A circle of players, a chosen cat in the middle, and a mouse weaving around the outside trying to steal someone’s seat before the chase catches up. Cat and Mouse is an old favourite that barely needs explaining and almost always works.
What you need
Nothing but open space and a group of up to 30 players.
How to play
Everyone sits in a circle, close together, facing inward. One player is the mouse and walks around the outside of the circle. As they pass, the mouse taps one player on the shoulder, this is the chosen “cat.” The mouse continues walking around the circle in either direction while the cat waits a beat, then jumps up and chases the mouse around the outside, trying to tag them before the mouse can complete a lap and sit down in the cat’s now-empty spot. If the mouse makes it to the open seat first, the cat becomes the new mouse. If the cat catches the mouse first, the mouse has one more go.
Variations
For a group with motor-impaired players, agree in advance that the opposing player runs the lap twice instead of once, which levels the pace without singling anyone out mid-game.
Safety notes
The circle needs to be loose enough that running around the outside is genuinely clear and obstacle-free. Keep the running lane wide enough for two players moving at speed.
Why it works
Nobody knows who will be tapped next, which keeps the whole seated circle alert even while most players are just sitting and watching, and the short, sharp burst of a single lap keeps each round quick enough that everyone gets several turns.
