125 Great Minute to Win It Games for Kids

Minute to Win It games first became popular about 15 years ago when the television show premiered in 2010. Hosted by Guy Fieri, these games were designed to include simple, household materials. Contestants had one minute to complete a series of increasingly challenging tasks with these materials. The games had funny, memorable names but required contestants to think quickly and strategically.

However, even though the TV show ended its run, the games were still popular enough to preserve. And because people have created new combinations and takes on these popular games, the possibilities for these Minute to Win It games are nearly endless. Plus, because they are played with household materials that are relatively easy to gather, they can be played almost anywhere at any time!

In this article, we have assembled 125 Minute to Win It games to play. These games can be played either in the classroom or at home with friends and family. To help you better understand how to play, each description of the games includes the materials needed and an outline for how to play. The games are a fun way to pass the time and, the best, part? They only take one minute!

So, are you ready?

On your mark, get set, go!

Kids Minute to Win It Games

1. Chopstick Pickup

For this game, players will be separated into teams. Each team will receive two paper plates, a pair of chopsticks, and 20 pieces of candy (or another small item). The winning team is the one who can move the greatest number of items, using the chopsticks, from one plate to another.

2. Put a Ring on It

Players will place a chopstick in their mouths and try to get X number of rings from the table onto their chopsticks. Gummy candies are easy to use for this game.

3. Donut on a String

Tie donuts to a string and try to finish the treat with no hands.

4. Cereal Box Puzzles

For a puzzling time, cut up the front of multiple cereal boxes. Whoever can put the pieces back in the proper order, thereby solving the “puzzle” the fastest, wins the game.

5. Pom-Pom and Straws

Line up pom-poms along the edge of a table, or on a piece of tape. Players will blow through their straws in an attempt to move the pom-poms from one end of the playing area to the designated “finish line.” The first player to move their pom-pom ball across the finish line wins.

6. Ring Toss

A fun game for players of all ages! Choose one player to stand in the center of the playing area. Their teammate must toss a Hula hoop over their head, like a regular game of Ring Toss. Whoever can land as many rings as possible in one minute wins the game.

7. Seek and Find

One player will be in charge of hiding 10 of the same item (plastic stars, stickers, etc). in one area of the house. The items should be in plain sight but still tricky to find. Then, the seeking player has one minute to find each of the items.

8. Keep it Up!

Using something light (like a feather), have players attempt to keep their object afloat by blowing it back into the air. It’s likely too hard to keep the object afloat for a full minute, but it’s still a fun challenge.

9. Candy Sort

Give players a pile of candy that are all different colors (M&Ms or Skittles work great). Players must sort their candy into piles by color the fastest to win.

10. Cookie Roll

For this game, two players will stand on the opposite side of the table from each other. One player must successfully roll a cookie from their end of the table to their partner’s side. The partner must catch the Oreo in their mouth to win.

11. Paper Dragon

Two players each get a roll of party streamers. They must unroll the entire spool the fastest to win.

12. Into the Jar

On one end of the table, place a large jar. On the other end of the table, players are set with ping pong balls. They have one minute to bounce as many ping pong balls as possible from their end of the table into the jar to win.

13. Baby Bottle

In one two-liter bottle, place a handful of marbles, gumballs, or another small item. The player holds an empty two-liter bottle. On go, players have one minute to transfer all the contents from one bottle into the other.

14. Sticky Note Challenge

Players will complete this game in teams. One partner has sticky notes, and the other keeps still. On go, the player with the sticky notes must race to place as many sticky notes as possible onto their partner. The notes must not overlap.

15. Bowling

Set up a series of pins (empty soda cans), and give each player five balls to knock down all of the pins within one minute.

16. Bottle Flipping

Fill a plastic bottle one-third full of water. Players will have one minute to flip their bottle into the air and attempt to make it land upright.

17. Paper Toss

Crumble paper into balls and attempt to shoot them into a recycling bin. The player who can sink the most throws is the winner. For an added challenge, try a blindfold.

18. Plastic Egg Match

Scatter halves of plastic eggs around the playing area. On go, the player will run around the room and match egg pieces together. They must deposit the completed egg into a basket. The most completed eggs gathered wins the game.

19. Stare Down

For this minute to win it game, you don’t even need additional supplies! It’s an old-fashioned staring content. The first one to blink loses.

20. Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course for players to complete. This game is best run outside or in a large playing area, like a gymnasium.

