10 Fun Games to Play at Home When Bored

Bored at home? You're not alone—and luckily, you don't need fancy gear or a full house to have fun. Whether you're solo, with roommates, or surrounded by family, these 10 boredom-busting games are low-effort, high-reward ways to stay entertained. From brain games to goofy group challenges, there's something here for everyone.

Brainy and solo-friendly games when you need quiet fun

Classic solitaire (with a twist)

Did you lose your pack of cards? Are you too glued to your phone? You can easily play an accessible, timeless, single-player card game online that's perfect for passing the time in a mentally stimulating way. And with variations like Spider, Freecell, and Scorpion, you can test your solitaire skills in new ways. Try a few free rounds on the browser-based 247 Solitaire with more than a dozen seasonal themes and even autoplay to jump right back into the game.

DIY trivia night (solo or family-style)

If you're a fan of Trivial Pursuit, but want to add a more personal twist, you could make your own DIY Trivia Night for yourself or your family. Here are a few tips:

• Write your own trivia questions based on your favorite topics, or use apps like Kahoot and Sporcle, or even free online generators to create the questions.
• Base the questions on fun themes like 80s music or movie quotes
• Pair your questions with a timer to add excitement.
• Even if you're only playing by yourself, trivia can improve mental health and memory.

Puzzle swap (digital or real)

Whether you've been stacking unopened puzzles in the closet or regularly look online, puzzles are always an engaging way to pass the time:

• Sites like Jigsaw Explorer or the app, Magic Puzzles, offer hundreds of free online puzzles.
• If you're feeling social, check out the Jigsaw Puzzle Swap Exchange, which has led to thousands of real swaps of puzzles with people all over the world.
• Studies show that solving puzzles may help delay cognitive decline in older adults.
• Set up a mini puzzle "station" in your home that you can piece together throughout the week.

Online Logic Puzzles

For those who like brain teasers, there's a nearly unlimited supply of logic puzzles online. They include:

• Number-based games: Sudoku may be the most common number puzzle, but Nonograms can be just as rewarding and is also widely available. Also known as Hanjie, Nonograms are picture logic puzzles where a player must fill in or leave blank a grid of squares corresponding with numbers on the x and y-axis.
• Word games: Crosswords, Connections, and word scrambles are all mentally stimulating ways to pass the time.
• Riddles: For those who love puns and wordplay, you're guaranteed to crack a smile at some of these online riddles.

Art Games

If you're more artistically inclined, you might prefer games that involve creating art instead of numbers or words. Here are a few options:.

• Online Pictionary: Regular pictionary may need teams, but you can play against others online or draw answers based on random prompt generators.
• Chicory: This serene, delightful adventure game places you in the role of an anxious dog who inherits a magical paintbrush. Paint the world to solve puzzles, travel past obstacles, and destroy an evil force that's removing color from the world.
• Magma: This dynamic online game lets you paint together on a shared canvas while you chat with friends.

Like games that make you think? Try 9 different free solitaire variations on 247 Solitaire.

Active and social games for groups or families

This next section covers stimulating group games that are more physical and rely on teamwork.

Toilet paper bowling

A homemade twist on the beloved sport, create a bowling game with household objects:

• Set up a "lane" with empty plastic bottles and use a roll of toilet paper as the bowling ball.
• This ridiculous and surprisingly competitive game can be played solo or in teams, which makes it flexible for rainy afternoons or a great bit.
• Add a prize for most strikes to keep it interesting!

Spoons

If you have three or more players, you have to try the card game, Spoons.

• All you need is a standard deck of cards and one fewer spoon than players.
• Be the first to collect four of a kind and then grab a spoon from the center of the table in this fast, chaotic, and fun game. Once the first person grabs a spoon, everyone scrambles to pick up the remaining ones.
• It's easy to learn and makes for a great mix of strategy, speed, and silliness.
• For smaller groups or family nights, Spoons is always a hit.

Charades

The ultimate party game. Charades challenges players to put on their best acting face as friends or family try to identify them.

• There's no setup or supplies required. Charades is a timeless crowd-pleaser that works for any group size.
• Just come up with a list of things to act out (movies, animals, everyday tasks), and take turns silently acting them out while others guess.
• You can make it themed (holiday movies, TV shows, action verbs) or completely random.
• It gets people moving, laughing, and working together—ideal for breaking the boredom at home.
• To add an extra challenge, add a timer or point system to the game.

Fort-Building

There's no better way to get in touch with your inner child than by building a fort at home.

• The only limit for this solo or group activity is what you can find in your home.
• Add some height with stacked cardboard boxes
• Everyone goes for the pillows and sheets, but take it to the next level with clothespins and clotheslines to strengthen the fort.
• To add a little exterior illumination, grab some fairy lights or even holiday lights.
• And of course, make sure that you don't forget the snacks.

Sardines

A spin on an old favorite.

• This reverse version of hide and seek has one person who hides while the rest of the players who are seekers count. The seekers will separate and when one person finds the hidden person, they need to join them. The game ends when only one person is left looking for the hiders.
• Make the house as dark as possible to make it spookier.
• Best played by bigger families (3 to 5 people)
• The key is to find a space that multiple people can fit in, such as a can of sardines.

Want to keep the fun going? Unwind with a free round or two at 247 Solitaire.

Simple fun is closer than you think

Being bored at home doesn't mean you have to be stuck. From mental workouts like trivia and solitaire to hilarious group games like TP bowling, there's always a new way to have fun with what you already have. If you're looking for something ready to go and only takes one player, 247 Solitaire is always open—just pick your version and start playing.

Click here to play now—no download, no login, just cards and calm.

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.