12 games to play with real marbles
A bag of marbles is a dozen games in one. All you need is a flat floor and something to draw a line with.
Ring games
- Ringer Thirteen marbles in a cross inside a big ring. Take turns to knock them out; first to seven wins.
- Ring taw Everyone puts marbles in a small ring. You keep the ones you knock out.
- Poison ring As ring taw, but if your shooter stops inside the ring you are out.
Hole games
- Holey Dig one hole. Closest to it shoots first; first to sink a marble wins the round.
- Three holes Three holes in a line. Go up and back; first home wins.
- Hundreds Two players shoot at one hole. In scores ten. First to a hundred.
Target games
- Bombers Stand over a target marble and drop yours from eye height. Hit it and it is yours.
- Castles Build a pyramid of four marbles. Others shoot to knock it down.
- Bridge Cut arches in a shoebox and number them. Score the arch you shoot through.
- Spanners Shoot at a marble. If yours stops within a hand span of it, you win it.
- Lagging Everyone rolls at a wall. Closest without touching wins.
- Boss out I roll one, you try to hit it. Miss, and yours becomes the target.
No marbles to hand? Hole in One and Last Marble Standing are screen versions of hole games and boss out.
More game ideas
- Flicking games from around the world
- 20 indoor party games for kids
- Birthday party games by age
- All game guides
Common questions
What games can you play with marbles?
Ring games such as Ringer and ring taw, hole games such as Holey and Hundreds, and target games such as Bombers, Castles and Bridge.
How many marbles do you need to play?
About ten small marbles and one larger shooter each is plenty for every game here.
Ready to flick?
Marble Rumble is free, runs in the browser and needs no account or download.