21. Book Balance

To add extra fun to the obstacle course, have players balance a book on their heads while they complete their run.

22. Dizzy Dash

Another twist on the obstacle course game! Have players spin in a circle for 20 seconds before completing the course.

23. Egg Race

Like the popular version, but you can use plastic eggs for this game.

24. Basket Bounce

Each player has a bucket or basket of any kind, as long as it has a flat bottom, and a ping pong ball. On go, players must bounce the ping pong ball on the bottom of the bucket and keep it bouncing for the full minute.

25. Ping Pong Tic-Tac-Toe

Using muffin trays is the best for this minute to win it game. Players toss ping-pong balls across the table and into the tray. The first player to make Tic-Tac-Toe wins.

26. One-handed Bracelet

Using only one hand, players must thread Fruit Loops, Cheerios, or another round cereal around a pipe cleaner. Players must put as many cereal pieces onto the pipe cleaner as possible.

27. Tea Party

Each player wears a baseball hat with tea bags attached to either side. On go, players must swing the bags until both land on the bill of the hat.

28. Oven Mitt Race

Players will each wear an oven mitt. On go, they will race to see who can unwrap as many Hershey’s Kisses as possible.

29. Marshmallow Toss

Place plastic cups across a flat surface. Then, have players move two to four feet away from the table. Players take turns tossing marshmallows into the cups, and the player who sinks the most tosses wins.

30. Apron Race

Have players tie an apron around themselves; it can be any kind, as long as it has pockets. Fill the pockets with an item, like pennies, Ping Pong balls, etc. Players will race from one end of the room to the other. If anything falls from their pocket, then they lose.

31. Ball Drop

To play, line up cups in a straight line. Have players stand above the cups and attempt to drop a ping-pong ball into the cups from a vertical height.

32. Knock Down

Stack plastic cups into the shape of a pyramid on one side of the table. From the other side, bounce ping pong balls across the table to knock down all of the cups.

33. Junk in the Trunk

Fasten an empty Kleenex box to the player’s backside. Fill the Kleenex box with pom pom balls, candies, or another small item. The player will have one minute to jump, shake, and dance so that all the items empty from the box.

34. This Blows

Each player will take a piece of gum. They have one minute to see who can blow the biggest bubblegum bubble.

35. Scoop it Up

Players have one minute to move as many ping pong balls from one bowl to another as possible. The catch? They can only touch the ping pong balls with a spoon.

36. Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt of everyday items around the house. Players have one minute to find as many items on the list as possible.

37. Upside Down

Players have one minute to turn as many items upside down as they can.

38. Bridge the Gap

Using a deck of cards, players will create a bridge of cards sturdy enough to support the weight of the card box.

39. By a Thread

The player must run a thread through the eye of three needles to win.

40. Coffee Topper

Place a row of three cups face up in a line. Players will need to drop compact discs atop the cups, so they land on across the top the cups, like a lid.

41. Disco Drop

Secure a pencil in an upright, vertical position. Players must drop a compact disc onto the pencil (so the pencil goes through the hole) from a heigh of 3 feet.

42. Double Trouble

Using both hands at the same time, the player must toss two separate balls into two separate cups.

43. Kleenex Relay

On go, the player must race to empty all the tissue from a box of Kleenex as fast as they can.

44. Extreme Kleenex Relay

For even more of a challenge, try emptying two Kleenex boxes at the same time.

45. Roll With It

Players must unroll two rolls of toilet paper at the same time. The rolls cannot break, however. Only one hand can be used per roll.

46. Flying Kites

This game is best played outside or in a large, open area. Players will wear a hat with a kite string attached. They must run for 60 seconds, ensuring the kite stays flying for the whole duration of time.

47. Sinking Ships

Players must bounce marbles off a table and into a bowl floating in a water-filled punch bowl. The goal is to bounce as many marbles into the bowl so that it sinks within 60 seconds.

48. Pencil Knockdown

Secure a pencil in an upright, vertical position at one end of a table. From the other end, players must roll marbles across the table to knock over the pencil.

49. A-MAZE-ing

The host will design a small maze, constructed from rubber bands and screws, atop a flat surface, like cardboard. In 60 seconds, the player must navigate their marble through the maze without the marble falling off the board.

50. Nimble Thimble

Players must balance a marble atop six thimbles.

51. Penny Hose

Players will have one minute to retrieve two pennies dropped into a pair of tights. They must retrieve the pennies without stretching or bunching the tights.

