Are you bored and don’t know what to do? Don’t worry! Here I bring you 30 different Spanish games!

Human beings have always been characterized by finding activities to occupy their free time. The youngest children used to go out to the street to play, and they invented any game, but nowadays, that doesn’t happen anymore. They prefer to stay in their room with their mobile phone. The current generations have been losing in some way that originality concerning the games.

So in this post, I will share with you the most traditional Spanish games that have been passed down from generation to generation to the most popular games! It will be the perfect time to get together with family and friends to play and enjoy some time together.

Also, traditional games, card games, and board games are a great way to foster social relationships, stay active and improve your intellectual capacity!

Here I bring you games for all tastes and ages! Get ready, and let the games begin!

P.S.: In some of the games I have added a link in case you want to buy it!

5 Traditional Spanish Games

Dominó

Dominoes is one of the most popular and traditional games in Spain. It is one of the oldest games. In fact, the oldest mention has been found in China and dates back to the 13th century. But it was not until the 17th century that Europe got to know this game! Dominoes is a classic game, easy and entertaining for everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. If you go around some of the villages in Spain, you will see some older men or women playing this game on the terraces of their houses or in the bars.

Dominoes is a board game composed of 28 white rectangular tiles divided into two halves. In each of the halves, the numbers from 0 to 6 appear as black dots. That is, if no black dot appears, it is considered 0; if one dot appears, it is regarded as 1; if two dots appear, it is considered 2, and so on.

This game requires a minimum of 2 players and a maximum of 4.

Before you start, the tiles are placed face down, shuffled, and each player chooses 7 tiles (without looking at them). If you are playing with three or four players, each player must take 5 tiles.

The first player to start is the player with the highest double, i.e., starting from 6/6 and going down. The player must place the piece in the center to start the game. The next player will place a domino of similar value next to the first domino. The dot values of the dominoes must always be equal where they touch.

The object of the game is to run out of dominoes!

Do you want to play? Here’s the link to buy the game: Play Dominoes!

Parchís

Parcheesi is another of Spain’s traditional games and is not missing in almost any house. This game was created in the sixth century in India. In fact, the current game that we know today represents the “pachisi” and the ancient garden of the emperor Akbar the Great. A fact that I found super curious is that the center of the board represents the throne where the emperor sat. The colored chips refer to the beautiful young women who competed to be chosen by the emperor. I had no idea of this story!

Today Parcheesi is one of the most entertaining games and one of the most popular among Spanish families to play with family or friends.

Parcheesi consists of a board with 100 squares and 4 houses of different colors. Each player has a die and 4 pieces that are the same color as the corresponding house in the game. The game’s object is to get to the center of the board by making a complete turn. BUT, in that turn, players can block and remove tiles, so it will be challenging to get your 4 tiles to the center! It all depends on how lucky you are with the dice and how skillful you are at moving your pieces!

Let me give you a hand finding the game; just click here.

Oca

Here comes another of the traditional Spanish games and one of the simplest. It is a board game that does not require strategy; it is just about chance!

The first commercial version of the Oca took place in the 19th century. Apparently, the first version of the “Oca” was a gift from Francis I de Medici to Philip II of Spain in the 16th century. Should we believe it?

There are also other theories that this game already existed in Ancient Greece.

The game of the “Oca” is composed of 63 numbered squares in the form of a spiral. The players will advance according to their score by rolling the dice. The first player to reach the goal, located in the center of the board (the last square), wins the game. But it will be challenging to get to the end as you will encounter different obstacles!

Petanca

This traditional Spanish game tends to entertain older people, but it is an entertaining game that anyone can play! Besides being one of our culture’s most deeply rooted games, it is also a sport! But first of all, you should know that this game originated in Provence in France during the 20th century.

Petanque is played by throwing metal balls on flat and sandy ground. It is a simple game whose objective is to throw the balls as close as possible to the “boliche” (a ball more petite than the rest and of a different color).

I know you are dying to play now, so here’s the link to buy the game: Play Petanca!

Ajedrez

This is one of my favorite games and one of the most popular in Spain. In fact, chess has been considered a sport by the International Olympic Committee since 2000.

