5 Classic Games You Can Enjoy With Just Pen and Paper

In today’s world of car DVD players and smartphones for young children, it’s easy to overlook the simplicity of entertainment without electronics. Yet, both kids and adults often find themselves with idle hands. Engaging in pen-and-paper games—or any activity requiring just a writing tool—remains a reliable way to pass the time.

Indeed, countless games can be played with nothing more than a pen and paper. Whether you prefer strategic challenges or creative outlets, these games can easily be jotted down on any available surface. (For those who still crave a digital touch, nearly every pen-and-paper game has a virtual counterpart.)

Over the next few pages, we’ll explore a range of games perfect for keeping everyone entertained, whether it’s kids on a long journey or adults seeking a break from online gaming with strangers.

5: Tic-tac-toe

Tic-tac-toe is a timeless classic in the world of pen-and-paper games—dating back to ancient Egypt around 1300 B.C.E., with the Romans also enjoying their own version. Instead of using paper and pen, players used three game pieces, moving them around a board to achieve three in a row.

As you may already know, the objective of tic-tac-toe (or noughts-and-crosses, as it’s called in the UK) is to get three of your marks in a row. To start, draw a grid with two vertical lines crossing two horizontal lines. Player one places an X in a square, while player two uses Os. The aim is to either align three of your symbols or prevent your opponent from doing so. However, when two skilled players face off, the game often ends in a draw.

Thanks to modern technology, you can now enjoy this game online for free or print pre-made grids to spare yourself the effort of drawing them.

4: Battleship

Yes, it’s true. The board game originally started as a pen-and-paper activity for two players. It closely resembles the version you’ve likely played with a physical board and pieces; the goal is to strategically guess the locations of your opponent’s ships and "hit" them on their grid.

If you’re looking to keep kids entertained during a road trip, provide each of them with two 11x11 grids. Label the top row with numbers 1-10 and the side with letters A-J. (The top-left square should remain blank.) Each player will need the following:

Encourage the kids to draw their ships on one grid and then take turns guessing each other’s coordinates, marking their attempts on the second grid. When all the squares of a ship are hit, it’s considered sunk. The game continues until one player successfully sinks all the opponent’s ships—far more enjoyable than sibling squabbles.

3: Hangman

Hangman traces its origins to the harsh Victorian era in late-19th century Britain. (While the period is often associated with strict etiquette and rigid morals, this game, where the loser is symbolized by a hanging figure, might have been a way to vent.) The rules are simple: One player selects a word or phrase and draws blanks for each letter beneath a foreboding gallows. The other player guesses letters until the word is revealed. The catch? Each incorrect guess adds a body part to the hanging figure. (Typically, six parts are used: head, torso, two arms, and two legs.) You must solve the puzzle before the full figure is drawn, or you lose—confronted with a grim reminder of mortality.

If you’re struggling to find a difficult word or simply can’t think of one, several websites (equipped with algorithms) can suggest the toughest Hangman words. Interestingly, short words and those with repeated letters, like "jazz," are often the most challenging.

2: Consequences

While games are often seen as competitive and goal-driven, sometimes a more creative approach is needed. If you enjoy tapping into your artistic side or love the unpredictability of Mad Libs, Consequences could be the perfect choice.

The goal of the game is to collaboratively create a story by filling in a template with characters, descriptions, and actions. Players take turns contributing words or phrases, folding the paper after each entry to keep the story’s progression a mystery until the end.

While there are numerous variations of the story, it typically follows a structure similar to this:

For younger participants, you can adapt the game into a drawing activity. Each child draws a head, passes it to the next to add more body parts, and so on, until a complete "monster" or fantastical creature emerges from each initial sketch.

1: M.A.S.H.

This game doesn’t involve scoring, but it’s guaranteed to keep a car full of kids engaged—or even entertain nostalgic adults. The objective is no small feat: it’s about predicting the future.

To begin, the first player (referred to as the "fortuneteller") writes M.A.S.H. at the top of the page. This acronym represents mansion, apartment, shack, and house. They then brainstorm categories such as spouse, number of children, career, car type—or any other aspects that could define the player’s future life. (Perhaps movies they’ll star in or years spent unemployed?)

For every category, the fortuneteller asks the second player to provide at least three options. If desired, one slot can be reserved for the fortuneteller to add their own suggestion. Once all choices are filled, the fortuneteller starts drawing a spiral. The second player calls "stop," and the fortuneteller counts the number of rings in the spiral.

Beginning with M.A.S.H. at the top, the fortuneteller counts through each entry, eliminating every fifth option. This process continues until only one choice remains in each category. Finally, the fortuneteller reveals the player’s "fortune" based on the surviving selections.