52. Propeller Head

On go, each player must launch a propeller toy so that it flies through the air and lands in a basket.

53. Rapid Fire

Line up six empty soda cans across the table. Players will have one minute to fling rubber bands at the soda cans in an attempt to knock them all over.

54. The Ruler

A player must roll a marble down the length of a yardstick so that it rests on the opposite end. The marble must balance for three seconds to win.

55. Shoe Fly

Players line up twelve feet from a table. By only using their feet, they must flick their shoe so that it lands on top of the table. Players have multiple attempts to complete this challenge.

56. Splitter

Using half of a watermelon (fruit side showing), players will toss compact discs at the watermelon in an attempt to get the discs to stick.

57. Spud-nick

Players have one minute to jam 5 bendy straws into a potato. The straws must stick to win.

58. Sticky Marbles

Place double-sided tape on one end of a pizza tray. Players must roll marbles down the tray to get them to stick to the double-sided tape.

59. Balloon Blow

The player must inflate a balloon and then use the air from the balloon to knock over a line of objects on the table. Empty soda cans or plastic cups are easiest for this game.

60. Balloon Bath

Using only the force of water from a spray bottle, players must keep a balloon upright and transport it from one side of the room to another.

61. Going Fishing

Moisten a gummy worm and tie it to the end of a taut piece of string. Using the worm, try fishing a pretzel out of a bowl. The player must then eat the pretzel without using their hands.

62. Fish Head

Wearing a blindfold, players must place a lampshade attached to a fishing pone on top of their head.

63. Marble Ramps

Using a measuring tape as a ramp, players must roll three marbles down the tape and into three different glasses.

64. Quarters and Forks

Place an upside-down fork on the opposite side of the table. Players will roll quarters across the table and attempt to land a quarter inside the prongs of the fork.

65. Egg Dance

Like the original egg relay but with plates instead of spoons and twice as hard. Players must carry plastic eggs atop inverted plates across the room. One plate per hand.

66. Drop Zone

The player must guide a Wiffle Ball on two ropes downward (like a ramp). They must land the ball into a bucket.

67. Look Out for The Joker

Stack a standard deck of cards on top of a glass bottle, keeping the Joker card at the bottom. Players must blow the cards so that the deck falls over, but the bottom card remains.

68. Toothbrush Race

Players must race to transport 2 toothbrushes from one toothbrush holder to the other, which is placed 10 feet away. The toothbrushes must switch places, but you can only hold one at a time.

69. Chop Stack

Using a pair of chopsticks in their mouth, players must stack four chapstick containers on top of one another.

70. Can antenna

The player must raise six soda cans and transport them to a designated target. They must hook the string through the tabs.

71. Yo-yo Cans

With a yo-yo strapped to the back of their waist, players must use their own momentum to swing the yo-yo around and knock down 4 soda cans.

Christmas Minute to Win it Games

72. Snowball Pickup

Players will use a spoon to scoop cotton balls (or snowballs) into a bowl. The trick? The player who does the scooping must be blindfolded while doing so. The one who scoops the most snowballs in 60 seconds is the winner.

73. Snowball Toss

Place a basket in the center of the playing area. One at time, players will attempt to toss snowballs (Think: large pom-poms) into the basket. However, to make the game challenging, players will be blindfolded as they toss.

74. Candy Cane Stack

Using only the stem of a candy cane to move the pieces, players must stack a tower of 5 iron nuts (Think: nuts and bolts). The shape of the nuts is hexagonal, which makes stacking them possible but not easy.

75. Ornament Juggling

Each player will be in charge of three balloons (or “ornaments”) at a time. Their goal is to keep the balloons up in the air for as long as possible without the balloons touching the ground. For even more of a holiday theme, the balloons can be different colors.

76. Ornament Organization

Using only a spoon to touch the ornament, move the object across the floor from one side of the room to another.

77. Decorating the Tree

This game is similar to Ornament Organization, but you’ll use your ornaments to decorate the tree. You can create a “tree” on the floor with scotch or painter’s tape in the shape of a triangle. The goal is to move the ornaments from one side of the room to the other and inside of the tree.

78. Peppermint Candy

Each player will receive a piece of flat candy—mini candy canes work great—and a straw. On go, players must move their piece of candy from one side of the table to the other while using only a straw to blow through.

79. Decorate the Reindeer

For this game, players are divided into teams of two. One player stands as the Reindeer. The other player has one minute to “decorate” the Reindeer by wrapping them in streamers, toilet paper, or another soft fabric.

