Start With Safety and Light
Before you play, make sure everyone is safe and comfortable.
- Use flashlights or battery lanterns rather than candles where you can, since open flames add a fire risk, especially around children and pets.
- If you do use candles, keep them on stable surfaces away from flammable items, and never leave them unattended.
- Save phone battery for communication and updates. Playing games on a phone is not a good use of it during an outage.
- Follow guidance from your utility company or local authorities if the outage is part of a storm or emergency.
Once you have light and a safe spot, these games help pass the time.
Card and Dice Games
A single deck of cards covers a lot of ground.
- Go Fish, War, Crazy Eights: easy for kids.
- Rummy, Hearts, Euchre or Spades: good for adults and teens who know the rules.
- Solitaire: useful if you are alone or want some quiet time.
- Dice games: Yahtzee, Farkle or simple dice-rolling races work in low light.
Pen and Paper Games
If you have paper and a pencil, try:
- Tic-tac-toe and Hangman for quick rounds.
- Dots and Boxes, a two-player game on a grid of dots.
- Categories: pick a letter and everyone lists words in categories like animals or foods within a time limit.
- Consequences / Telephone Pictionary: pass folded papers around to build silly stories or drawings.
- Story chain: each person writes a sentence, folds it over and passes it on.
Board Games
Classic board games need no power and keep a group busy for a long time. Card-and-board options with simple rules include Ludo game rules and how to play Bang!. Cooperative games, where everyone works together, are a nice fit for a stressful evening. Choose something you already know, so you are not reading long rule books by flashlight.
Talking Games With No Supplies
These need nothing but people.
- 20 Questions: one person thinks of an object, and the rest ask yes or no questions.
- Two Truths and a Lie: each person shares three statements, and the group guesses which one is false.
- I Spy for younger children, if there is enough light.
- Would You Rather: quick questions that lead to conversation.
- Alphabet game: go around the circle naming things in a category from A to Z.
For more conversation starters, see table conversation games.
Low-Light Active Games
When the room is dark, keep movement calm.
- Flashlight tag or flashlight hide-and-seek: only with a cleared space and clear boundaries. Walk, do not run.
- Shadow puppets: use a flashlight against a wall to make animals and tell a story.
- Sardines: a hiding game that suits dim rooms, as described in our Sardines guide. Be extra careful in the dark.
- Charades: acting works well with a lantern lighting the performer.
Make a Power-Outage Game Kit
You can prepare ahead with a small box or bag:
- A deck of cards and a set of dice
- Notepads and pencils
- A few compact board games or travel games
- A flashlight or lantern and spare batteries
- A printed list of the games above, so you do not need your phone
Printable game sheets can also be stored in the kit; see free printable family games.
For more ideas that suit youth groups, see our indoor games for youth guide.
FAQ
What do you do for fun in a power outage? Card games, board games, pen and paper games, and talking games are common choices.
What games can you play with no service? Anything that does not need internet or a screen, such as cards, dice, 20 Questions and charades.
How do you stay entertained for several days without power? Rotate between games, storytelling, reading and simple projects, and prioritize safety, food, water and any medical needs. If an outage may last, check official guidance for your area.