top of page
Writer's pictureLowerShelf Games

50 Games for 50 States: Find your state and learn how to play!

Updated: Aug 6

LowerShelf Games

September 22, 2023

Image of the United States

LowerShelf Games adds new DIY games every week to our Gamebase. These games are free and available for everyone to learn how to play!


We just surpassed 50 games added to our website! With a large number being submitted from around the country, and even some internationally from Sweden and Germany! So to celebrate, we are going to write a post, and assign each U.S. State one of our games!


So make sure you locate your state, or find one you like, click the link to learn how to play the game, and get playing!



1. Alabama

Apparently Alabama has a lot of snails lingering around, so we are going to give them the card game Linger Longer.


2. Alaska

The frigid air of Alaska means you likely need to keep your feet warm, so Alaska's game is Sock Fight.



3. Arizona

No daylight savings time? Well how about we play this fun tabletop game Hide and Seek, and see how you do in the dark.


4. Arkansas

Having a mockingbird as the state bird makes the game Charades an easy choice here.


5. California

This might be a little stereotypical, but California loves their salads, so we'll give them the game Salad Bowl.

image of California

6. Colorado

The Mile High City is here? Okay, well then Colorado get's a high paced and towering game with Stack Cup.


7. Connecticut

I feel like Connecticut has a lot of colleges and universities. Whether that is accurate or not, Connecticut gets the game Graduation.


8. Delaware

The least populated state in the country means that it is hard to find a group of people to play with. Delaware get's the 2 player game Penny Hockey.


9. Florida

Taking Miami into account here with all that energy. Need to get the music going with some Musical Chairs.


10. Georgia

One of the original 13 colonies insinuates some long standing traditions. What better way to honor that than with a classic, the game Pong.


11. Hawaii

Only US state with 2 official languages? I am calling BS.


12. Idaho

Apparently Evil Knieval did a famous stunt in this wonderful state. So with his antics in mind, Idaho gets the game Double Trouble.


13. Illinois

Producing the most nuclear energy in the country is no small feat. Illinois will be playing the game Power Ball to keep up with their power production.



14. Indiana

Every time I hear this state, I just think about the show Parks and Recreation. So in light of some public transit, Indiana is learning to play the game Ride the Bus.


15. Iowa

Did you know Iowa has one of the highest literacy rates in the country? That means they need a game to show what they know. So Iowa get's the game Categories.


16. Kansas

Known best as Tornado Alley, Kansas is used to some speed and turbulence. The game Speed seems like a rightful match.


17. Kentucky

This is kind of a given. Kentucky has a derby. So they will be playing the card game Pony Chase... that is... if they don't already know how to play.


18. Louisiana

Have you played the game Kings? Well your state was named after 1! I believe it was King Louis XIV of France.


19. Maine

Surrounded by water on the coast and inland, it only makes sense to learn the game On My Boat.

Image of Maine

20. Maryland

The birthplace of good old hall of famer, Babe Ruth! So go ahead and get learning how to play the tabletop game Baseball.


21. Massachusetts

Home of the first post office to open in the US. I am wrongfully deciding that they also published the first dictionary for the US, and therefore will be learning to play the Dictionary Game.


22. Michigan

I feel like Michigan has a lot of grit and loves a good tussle. With that mind, Michigan can play the game Battle Quarters.



23. Minnesota

Absolutely loves throwing on some ice skates and whipping a puck around. No brainer here with the game Hockey.


24. Mississippi

Sticking with an alliteration for Mississippi and making Mississippi Matatu.


25. Missouri

Commonly known as "The Show Me State" makes it quite fun to have them guess before they get to know. Learn to play the game What's in the Box.


26. Montana

Pirates will tell you that when you find treasure it tends to be cursed. What better game than Karma to teach "The Treasure State"?


27. Nebraska

Being a state with a lighthouse and no ocean, makes Nebraska "most likely to manifest" in the State Yearbook. Try some more superlatives with some friends, and learn to play the Superlative Game.


28. Nevada

Nobody likes the house. Take it to the dealers for once in this great card game Wreck the Dealer.


29. New Hampshire

"Ding" "Ding"! The first alarm clock was invented in New Hampshire, so you can thank them for your iPhone's traumatic ringtone every morning. While you're at it, learn this timer based drawing game, Quicktionary.



30. New Jersey

I would have thought New York had the highest population density, but no. It is New Jersey. That flipped me upside down, just like the game Flip Cup.


31. New Mexico

Home of the oldest capital in the US. This ancient capital shouldn't dread this, but rather embrace it, with the game Die.


32. New York

The finger lakes! New York is getting the universal game Fingers.


33. North Carolina

They like to golf in this state I am pretty sure. So for anyone trying to hit the links at home, try this fun tabletop game Golf.

Image of North Carolina

34. North Dakota

Those farmers are no joke out of North Dakota. They are producing an overwhelming amount of wheat and honey, but especially beef. Because they like to beef so much, we are assigning the game War to North Dakota.


35. Ohio

I don't have a lot intel or any fun facts about Ohio, so I'll leave it to the experts to decide and play What am I?


36. Oklahoma

Girl Scout Cookies were invented in Oklahoma! Snaps were a good cookie, despite it being removed from the roster, in it's memory, is the game Snappa.


37. Oregon

Ever heard of Nike? Word on the street is they make some unbelievable runners, so to honor the renowned company, we'll give a dash of our own, with Bowl Dash.



38. Pennsylvania

Another TV show shoutout here to The Office and the electric city song performed by Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute, gives us the pleasure of the game Electric Shock.


39. Rhode Island

The smallest state in the country means they are packing a lot of heart. Rhode Island is awarded the well known card game Hearts.


40. South Carolina

Ummmm... They have monkeys on an uninhabited island! So go ahead and try to draw them when you play Drawty.


41. South Dakota

Having four heads on a mountain means you can play with four squares on some pavement. Check out how to play the game Four Square.


42. Tennessee

Giving birth to the soda Mountain Dew, Tennessee's game has to match that same "slap you in the face" kind of energy. What better game to do that than Slap Cup.

Image of Tennessee

43. Texas

The Lone Star state has been well known for it's freedom to carry. Going to let you all test out some of your target practice with this fun partner game, Flip Cup Target.


44. Utah

One of the sunniest states in the US! Too much salt in Salt Lake City might make me Spit! Try this great card game out.


45. Vermont

I am a little biased on this one because I'm from Vermont, so I going to give it my favorite game. NickiBall is a great dice tossing game that everyone should learn.


46. Virginia

Is D.C. technically in Virginia...? Probably not, but we'll give it some political power anyway with the game Cheers Governor.



47. Washington

There's a bunch of volcanoes in Washington, which surprised me. So I am going to surprise you with a random card game Kemps.


48. West Virginia

This wonderful state is actually the 3rd most forested state in the country! Sticking with the 3 theme, is the game Power Threes.


49. Wisconsin

Lots and lots of ice cream being consumed in good old Wisconsin. So you might need a spoon or two to eat it! Check out this classic game Spoons.


50. Wyoming

Outlining its borders on a map with straight lines is pretty unique. Go ahead and try and make straight lines when writing your rules for the game Pizza Box.

Image of Wyoming

 

Did we do right by your state? Let us know if we did or didn't in the comments!


 

About LowerShelf Games


LowerShelf Games is a free game sharing website that provides a one stop shop for family/party game lovers. The site is a showcase for the numerous games that exist in this world. It provides a single platform for people to not only share games with common items they would find around their house, but also standardized instructions on how to play them.




0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentários


bottom of page