Car Games
(requires a car)
I Spy/20 Questions
This one is pretty common: one person thinks of a noun and the other players
try to guess the word. They can ask 20 yes/no questions to get help them get
to the answer. In a two player game, keep track of how many questions you ask
before you get the answer. Whoever asks the least questions, wins.
I Spy is almost identical to 20 Questions, except the thing being guessed at has to be something that was seen at the point the players start guessing. The game is started by someone saying "I spy with my little eye something that..." and then giving a clue. This one is more interesting in a car, because often the item being guessed at is no longer in view by the time the 20th question rolls around.
The Animal Game
This is an easy game for two players (or two teams of players). Each person
is assigned (or picks) one side of the car. You get points for animals and items
spotted on your side of the car. Here's the breakdown of how points are awarded:
It's worth pointing out that you could easily add items to this list. For example, I'm not sure where the "white cat sitting in window" comes from. I'm also not sure why a church is worth the same amount as a cow standing on her hind legs, for that matter.
Alphabet Game
As car games go, this is my favorite. The goal is to be the first person to
finish the alphabet. You "get" a letter when you see a word (outside
the car) that starts with that letter. You have to get the letters in order,
of course. When you see a word that starts with a letter, shout out the letter,
followed by the word. Pointing is good, too. Once you've claimed a specific
word on a specific sign, no one else can use it. For exampe, if I'm working
on "A", I might see a sign that says "Stop Sign Ahead".
I would shout "A - Ahead" and point. Now no one else can use "Ahead"
from that sign. Someone could use "Ahead" if it was on a different
sign, however.
I recommend that multiple players divide up into two teams to play (otherwise, it's hard to see enough signs). Also, I recommend that you put a limit of 4 letters on how far ahead one team can get. Once one team is 4 letters behind, everyone should help that team catch up (to being 3 letters behind) before anyone else can advance. Finally, you might want to consider allowing license plates for "X" and "Q".
Pink Link/Pinky Linky
Pink Link is a weird little rhyming game that can be fun if you're in the right
mood. Think of a two word rhyme, and then describe it with a non-rhyming phrase.
For example, if you thought of "grape ape" you might give the clue
"tasty simian" (or even "wine monkey"). You get a point
whenever the other players can't guess your rhyme. Pinky Linky is identical,
except the rhyming words each have two syllables (instead of one).
"Have you ever seen a..."
No car game list would be complete without one that involves singing. This game
is best played as rapid-fire as possible. Think of a common phrase that is nonsensical
when it is broken down, and then sing out the "Have you ever seen a..."
followed by the phrase three times, and then "now, you tell me one.".
Here's an example "Have you ever seen a horse fly, a horse fly, a horse
fly? Have you ever seen a horse fly? Now you tell me one!" The next person
should respond as quickly as possible, For example, "Have you ever seen
a beer mug, a beer mug, a beer mug? Have you ever seen a beer mug? Now you tell
me one!"