placed a few feet away. The player who lands the most planes in the target within the time limit wins.
Pro Tip: Add bonus points for creative plane designs or for hitting specific spots on a target.
35. Elephant March
What you’ll need: Pantyhose, Tennis balls, Water bottles
Place a tennis ball in the leg of a pair of pantyhose and tie the waistband around the player’s head so the ball hangs down. Players must swing the tennis ball to knock over as many water bottles as they can in one minute—hands-free! The first to knock down all the bottles wins.
Variation: Use different sizes of bottles or add more obstacles to increase the difficulty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What supplies will I need for these Minute to Win It games?
Here’s a quick checklist of the common supplies you’ll need for most of the games:
- Ping pong balls
- Plastic cups
- Chopsticks
- Marbles
- Straws
- Tissues
- Cotton balls
- M&Ms or small candies
- Peanut butter (or alternatives)
- Post-It notes
It’s a good idea to gather your supplies in advance so you can switch between games easily. If you’re playing these games regularly, consider creating a game kit with these essential supplies.
What age group are these games best suited for?
These games are versatile enough to work for kids and teens alike. For younger children, some games might need to be adapted by simplifying the rules or making the challenges easier. For older youth or even adults, you can add extra levels of difficulty to keep the competition exciting.
Do I need prizes for the winners?
While prizes aren’t necessary, they do add an extra layer of motivation. Consider small, inexpensive prizes like candy, stickers, or even certificates to keep things fun. Alternatively, you can make the games about fun rather than competition, focusing on teamwork and participation.
Conclusion: Keep the Fun Going!
Minute to Win It games are a fantastic way to keep youth groups engaged, entertained and excited. Whether you’re planning a church event, a school gathering, or just a fun night with friends, these 35 games offer a perfect mix of challenge, creativity and laughter. With simple setups and easy rules, these activities can be adapted to any group size or setting, making them the go-to choice for youth group leaders everywhere.
Keep this guide handy for your next event and watch as your group comes together for a time filled with fun, laughter and lasting memories.