Chess emerged in Europe in the 15th century, although its origin dates back to the 6th century in India. Although it does not originate in Spain, it is one of the traditional games of our country. Just like the game of dominoes, you can see many people on the terraces of bars playing chess while having a coffee. There are many bars and cafes in Spain with chess and dominoes boards.

To play chess, you need two players who should face each other. Between the opponents is placed the board, composed of 64 alternating squares, usually black and white (although now there are in different colors).

Each player has 16 pieces that must move along the board to eliminate the enemy king “checkmate” (“jaque mate in Spanish).

It is a game of strategy, where you must take the time to think about each of the moves you will make. You may have to sacrifice pieces more than once to save your king!

Would you like to have this game at home? Then click here.

5 Fun Spanish Games to Play with Cards

Burro

“Burro” means “donkey” in English. It is a card game in which you have to be very fast!

The game’s object is to try to match four cards. Players sit around a table, and four cards are dealt to each player face down. When all the cards are dealt, players look at their cards and decide to pass a card to the player on their left and receive a card from the player on their right (everyone must do this at the same time).

With each turn, you must quickly look at the cards and decide which cards you will keep and which you will pass.

The game continues until one player collects all four cards of the same rank. The player then loudly shouts, “BURRO!!” while placing his hand in the middle of the table. The last to place his hand is the loser. But don’t worry if you are playing the first round because the only thing that will happen is you will receive the letter B for “burro,” and you will have to deal with the cards of the next move. The game ends when one of the players receives all the letters of the word “burro” and loses.

Mentiroso

In English, it is called “Liar,” and it is one of the simplest Spanish card games, but it requires good skills to deceive the other players.

To play “Mentiroso,” you need at least three players and a deck of cards. However, a second deck is usually added when there are many players.

All the cards are dealt among the players, and the game is played clockwise. The objective is to get rid of the cards you have. To do this, each person (when it is his turn) must throw face down one, two, or three cards (the cards he wants) to the center of the table and say aloud what he has discarded. For example, two sevens, three ones, a five. But you don’t always have to tell the truth, you can say it’s three ones, but in fact, you have discarded two ones and a three.

If the next player believes it, then he must continue depositing one or more cards in the pile on the table, matching the number that the previous player has said. If the previous player has said three, then he must continue with the number one and say, for example, “two more.”

On the contrary, if the player distrusts what has been said and decides to check if it is true, the one who has lied takes all the cards out of the pile. But if it turns out to be true, the one who mistrusted is the one who gets the cards.

The player who manages to get rid of his cards first wins!

Escoba

This entertaining card game requires two or more players. Each player receives three cards, while four are placed face up in the center of the table.

The goal is to get as many cards as possible. Trying to win the cards placed in the middle by adding up the values of the cards. You must add a total of 15 between one of the cards you have on the table and the cards you want from those in the middle.

It is said to be “broom” (“escoba” in Spanish) when with one of the cards in your hand, you manage to capture all the remaining cards on the table.

The game ends when all the cards have been used, and then each player’s points are counted. The player with the highest score wins!

The score is based on the number of “brooms” you have made (each broom one point), the total number of cards you have (who has more cards one point), the number of “gold” cards (who has more “golds” one point), the number of cards with the number 7 you have (who has more sevens gets one point) and the 7 of golds also adds a point.

Manotazo

This is an enjoyable game but a bit aggressive!

You only need a full deck of Spanish cards and good and quick reflexes to play.

Players sit in a circle and are dealt the 52 cards of the deck until they are finished (each player has the same number of cards). The cards must remain face down.

One of the players starts by placing his first card without looking at it in the center of the table and says 1, the next player does the same but says 2, and so on, counting from 1 to 13. Once the count is finished, you start counting all over again. Each time the number called out matches the number on the card, everyone must place a hand on the pile of cards left in the center.

The first player to place his hand there takes all the cards in the pile. Players who run out of cards must leave the game. Whoever has the most cards at the end of the game is the winner!

This Spanish card game is entertaining and helps you practice numbers and counting in Spanish. But you have to think and act fast!

