Car Trip Game

Do you have a long car journey coming up as you escape to your summer hideaway (or while you escape the house to do errands)?

If you need a break from I spy and 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, I have found a fun car game for you. (It's for anytime, really, but should be helpful in the car). The great thing about this game is that it's interesting for everyone, not just the 2 people taking their turn, and you can play co-operatively rather than competitively, if you choose. Very young children will enjoy playing along by shouting out words along with the players, and it doesn't spoil the enjoyment for anyone.

It's called What am I thinking? Here is how you play:




(You may scroll down this post to find a sample game if you find that type of instruction easier).

To play, you need at least 2 people. If playing with more, start with 2 people. The winner will move on to the next round (or you can just take turns and skip the rounds). The goal of the game is for both players to say the same word at the same time.

On the first round, on the count of the 3, both people say out loud, at the same time, a word of their choosing. It can be any word (or two short words, like tennis racket, or piano player).

On the next count of three, both players say out loud the word that they think best links the first 2 words. There are no wrong answers, it's all about what each player thinks is the best answer.

Continue doing rounds until the players both say the same word in a round (surprisingly, this often happens in under 8 rounds). You are allowed to repeat words that have already been said in your game, as long as the word was not just said in the last round. Compound words or short phrases are allowed (such as 'bear cub' or 'sweet-and-sour')

If playing cooperatively, the round ends when you say the same word, and then you choose two new players. (If playing competitively, the winner moves on to play the next game. A person wins when their opponent fails to come up with a word on the count of three, or when their opponent hesitates and says their word late.) We like to play cooperatively, it's fun and easier to keep track of.

Here is a sample game:

Both players think of a word. At the count of three, at the same time, they say their words out loud.

Round 1
(Both people count to three out loud, then say their chosen words)
Person 1: "Fruit"
Person 2: "Ice cream"

Each person thinks of the word that they think best links "fruit" and "ice cream". Each player gets ready to say their word out loud. Remember, there are no wrong answers. A player could say "bicycle" if that's what they really think best links the words.

Round 2
(Both people count to three out loud, then say their "linking" word out loud)
Person 1: "Banana Split"
Person 2: "Smoothie"

Each person thinks of the word that they think best links the word "banana split" with "smoothie".

Round 3
(Both people count to three out loud, then say)
Person 1: "Cold"
Person 2: "Ice"

What's the word that best links "cold" and "ice"?

Round 4
(Both people count to three out loud, then say)
Person 1: "Freeze!"
Person 2: "Freeze!"

**win**

(This game is taken from the popular podcast Comedy Bang Bang with Scott Aukerman. The podcast is not for the little ones, though.)