Cup Stack Showdown

Gameplay

• 4+ Players 👥 (played in pairs)

• 3-5 Minutes ⏱️

What You’ll Need

• Plastic cups (3 per player)

• Long tables or flat surfaces for pairs to face off

• Optional: Music or a mic for hype

Setup

• Place 3 cups in front of each player, evenly spaced.

• Assign players into pairs and have them face each other across the table.

• Choose a facilitator to call out commands.

How to Play

• Start with warm-up commands. Facilitator calls out body parts: “Head! Shoulders! Knees!” etc.

• Throw in the twist. When the facilitator shouts “Cup!”, players must:

  • Quickly stack their 3 cups into a pyramid (1 base row of 2, 1 cup on top).

  • Immediately tear the pyramid back down and stack them back into a single stack.

• Determine the winner. The first to correctly stack and unstack the pyramid wins the round and advances.

• Eliminate the loser. Continue tournament-style until one winner remains.

Say Something Like
“Get ready for a twist on a classic! When you hear ‘Cup!’, don’t just grab it—build it! First one to stack and unstack their pyramid wins. Let’s see who’s got the fastest hands in the room!”

Variations

• Mega Stack: Use 6 cups per player for a larger pyramid (3-2-1 style).

• Silent Showdown: Use hand signals instead of verbal commands.

• Team Relay: Teams line up and take turns facing off—first full team to win all rounds wins!

Teaching Points
This game reinforces listening, focus, and quick reactions—perfect for discussions on being spiritually alert and ready to respond to God’s call.

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Keywords: cup game, reaction, stacking, elimination, quick thinking, youth group, pyramid game, tournament style

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