80. Silver Bells

Fill concealed boxes with a different number of bells. One box will have one bell; another box will have two bells, etc., up to five. Players must shake the box and then order the boxes correctly from the box that contains one bell to the box that contains five bells.

81. Unwrap the Gift

Using saran wrap, wrap many small items into a ball. The items should be within different layers. One at a time, players must unwrap the “gift” to get the hidden items. The catch? To make it harder, players must wear gloves or mittens while unwrapping.

82. Wrapping Gifts

For this game, players are split into teams of two. As a team, they must wrap a gift. However, each player can only use one hand at a time.

83. Whipped Cream Christmas Tree

See who can create the tallest whipped cream Christmas tree in one minute’s time.

84. Rudolph’s Nose

Create three bowls: one with petroleum jelly, one with red pom poms, and one empty bowl. Players will dip their noses into the petroleum jelly, and then into the red pom poms, creating a “Rudolph” nose. Then, they will move to the empty bowl, without their pom pom falling off, and drop the pom pom into that bowl. The player who transfers the greatest number of red pom poms after one minute is the winner.

85. Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Toss

Place mugs of hot chocolate on a flat playing surface. Provide players with marshmallows and have them stand a few feet away from the table. Then, players must toss their marshmallows into the mugs of hot chocolate. See how many you can get in one minute!

86. Marshmallow Snowman

Each player has a plate of marshmallows, and they have one minute to create the biggest snowman they can. Toothpicks may be used for extra support.

87. Christmas Cliffhanger

Stack ten Christmas cards on the table. Players must blow over one of the Christmas cards so that it falls over and hangs off the edge of the table but doesn’t fall off.

88. Christmas is a Balancing Act

Players must balance a yardstick on top of a wrapping paper roll, sideways. Then, players must hang ornaments on either side of the yardstick so that the yardstick remains balanced without falling over.

89. Christmas Jingle

11 glasses are filled with varying amounts of water. Players will tap each cup with a spoon and listen for its tone. Then, they will arrange the glasses so that when played, the tune sings out “Jingle Bells.”

90. Gingerbread, Anyone?

This game is a twist on Cookie Unicorn. In this Christmas version, players balance gingerbread men on their foreheads and must maneuver the cookie into their mouths. No hands allowed!

91. Wreaths on Wreaths

One player starts with a wreath around their neck. They must transfer it to another player’s neck without using their hands.

Valentine’s Day Minute to Win it Games

92. Eat Your Heart Out

Cut a cupcake in half across its center, so that you can easily remove the top. Hide a candy conversation heart in the middle of the cupcake, and then place the top of the cupcake back on. On go, the player must eat the cupcake to find the heart inside.

93. Just Eat It

Players have one minute to eat as many candy hearts as possible.

94. Stack Candy Hearts

Using five conversation hearts, stack them end to end, and let them stand for three seconds to win. They cannot be lying flat when stacked.

95. Pouring out Your Heart

Fill a cup with conversation hearts. Each heart should have a saying on only one side. To play, the player will dump out the contents of the cup so that each heart is removed. To win, all five conversation hearts must have their sayings showing upwards. If they don’t, then they must fill their cup and try again.

96. Heart on Your Sleeve

Players must stack eight candy hearts on top of their arm or sleeve without the hearts falling over.

97. Heavy Hearts

Place the full contents of a box of candy hearts in the middle of the table. Place a kitchen scale at the other end of the table. Players will have one minute to fill their cup with enough candy hearts to weigh two ounces.

98. Sorting Candy Hearts

Each player is given a cupful of candy hearts, each with different colors. On go, players will dump the contents of their cups and sort the candy hearts by color. For an added challenge, you can sort the candy hearts by saying.

99. Balancing Act

Players will place a popsicle stick in their mouths. There will be an empty bowl on the other side of the room. On the popsicle stick, the player will balance as many candy hearts as possible. They must run to the other side of the room and deposit the candy hearts into the bowl before they fall.

100. Love Sucks

Players are given one plate of marshmallows, a straw, and an empty plate. Then, each player has one minute to use the straw to suck up the marshmallows and move them to the other plate.

101. Searching for a Heart

Fill an aluminum pie pan with candy hearts and then cover them with whipped cream. With their hands behind their back, players must search for all the candy hearts!

