Eyes closed, a slow shuffling walk around the room chanting a silly name, and the moment one unlucky player gets tapped and has to stand perfectly still while everyone else tries to find them. Find the Goof is a quiet, slightly spooky-feeling game that works especially well indoors.
What you need
Nothing but an indoor space and a group of up to 30 players.
How to play
Everyone closes their eyes and starts walking slowly around the room, chanting a chosen silly name over and over, something like “goofy-goofy-goofy” works well, or swap in a locally familiar fun character’s name. The instructor quietly taps one player on the shoulder, who then opens their eyes, stops chanting, and stands silently to one side of the room. Everyone else keeps walking with their eyes closed, chanting, trying to feel their way toward the one silent, still spot in the room. The first player to find the silent spot and stand next to it, eyes open, silently joins them. Slowly, a quiet chain forms as more and more players find their way to the silent group, until everyone has joined.
Safety notes
Since everyone is moving with their eyes closed, the room needs to be genuinely clear of furniture, bags, or anything else that could cause a trip or collision. Keep the group reasonably contained so wandering players do not end up far from everyone else.
Why it works
Moving blind through a room full of other blind, chanting players is a strange, slightly disorienting experience that most children find both unsettling and funny at the same time, and the slow build as the silent group grows gives the whole game a satisfying, gradual payoff.
