region
South Asia
Monsoon courtyards, kite rooftops, chalk on dirt.
- paisley
- chalk hopscotch
- tower of seven stones
- kite
29 games · 8 countries
palette
The visual language.
- #243B5E
indigo
- #F2A93B
marigold
- #A24B2A
terracotta
motifs
Silhouettes.
- paisley
- chalk hopscotch
- tower of seven stones
- kite
countries
Where the games are played.
games
In the catalog.
Pithoo
15–40 minSeven flat stones, an old tennis ball, and grass-stained shins.
Stack & KnockshipPatang
10–30 minLahore rooftop sunset. Manjha line. Wo kaata.
String & Aerialphase 1Kabaddi
20–40 minOne breath. Touch a defender. Get back across the line.
Tag & Catchphase 1Kho Kho
20–30 minSit in a line. Run in a chain. Tag the last runner before they reach.
Tag & Catchphase 2Gilli Danda
10–25 minFlip the gilli, hit it mid-air, run while it lands.
Throw & Hitphase 1Stapu
5–15 minChalked grid on the verandah. Hop on one foot. Claim a square.
Hop & Claimphase 1Langdi Tang
10–20 minTag while hopping on one foot. Switch feet, you're out.
Tag & Catchphase 2Lattu
5–15 minWind the rope. Throw the top. Outspin or be knocked.
Spin & Strikephase 1Kanche
10–20 minGlass marbles on dirt. Flick. Win the marbles you knock out.
Flick & Shootphase 1Carrom
15–40 minPowdered board. Striker thump. Cover the queen.
Flick & Shootphase 1Ludo
20–45 minRoll a six to start. Knock the others home.
Race & Rollphase 1Mokshapat
15–30 minThe original snakes-and-ladders, with each square a karma.
Race & Rollphase 2Pallankuzhi
10–25 minTamil mancala — two rows, fourteen pits, cowrie shells.
Mancala & Sowphase 2Chaupar
30–90 minMughal cloth board. Cowrie dice. The court game of empires.
Race & Rollphase 3Ashta Chamma
15–30 minTelugu cousin of pachisi. Tamarind seeds for dice.
Race & Rollphase 2Antakshari
20–60 minSing a song. Last consonant starts the next. The bus ride game.
Rhythm & Clapphase 1Tippy Tippy Tap
5–15 minHand-tap chant: tippy tippy tap, what colour do you want?
Rhythm & Clapphase 2Aankh Micholi
10–20 minEyes closed. The seeker counts. The verandah falls silent.
Tag & Catchphase 2Pakda Pakdai
10–20 minTag with safe-zones. Punjabi schoolyard staple.
Tag & Catchphase 2Posham Pa
5–10 minTwo arches, a song, a chosen-one underneath.
Rhythm & Clapphase 2Vish Amrit
10–20 minTag with poison-and-cure tags. The ressurector saves you.
Tag & Catchphase 2Raja Wazir Chor Sipahi
10–20 minFour folded chits. Roles revealed. The thief denies it.
Guess & Revealphase 2Name Place Animal Thing
10–20 minA letter. A grid. The pen-and-paper classic.
Guess & Revealphase 1Atya Patya
20–35 minMaharashtrian cousin of kho-kho. Cross all the trenches.
Pursuit & Territoryphase 3Daabba Gulli
15–30 minHit the can with a stick. Race back to the line.
Throw & Hitphase 2Lakhtak
10–20 minBengali rural chase game with rope-tag dynamics.
Tag & Catchphase 3Phugdi
5–15 minKonkani spin-and-clap dance — circle in motion.
Rhythm & Clapphase 3Gudiparan Bazi
15–60 minKabul kite-fighting on Friday afternoons.
String & Aerialphase 2Elle
30–60 minSri Lanka's village bat-and-ball ancestor of cricket.
Throw & Hitphase 3