Briefcase of Death
Briefcase of Death
A Fun Youth Group Game
Watch the Tutorial Video
Briefcase of Death is a quick, conversation-driven deception game inspired by the classic idea of Split or Steal. Two players face off, one receives a hidden reward or punishment, and both must talk, bluff, persuade, and choose who ends up with the mystery briefcase. This is a fantastic youth group game because it’s fast, interactive, and naturally leads into a deeper discussion about honesty and trust.
Overview
Ideal # of Participants: 2 to 20
Where to Play: Indoors
Age of Participants: Middle School / High School
Approximate Time to Play: 10 to 30 Minutes
Materials Needed: The word “Reward” and the word “Punishment” written out
How to Play Briefcase of Death
1. Set Up the Briefcase
All you need to do is have the words “Reward” and “Punishment” written out. You can do this by writing the words on the inside of a manila file folder, or by simply using two index cards.
The key is that only one player should be able to see what’s written inside.
2. Choose Two Participants
Have two volunteers come to the front and stand on opposite sides of a table.
The leader hands the briefcase (or folder/cards) to one player without revealing what’s inside to the other player or the audience.
That player opens it discreetly and sees whether it says Reward or Punishment.
3. The Deception Phase
This is the heart of the game. The player holding the briefcase now tells the other player what it says…
but they are allowed to lie. They can tell the truth, try to bluff convincingly, or use any method they want to in order to psych the other person out.
Encourage open conversation. The more they argue, persuade, and plead their case, the more fun the game becomes. A single sentence and silence won’t generate good energy — let players talk it out.
4. The Choice
After hearing the explanation, the second player must decide whether they want to take the briefcase, or let their opponent keep it. Whoever ends up with the briefcase receives whatever was written inside.
You can choose any reward or punishment you want. Examples:
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Reward: Candy bar, stickers, small prize
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Punishment: No socks for the rest of the meeting, eat something gross, etc.
5. Reveal the Truth
Once the choice is final:
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Open the briefcase for everyone to see
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Reveal whether the briefcase-holder was honest or deceptive
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Award the prize or force the punishment
This part always gets big reactions — cheering, booing, fake outrage, and tons of laughter.
Discussion Opportunity
Where this game truly shines is the conversation afterward. This activity is built around lying and deception, but real relationships rely on trust, honesty, and keeping your word. You can transition into a meaningful discussion about integrity, referencing moments from the game when players trusted the wrong person or chose to deceive someone. This is why Jesus talks about the importance of being truthful in the Sermon on the Mount — our words matter.
We actually built a whole lesson around this game, and its available for you to download here. ‘Oath’ contains the game directions, but then ties that game into the meaningful conversation you’ll lead afterwards. There’s guiding questions, relevant media, and everything else you need to lead an excellent meeting!
Lesson Handout
Want to make this easy to share with your volunteers or students? Download the “Briefcase of Death” Lesson Handout (PDF) below!
More Youth Group Games
Looking for more creative youth group ideas? Explore our free Youth Group Game Index — it includes 80+ short, easy-to-lead tutorials that you can filter by group size, location, and materials.
Next-Level Youth Ministry
The best way to teach a lesson is through active learning, that’s why we produce high-quality Game-Driven Lessons — youth group curriculum that has a fun game that ties into the lesson you want to teach. Check out our membership program ActuallyFun PRO to get these Game-Driven Lessons for a discounted rate, as well as tons of other benefits that help take your youth ministry to the next level!