Ohh! I almost forgot, whoever hits the pile when it’s not the right one loses a turn!

To play this game and the other 3 above, you only need a deck of Spanish cards. Click here to get one!

UNO

Although it is an American card game, it is one of the most popular in Spain, so I wanted to include it in this list.

“UNO” is a fast game in which you must pay attention to eliminate cards.

Seven cards are dealt per player, and the player to the dealer’s right will start. In the center of the table, there is a card face up that has been taken from the deck and is the one that begins to play. In turns, cards are placed on top of each other, matching in color or number. That is to say, a player throws a red card, and the next player can throw a card of the same color or one that matches the number in case he has no red card. If he has neither color nor number, he can use one of the “special” cards. And if he has none, he must take one of the deck cards in the middle of the table.

When we drop the penultimate card from our hand, we cannot forget to say out loud, “UNO!” and then we must try to get rid of that card as soon as possible.

The goal of the game is to run out of cards!

Do not hesitate and try UNO at home with your friends and family! Click here to get the game!

If you want to know more about the Spanish deck of cards and which are the traditional Spanish card games, take a look at this post:

How to Play Spanish Cards + 5 Traditional Games

5 Best Selling Board Games in Spain

Parchís

This is one of the best-selling Spanish board games and one of the most traditional ones. As I mentioned this game at the beginning of the post, and I don’t want to repeat myself, if you wish to retake a look at it, click here.

Monopoly

This is the star game and one of the best sellers in Spain, not to say the best seller.

I think we all know it well, don’t we? The objective of this game is to obtain a monopoly on streets and real estate. Players will move their chips when it is their turn based on the score on the roll of the dice. Players will buy streets based on where they land, but BEWARE, if you land on someone’s street, you will have to pay them!

Things get even tenser when all the players have bought several streets and started to build… If you fall on a street that is not yours, you may have to pay a lot of money, or the other way around, you may become a millionaire! Wish you luck!

I know you are dying to play now, so here’s the link to buy the game: Play Monopoly!

Tabú

This game is my favorite! It is another one of the great classics of board games, as well as an excellent option to learn Spanish.

This game is played in teams. Team members take turns explaining to the rest of their teammates the word in the card they have chosen. BUT, this is more challenging than it seems; some rules must be followed. To explain the word on the card, the person cannot mention any of the words that appear written in his speech. There is also an hourglass that will mark the time.

The game’s object is to try to make your team guess as many words as possible! Ohh, and you might land on a square where you get to mime instead of talk, or you might even get double time!

You might get quite nervous in this game, so try to stay calm! You will have so much fun!

Do not miss the opportunity and try this game at home with your friends and family! Click here to get it!

Pictionary

Are you good at drawing? I’m not, but I still think this game is super fun!

Pictionary is a board game played in teams. The game consists of guessing a word based on what the person on your team, or you, has drawn. But you can’t say a single word! You can only communicate by drawing.

You will have a specific time to draw, and your team will try to guess what you have drawn. Whoever has guessed the most words will be the winner

Get the newest version! Pictionary Air!

Oca

As well as Parcheesi “Parchís,” the “Oca” is one of the best-selling Spanish board games and one of the most traditional ones. As I mentioned this game at the beginning of the post, and I don’t want to repeat myself, if you wish to retake a look at it, click here.

5 Spanish Playground Games 

La rayuela

This is one of the oldest children’s recreational games. With a piece of chalk, a diagram is drawn with 10 squares. Inside each square, a number from 1 to 10 is placed.

The child has to stand in front of the first square where the number 1 is written and throw a stone on the drawn diagram.

The square where the stone lands cannot be stepped on. Then the child will start with a jump on one foot (if there is a square) and with both feet (if it is a double square).

The goal is to pass the stone from square to square up to number 10 and back. The child will be eliminated if he falls or the stone goes out of the square.

El escondite

The mythical game of hide and seek that I’m sure everyone had played at some point when they were little!

This game is played in a group. One of the children starts counting while the others run to hide. When the child finishes counting up to the number previously told, the child has to look for the rest of the children and try to find them. When the child finds one of the hidden children, he must touch him to eliminate him and continue looking for the rest.

