THE 25 MOST POPULAR TRADITIONAL MEXICAN GAMES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Among the most popular traditional Mexican games, the hidden ones, the spinning top, the statues, the marbles and, of course, the well-known piñatas, which have even transcended borders and can be found in other Latin American cultures, stand out.

In Mexico there is a large number of traditional indigenous games that bring together adults and children to have a fun time. These games are playful manifestations that are transmitted from generation to generation and that have managed to last for many years, even centuries, overcoming the threats that new technologies can bring.

The piñata is one of the most popular traditional Mexican games. Source: Jürgen from Sandesneben, Germany This is why they are part of the idiosyncrasy and identity of the people because, although some games have undergone certain modifications over the years, they retain their essence. This maintains the link with the way of being of the settlers.

Traditional games have simple rules, they are usually played in open spaces, they generally involve some kind of chant and very few objects are required to play them. This simplicity makes them easy to transmit, so thanks to orality they have survived for years.

Particularly in Mexico, many of these traditional games (such as the kimbomba and spinning tops) link children with their original roots, which keeps centuries-old traditions alive.

The 25 most outstanding traditional Mexican games

The kimbomba

This is a traditional game of the Mayan royalty that has been practiced in the streets for hundreds of years, particularly in those of the Yucatan Peninsula.

It is usually practiced mainly by men, as it is very similar to baseball. Instead of using a ball, a small wooden stick of maximum 10 centimeters is used, the tips of which have a conical end. The other larger stick, about 8 inches long, is the bat.

A circle of about 2 meters in diameter is painted on the floor, which will contain a 15-centimeter square on each side, where the kimbomba will rest to be hit.

Each team is made up of 3 players; One team will hit to score the most runs and the other team will catch the kimbomba until they make three outs and take their turn at bat.

Another game mode is individually, in which each player will try to hit the kimbomba further. Whoever has achieved it will win.

The chácara

It is another typical game of the Yucatecan peninsula that is generally played by girls. It is estimated that its origin is precisely Mexican because the Mayans already played something similar, although its practice has spread throughout Latin America and is also known as the airplane or hopscotch.

It consists of drawing on the ground a grid that simulates an airplane, with squares from 1 to 10, and in the latter a large circle is drawn.

In turn, each player will throw the chácara -which can be a stone or a small ball- to jump by a foot or two according to the grid without stepping on the lines to the place where the object rests.

The tinjoroch

It is also a typical Yucatan game that consists of passing a string of henequen, or any rope, through a round board with a hole.

The player who manages to spin the disc as long as possible will win. It can be played individually or in teams of two and up to five people.

The marbles

It is a game that dates back to the Egyptians; Evidence has also been found in excavations in Indo-America that suggest that it had been played on the continent for centuries. Marbles are balls of different materials such as glass, clay or metal that are thrown with precision.

There are countless ways to launch them and game modes that vary in each country. For example, in Mexico one of the most famous games is the cocol or rhombus, which consists of drawing a rhombus on the ground on which the marbles to be bet will be placed.

The objective is to take turns tossing the marbles to remove the ones that are already in the coconut. The player who is not eliminated wins.

The blind chicken

One of the players is bandaged so that he cannot see. It is turned several times to the right and left to confuse and make you dizzy.

Groping, he has to catch one of the other players. The player who is caught will be the new blind chicken.

Slingshot

With a stick in the shape of a "Y", a rubber band is placed on both ends, which is stretched to serve as a catapult to launch objects.

It can be used to hunt small animals or to shoot the target, among other activities. While fairly common, the slingshot has been banned in schools and neighborhoods because its use has turned it into a weapon rather than a toy.

The top

It is a water drop shaped object that is usually made of wood or plastic with a metal tip. A rope is wound on it and given a quick tug to make it dance.

There are various game modes; one is to make a circle on the floor and put a top to dance, while the rest of the players will try to remove it with their tops.

Rock, paper or scissors

It is a very common game to discard players. A hand is hidden behind his back; When saying “rock, paper or scissors, 1, 2, 3” at the same time, each player must show their hand by making one of the figures.

The closed fist for the stone, the open palm for the paper and two fingers for the scissors. The scissors cut the paper, the stone beats the scissors, and the paper covers the stone.

The piñata

It is a typical game of big parties in which an allegorical figure made of cardboard and decorated with colored paper is hung, which is filled with sweets or small toys.

In turns, he will hit with a stick until it breaks. The difficulty lies in the striker being blindfolded and turned around to confuse him so that he cannot easily strike.

Hidden

A player will have their eyes closed allowing time for their teammates to hide. Your mission is to find them one by one.

As he finds them he has to run to the place where he was counting and shout “1, 2, 3 for…” and mention the name of the player he found; Thus, that player will be discovered and will be the one who must find the others.

