Video Game Charades: 70 Games and Characters to Act Out
The Perfect Charades Round for Gamers
For a generation raised on consoles and PCs, video game charades is an instant hit. From Mario's jump to Sonic's spin to a Fortnite victory dance, gaming is full of iconic moves and characters that beg to be acted out. It's perfect for teen parties, gamer gatherings, sibling game nights, and anyone who's ever rage-quit a boss battle.
This guide gives you 70 video game charades words — characters, games, and gaming actions — sorted by difficulty, plus how-to-act-it-out tips, fun variations, and a plan for any crowd. Press start!
🍄 Easy Video Game Charades (Everyone Knows These)
Iconic characters and games even non-gamers recognize:
Mario · Luigi · Sonic the Hedgehog · Pac-Man · Pikachu · Minecraft · Tetris · Donkey Kong · Kirby · Yoshi · Princess Peach · Bowser · Angry Birds · Space Invaders · Fortnite
🎮 Medium Video Game Charades (Gamer Favorites)
A step up — games and characters fans will love:
Zelda · Link · Master Chief (Halo) · Lara Croft · Kratos (God of War) · Among Us · Roblox · Call of Duty · Animal Crossing · Crash Bandicoot · Spyro · Mega Man · Street Fighter · Pokémon · Fall Guys
🏆 Hard Video Game Charades (For Serious Gamers)
Trickier picks for the hardcore crowd:
The Last of Us · Elden Ring · Dark Souls · Cyberpunk 2077 · Red Dead Redemption · Overwatch · League of Legends · Bioshock · Portal · Metal Gear Solid · Final Fantasy · Assassin's Creed · Skyrim · Hollow Knight · Stardew Valley
🕹️ Gaming Action Charades (Themed Round)
Act out things every gamer does:
Button mashing · A victory dance · Rage quitting · Respawning · A boss battle · Loading screen · Aiming a sniper · Mining blocks · Picking up loot · A combo move · Pausing the game · A jump scare · Trash talking · Spawning · A glitch
🎭 How to Act Out Tricky Video Game Words
Lean on the iconic move. Coach your players with these:
| Word | How to Act It Out |
|---|---|
| Mario | Jump and punch upward (hitting a block), grow tall |
| Sonic | Curl into a ball and spin, then dash super fast |
| Pac-Man | Open-close your hand like a mouth, chomp in a zigzag |
| Minecraft | Mine with blocky, square punching motions |
| Pikachu | Puffed cheeks, point and "shock" with sparks |
| Tetris | Stack falling blocks, then "clear a line" |
| Link (Zelda) | Draw a sword and shield, hold up a treasure |
| Among Us | Sneak around, then dramatically "vent" away |
| Rage quitting | Smash a controller, throw your hands up, storm off |
| A boss battle | Dodge, attack a giant enemy, watch a health bar drain |
Pro tip: For games without an obvious character, act out the core gameplay — Minecraft is "mining blocks," Tetris is "stacking falling shapes."
Fun Video Game Charades Variations
- Console Wars: Nintendo team vs PlayStation team vs Xbox team.
- Retro vs Modern: Classic games (Pac-Man) vs new releases (Elden Ring).
- Gaming Actions Round: Act out gamer behaviors (rage quit, respawn, loot).
- Boss Battle Round: Act out famous boss fights and enemies.
- Speedrun: 30-second rounds blitzing through as many games as possible.
Why Video Game Charades Is Great for Teens & Gamers
- Speaks their language — gaming is core to youth culture.
- Iconic, actable moves — Mario's jump, Sonic's spin, the Fortnite dances.
- Spans generations of games — retro to brand-new.
- Phones-down fun — ironically gets gamers off the screen.
- Friendly rivalry — console wars make perfect teams.
Tips for the Best Video Game Charades
- Act the iconic move — the jump, the spin, the chomp.
- For abstract games, mime the gameplay — mining, stacking, shooting.
- Match difficulty to your crowd — casual gets Mario, hardcore gets Elden Ring.
- Try console-wars teams for built-in rivalry.
- Use a generator so nobody picks a game only they've played.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good video game charades words?
Iconic picks like Mario, Sonic, Pac-Man, Minecraft, and Pikachu, plus gamer favorites like Among Us, Zelda, and Fortnite.
How do you act out a video game in charades?
Use the game's iconic character move (Mario's jump, Sonic's spin) or core gameplay (Minecraft's mining, Tetris's stacking blocks).
What are easy video games to act out?
Mario (jump and punch up), Sonic (spin and dash), Pac-Man (chomping mouth), and Pikachu (puffed cheeks and shock).
Is video game charades good for teens?
Perfect — gaming is central to youth culture, the moves are iconic and actable, and console-wars teams create fun rivalry.
How do you act out Minecraft in charades?
Mine with blocky, square punching motions, then "place blocks" with stiff right angles — the boxy gameplay is the giveaway.
What's a fun video game charades variation?
"Console Wars" — split into Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox teams, each acting out their platform's games. The rivalry is half the fun.
🔗 More Charades Guides You'll Love
Ready to Press Start?
You've got 70 games, iconic-move tips, and five fun variations — now grab your (imaginary) controller and let the video game charades begin. Make it effortless:
👉 Open the free Charades Generator — instant gaming words, a timer, and team scoring. No app, no signup. 🎮
Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox — which team wins your charades console war?