If the children want to save themselves, the only way is to reach the place where the child was counting and touch it before the other one catches them.

El juego del pañuelo

This is one of my favorite games and one that I have played even as an adult.

The game pits two teams of the same number of people against each other. The members of each group are assigned a number, which will be paired with one of the opponents.

A person acts as a judge and holds a handkerchief between the two teams. That same person is the one who calls out a number, and then the two participants of each team with that number must run out to grab the handkerchief and run back to their base with the team. But if the other team member catches him before reaching his base, then the player will be eliminated.

El escondite inglés

This is one of the games I used to play a lot when I was little.

In this game, several children participate. One of them stands against the wall with his back to the rest of the children. The other children must be a few meters away and must line up to start from the same point.

The game starts when the child on the wall says, “un, dos, tres, al escondite inglés, sin mover las manos ni los pies! which in English would be “one, two, three, hide and seek without moving hands or feet!”.

Then, the rest of the children must move as fast as possible toward the wall. BUT watch out!! When the child on the wall turns around, all the other children must stay very still! The one who moves will be eliminated! And so on and so forth until one of them makes it.

This game reminds me of the Korean series “Squid Game” that came out in 2021, where the characters had to play a very similar game. 😂😂

La comba

This is a very beneficial game for children since, besides being fun, it allows them to do physical exercise. It is a very simple game in which two people grab the ends of the rope, and one or more children jump. While they are jumping, the group usually sings a song. You will have to jump until your turn is over. If you trip over the rope, you lose, and you have to hold on while the others jump, and so on. I used to be pretty good at this game!

5 Popular Video Games Made in Spain

Gris

It is one of the most original videogames created in Spain and one of the most successful in recent years. What undoubtedly stands out the most is its artistic side. This game, created by Nomada Studio, tells the story of a young girl called “Gris,” who is lost in her own world after having gone through a painful experience. The player must accompany her on her journey in a world that is not real.

Besides having an impressive soundtrack, this video game will grab you from the beginning!

Metroid Dread

Metroid Dread is an action shooter video game developed by MercurySteam. This new version has been improved over the previous versions and features new moves and abilities.

The story takes place on a remote alien planet where a mechanical threat to the best bounty hunter in the galaxy! Will you join Samus Aran in this challenging new 2D adventure?

Take on the risks and end the Metroid threat!

Blasphemous

This action platformer with combat was developed by The Game Kitchen and distributed by Team17 Digital.

A terrible curse has fallen upon Blasphemous, upon the land of Cvstodia and its inhabitants. There is only one way to end the curse, which is with the Penitent’s help. The Penitent won’t have it easy; he will have to explore a world and discover the hidden secrets. Along his way, he will encounter terrifying creatures. Still, with the help of relics and prayers, he will be able to approach his goal.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

This action-adventure video game was developed by MercurySteam and Kojima Productions and distributed by Konami. 

This game is set in Europe in 1047, where the world is living through an apocalypse full of mythical creatures. The protagonist, Gabriel, becomes the first Belmont of the clan of vampire hunters. 

Do you dare to play?

Commandos 2: Men of Courage

It is a real-time video game set in World War II developed by Pyro Studios and distributed by Eidos Interactive. It is the series’ third installment, after Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines and Commandos: Beyond the Call Of Duty.

This third part has 21 missions and takes place between 1941 and 1945 on the Western Front with the Germans and in the Pacific War against the Japanese.

The player has to infiltrate behind enemy lines and reach the objectives.

5 Games to Learn Spanish

Although not all of these games are of Spanish origin, I consider them the top 5 for learning Spanish.

Apalabrados 

“Apalabrados” is a board game well-known worldwide. It is the Spanish version of Scrabble! It consists of forming words using certain letters and placing them on a board whose squares are assigned a value.

The objective is to get the highest score and beat your opponents.

This game is a great option to practice Spanish, especially to improve your vocabulary and spelling!

Would you like to have this game at home? Then click here!

Quién es quién

In English, this game is known as “Guess Who” and is probably one of the games with more versions. This game can be found in any language with real or imaginary characters.

