h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Another great game after a few pints of something or other...

All the players sit in a circle. The following 'conversation' then has to make it's way around the group:

Player 1: Hello
Player 2: Yes ?
Player 1: Tell .
(where player 3 is on the left of player 2, who is on the left of player 1, and *everyone is initially known as 'Bob')

Then Player 2 becomes Player 1, Player 3 becomes Player 2, and the person on the left of him/her becomes the new player 3.

Eventually, someone will make a mistake - hesitating (you have to decide how long to allow!), speaking at the wrong time, or saying the wrong thing. They then have a sticky spot(*) put on their forehead, and are now known as 'Spot' rather than 'Bob'. If they get more spots, they are 'Spot Spot Spot...' or however many spots they have on their forehead. As soon as one person becomes 'Spot', it gets increasingly difficult, so everyone gets covered in spots quite quickly.

It is important that all the spots are clearly visible (apart from any that you came with!) - no hiding is allowed! If anyone does try to hide/remove spots, you could punish them with more spots...

(*) If you don't have any sticky spots, you could use anything sticky - cut up some sticky labels, or use sticky 'ring reinforcers'. Or you could burn the end of a cork, and give black charcoal marks instead.

If you all get used to everyone's spot names, try reversing the direction - utter confusion!

For a variation, you could try regional themes. For instance, we came up with the Australian version:

Player 1: G'day Bruce
Player 2: Yes mate?
Player 1: Tell Bruce.

Of course, you could add to the mayhem by using Bruce for males, and Sheila for females. Or vice versa...