If one of those who was hiding manages to get out of his hiding place without being discovered, he will run to the counting place and shout "1, 2, 3 for me and everyone", freeing his companions so that the same person continues to count.

Kicked boat

It is a variant of hide and seek. One of those who is going to hide kicks the boat so that the one who is going to count will pick it up while the others run to hide.

If the seeker manages to find someone, the boat rings and the person who has just been discovered must keep looking for his friends.

Fly kites

Children generally make them with various lightweight and recyclable materials, such as wood, rubber, paper, string, and a tail of old rags that helps them take flight and maintain balance.

With a hexagonal shape, these papers take off during the months of strong winds. In addition to the simple contemplation exercise, children often play who knocks down the most kites, which reaches higher and which stays in the air the longest.

Pin the tail on the donkey

It is a typical party game in which a drawing of a donkey with its tail missing is placed. Taking turns, the blindfolded participants will try to put the tail of the donkey in the most precise place possible, whoever has placed the tail closest to the correct place will win

Bagging race

Participants stand inside large cloth bags or sacks. The idea is to run a distance in the bags and whoever manages to cross the finish line first will win.

Jump rope

It is usually practiced by girls and consists of jumping a rope. The most common modality is in which a couple of girls hold the rope at each end and the others take turns jumping it.

This is how they play the postman, in which they recite different verses to animate the game and explain it. The girl who jumps the most times will win without getting tangled up in the jumps or in the count.

Matatena

It takes a rubber ball and a dozen metal or plastic crowns. The crowns are dropped and during each bounce of the ball, the crowns or jacks must be collected. In each cast you have to increase the number of pieces to be collected.

Lottery

Cards that have different drawings are distributed, as well as a handful of beans or stones to mark the figures.

One person will be responsible for singing the different pictures according to the deck they have, the others will have to mark whether or not they have the figure they have said. Whoever fills their card first will win.

Scab

It is also known as "la trais". One of the players will be responsible for chasing and touching the other teammates when they are separated from a place where they are safe. As soon as he manages to catch the first one, that will be the one who "brings it" and it will correspond to him to catch the rest.

Hit or beat

It is traditionally a men's game in which your strength will be measured. Seated face to face, with a table in between, they will hold hands, resting their elbows facing each other on the table. Whoever manages to bend the other's arm until it touches the table will win.

Human wheelbarrow race

It is played in pairs. One takes the partner by the legs who must run with his hands until he crosses the finish line. It is a very common game at fairs and outdoor parties.

Cops and robbers

Two teams are formed, one will be made up of police officers and the other made up of thieves. The policemen must choose a place to be the jail. There they must take all the thieves they catch.

The evildoers must flee or hide to avoid being captured. The policemen win if they manage to catch all the thieves, or the crooks if they managed to sneak away.

To the viper of the sea

Two children hold hands making a bridge and the participants will pass underneath, held by the waist and with a zigzag movement like snakes while everyone chants: “To the sea viper / this way they can pass / those up front they run a lot / those behind will stay… ”.

When the bridge decides, it lowers its arms and catches the player, who will choose which member of the bridge to stand behind. Also this game is usually done at weddings, where the bride and single ladies are the participants.

Statues

The participants form a circle and in the middle there will be a person. At the end of singing the chorus "To the ivory statues / one, two, three and so on," the children in the circle will take the form of a statue and freeze.

The child in the middle will choose the one he likes the most and he will change places, now standing in the center.

The wolf

One of the children will be the wolf and the others have to flee from him. The children sing a round asking the wolf where he is and he will answer by saying that he does various activities as he approaches the circle.

When he is very close he will have to chase his companions and the first one he catches will become a wolf.

St. Michael's Wheel

Boys and girls hold hands in a circle, sing and go around. As the couplet ends, the named boy must turn his back; It will be so until everyone has their back to the center.

The song that is sung is: "On the wheel, on the wheel / from San Miguel, San Miguel / everyone carries their box of honey / to the mature, to the mature / to turn (whore) to the donkey".

Themes of interest

15 Traditional Games of Ecuador for Children and Adolescents.

Traditional games of Guatemala.

Traditional games of Colombia.

References

1. "Learn all about the history of traditional games" in Learn the history. Retrieved April 23, 2019 at: sabelahistoria.com
2. García, A (December 2005) "Colima in the eyes of our children: games and toys, 1940-1980" at the University of Colima. Retrieved April 23, 2019 at the University of Colima: digeset.ucol.mx
3. GÜÉMEZ, M. (4 November 2014) «Chácara y kimbomba» in Sipse.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019 in Sipse.com: sipse.com
4. "Traditional Mexican games survive the onslaught of technology" (April 29, 2015) at Frontera.info. Retrieved April 23, 2019 at: frontera.info
5. "Traditional mexican games" in Don Quijote. Retrieved April 23, 2019 at: donquijote.org