The objective of the game is to discover the character of your opponent. To do this, you must ask different questions such as “Am I a woman?”, “Am I brunette?”, “Do I have glasses? Your opponent must answer these questions only with a YES or NO. Each player will ask one question per turn.

This can be one of the key games to learn Spanish, as you will learn how to formulate questions, build sentences and play with different words to describe a person.

Would you like to have this game at home? Then click here!

Scattergories

Scattergories is one of the best-selling and most popular board games. It is a super fun game to play with friends and family. I discovered this game a couple of years ago, and the truth is that I love it! Once you start, you can’t stop!

It is a simple game; all you have to do is make lists of words that start with the same letter and match a specific theme, such as food, cities, brands, etc… The only drawback is that you only have one minute to write everything that comes to your mind!

The players will get one point for each word they have written in their list, which is different from the rest of the opponents. The word will not count if it does not exist because the player made it up, and it won’t count either if the word is misspelled.

Scattergories can be an excellent option to learn Spanish, even if you have just started to learn the language. You will expand your vocabulary, and little by little, you will feel more comfortable using Spanish words. It will also help you to improve your spelling!

Let me give you a hand finding the game; just click here!

Pasapalabra

This board game arose from the famous Spanish television program known as “Pasapablabra.” The game consists of guessing words from A to Z while answering different questions. This is an excellent game to learn Spanish as well as being very educational since you learn a lot of general culture.

Would you dare to play? Just click here!

Dobble

In English it is known as “Spot it!” and it has become one of my favorite games. It is a bit of a stressful game as you must be quick with your mind and hand, but it is so much fun!

This game is made up of circular-shaped cards, each of which contains small pictures and shapes that repeat. You have to compare the cards, identify the repeated element and say the name out loud while picking up the card. There are different ways to play: in one game, for example, the pile of cards is left in the middle, and the players start with only one card in their hand and have to pick up cards from the pile that matches the drawings of their card. You can also play by dealing all the cards among the players and discarding them. You choose which one you prefer! But you have to be very careful not to be overtaken!

It’s a great game to improve your Spanish vocabulary in a fun way!

I know you are dying to play now, so here’s the link to buy the game: Play Dobble!

If you are definitely into learning Spanish and want to know a few tricks to learn faster, don’t miss this article!

How long to learn Spanish? 5 Tips to NOT sound like an Idiot

Another of the best ways to learn Spanish is to watch Spanish movies with Spanish subtitles. We have created some posts with some of the best Spanish films. There’s something for everyone!

9 Spanish Romance Movies You Could Watch a Million Times

15 Popular Spanish Thrillers That Are Breaking All The Rankings

11 Spanish Christmas Movies to enjoy a Lovely Family Evening

7 Spanish Comedy Movies You Won’t Stop Laughing With 

7 Spanish Movies That Your Kids Will Absolutely Love!

Ohh! And I almost forgot, these would be the best online platforms to enjoy Spanish cinema:

The Best 10 Platforms To Watch Spanish Movies Online

Speak Spanish while you play

To play some of these Spanish games, you must learn some phrases and words. I’m sure they will be of great help to you!

Example Phrases:

What are the rules of the game?: "¿Cuáles son las reglas del juego?”

It’s your turn: “Es tu turno.”

You miss a turn*: “Pierdes un turno.”*

Roll the dice: “Tira los dados.”

Shuffle and deal the cards: “Mezcla y reparte las cartas.”

I need a card: “Necesito una carta.”

I can’t play, I’ll pass: “No puedo jugar, paso.”

Take a card from the deck: “Coge una carta del mazo.”

Make your move: “Mueve tu ficha.”

I won!: “He ganado!”

Shit, I lost: “Mierda, he perdido.”

Have you already played any of these games? Which one has caught your attention the most?

I must admit that I’m a big fan of games! I’m always the one who proposes to play because I find it so much fun and an excellent time to enjoy with family and friends!

Although there can indeed be moments of stress and competitiveness in which the only thing we care about is winning! It happens to me sometimes… You too?

I encourage you to try some of them! I’m sure you’ll love them!