The Magazine Game
The Magazine Game
A Fun Youth Group Game
Watch the Tutorial Video
The Magazine Game is a simple logic puzzle where students try to figure out why the leader’s answers don’t always seem to match the paper they’re pointing at.
Overview
Ideal # of Participants: Any!
Where to Play: Indoor
Age of Participants: Middle School / High School
Approximate Time to Play: 5 to 30 Minutes
Materials Needed: 9 Pieces of Paper
How to Play The Magazine Game
Set Up the 3×3 Grid
Lay out a 3 by 3 grid of paper on the floor.
You can technically just use blank pieces of paper for this, but it’s more fun if you use the ones we have in the description because they add a ton of red herrings to the challenge.
For communication purposes, establish that the paper you’ve laid in the top left of the grid is number 1, the top middle will be referred to as number 2, and so on for all nine.
If you use the papers we created, they actually have those numbers in the background to make it easy to remember.
Choose a Pointer
The leader uses some sort of pointer, like a broom handle, stick, or anything like that, to point to one of the papers.
The goal of the game is to figure out how to correctly answer the leader’s question:
“Which paper am I pointing to?”
It sounds easy, but there’s a secret twist.
The Secret Rule
For whatever paper the leader points at, imagine that paper broken up into a 3×3 grid of its own.
Whatever part of the paper that the leader touches corresponds with the overall 3×3 grid of the papers that you laid out.
In other words, you’re not just paying attention to which paper the leader points at. You also need to pay attention to where on that paper the pointer touches.
To see an example of how this works, check out the YouTube video linked above!
Let Students Figure It Out
There’s a lot of times where someone thinks that they have figured it out, but they actually don’t.
That’s part of what makes The Magazine Game so much fun.
If, however, someone gets 5 or 6 rounds correct in a row, then they are now “in the know.”
At that point, they get to enjoy watching everyone else struggle to learn the secret, or you can have them take over as the leader.
Don't Tell Anyone the Answer!
The important thing to remember with any one of these kinds of games is that you are never allowed to tell someone the answer because that ruins the fun.
In fact, before the game starts, you should establish that not everyone will know what the answer is before you’re done playing.
The only way to know is to figure it out for yourself.
This makes The Magazine Game much more enjoyable than simply explaining the trick at the beginning. Give students enough examples to start noticing patterns, but let them discover the secret on their own.
Why The Magazine Game Works So Well
The Magazine Game is a great logic game for youth groups because the rules are incredibly simple, but the solution isn’t immediately obvious.
Students have to pay attention to details that initially seem completely irrelevant. Once someone figures out the trick, they can suddenly see exactly what the leader is doing.
It’s also an easy game to pull out when you need something that requires almost no setup or physical space.
Playing Traffic Jam With a Large Group
This game scales to any group size as long as the teams are even.
However, if you have more than 12 people, I would suggest splitting into two smaller teams that race against each other to be the first to solve the puzzle.
This turns Traffic Jam into a competitive team-building game for youth groups while still requiring students to communicate and work together.
Tips for Playing The Magazine Game
- Don’t reveal the secret. The entire point of the game is for students to figure it out themselves.
- Give plenty of examples. Repeating the challenge gives students opportunities to recognize the pattern.
- Use the numbered papers. Having numbers on the papers makes it much easier for everyone to communicate about which paper is being referenced.
- Use a pointer. A broom handle, stick, or similar object makes it easier to clearly show exactly where you’re pointing.
- Point to different areas of the paper. The exact location where the pointer touches is critical to the solution.
- Let students struggle with it. The frustration is part of the fun, especially when students are convinced they’ve figured it out and then get an answer wrong.
- Let students who figure it out take over. Once someone gets 5 or 6 correct in a row, letting them become the leader gives them a chance to enjoy the game from the other side.
- Use the prepared papers if possible. The papers we created add red herrings to the challenge and make the game more interesting than using completely blank pieces of paper.
Lesson Handout
Want to make this easy to share with your volunteers or students? Download the “The Magazine Game” Lesson Handout (PDF) below!
Where Games Meet God's Word...
Most leaders just look for games to play, but miss their true value. When used well, games help teach your lesson, because experiential learning is by far the most effective way to teach a lesson that sticks.
If you want to see this principle in action, check out Uplift, our FREE youth group lesson that is built for engagement. It contains a fun game, but then your students’ experience from the game ties into the Christ-centered message you’ll teach.