Stacking Minute to Win It Games

102. Stack the Cups

You will need 6 plastic cups for this activity. Students will need to stack their cups into a pyramid and then unstack the cups in a minute or less.

103. Penny Stack

Players will have 60 seconds to move 25 pennies from the flat playing area into a stack. However, players can only use one hand.

104. Dice Stack

After placing a popsicle stick in their mouth, players will attempt to stack as many dice as possible on the end of the stick.

105. Cup and Coin Stacking

Line up eight cups, so that their edges touch each other. Players will stack coins on the edges of the cups. However, if the coins fall into the cups, then the game is over.

106. Cookie Unicorn

Within one minute, players must stack as many sandwich cookies on their foreheads as possible. If the cookies fall over, then players must start over. The game is over when a player balances five cookies on their forehead for at least three seconds.

107. Apple Stack

Players will be divided into teams for this group minute to win it game. Each team will have five apples. The goal is to stack all five apples within one minute.

108. Color Cup Stack

One player will be given 40 cups all of the same color, except for one. The odd-colored cup will be placed at the bottom of the stack. On go, the player must move the top cup to the bottom of the stack. They will continue this until the odd-colored cup makes it to the top of the stack. If they can make it in a minute, then they win.

109. LEGO Tower

Build the tallest LEGO tower as possible in just one minute. Players can only touch one brick at a time, and the tower must be free-standing.

110. Baby Blocks

For this game, players need 5 baby blocks (or any kind of wooden block) and a paper plate. To win, the player must balance the plate on their head and stack all 5 baby blocks on top of it.

111. Floating Device

Players will need a container of water for this game. Lay a paper plate atop the surface of the water. Then, attempt to stack 5 empty soda cans on top of the floating paper plate.

112. Paper Tower

In this minute to win it game, players will work in groups. They must work together to build a three-tiered tower out of 15 reams of paper.

Listing & Drawing Minute to Win It Games

113. State of Fun

Players write down as many state capitals as they can in one minute. For another twist on this game, players list as many states as they can in one minute.

114. Country of Fun

You can list countries, country capitals, or international cities.

115. Battle of the Bands

For this game, players are given a letter to start. Then, you have one minute to list as many musical groups or solo artists that start with that letter as possible. You can also categorize the list by genre.

116. Good Sports

Pick a sports league (MLB, NBA, etc.) and have players write down as many teams in that league as they can. For variations on the challenge, you can also name athletes on a certain team.

117. Wordsmith

Provide players with alphabet titles, (like Scrabble tiles), and have them list as many words as they can with the provided letters.

118. Backward Alphabet

Like the name sounds, players will list the alphabet backward, from Z to A. The person who lists the fastest wins.

119. Human Dictionary

Test your definition knowledge! Choose a player to test. Take out the dictionary and choose a word. Players must respond with the greatest amount of correct definitions to win.

120. Perfect Circles

This minute to win it game requires a dry-erase board and markers. Have players draw as many perfect circles as they can in 60 seconds before the time runs out.

121. Don’t be Square

Use a white board to draw a large square. Players have one minute to draw as many smaller squares as they can within the large square. The trick? The edges cannot touch. The most squares drawn wins.

122. Blindfolded Drawing

Pick an item for each player to draw. Players will have to draw the item while blindfolded. The image that looks the closest to the original item wins. Remember, you only have 60 seconds to draw.

123. Doodle on Your Noodle

Another fun drawing game. This time, instead of wearing a blindfold, players will draw on a piece of paper on top of their head.

124. Math Test

Small math challenges make for quick minute to win it games.

125. Counting the Highest

Players will separate into teams. Each group has to count to the highest possible number in one minute. The trick is that only one person can speak at a time. If someone repeats a number, or a player talks over the other, then they must over.

In Review

Minute to win it games are great for student engagement and learning activities. Who wouldn’t want more classroom games in our learning experiences? Because these games are hands-on and require critical thinking, they can be great lesson plans for field days and spirit weeks. Since materials can easily be tailored, students will have a blast coming up with alternatives, too.

Plus, these games can also incorporate team-building when played in groups. Students will learn how to work together to achieve a common goal. Encouraging good sportsmanship and communication skills, Minute to Win It Games are more than just good fun; they can also help flex your critical thinking muscles and bring classmates together.

• 50 Great Staff Party Games for Teachers (or other Working Adults)
• 50 Perfect Morning Meeting Questions and Activities for Kids
• 33 Exit Ticket Ideas and Examples for Teachers