Loving Partner Games (LPGs) - Collection 1

Once in awhile, I'll come up with gaming ideas that I think are fun for couples to play with one another. They engender more bonding, fun and creativity in relationships.

Here are some LPG ideas that you can try with your spouse or romantic partner. Actually, you can play these games with good friends so it's up to you in terms who you want to play with.

Infinite Questions

This game is kind of like truth or dare but there's no dare. It's all truth. Each partner takes turn asking a question to the other. Any question can be asked but the other partner must answer questions honestly and directly. The game continues as long as both partners are willing to play. It's a fun game but it also can be challenging because of the honesty factor. This can has to be handled with maturity and open-mindedness. Both partners must keep in mind that the object of the game is to learn more about one another and become closer while having fun.

M.A.P. (Making a Pattern)

The object of this game is to throw out a list of 4-5 words. They should be verbs, adjectives, nouns, etc.

An example would be:

1. Faucet
2. Banana
3. Toilet
4. Pie
5. Travel

One partner has to string together a short story, statement or a pattern out of these words. You can use the words in any order or more than once in a statement but you have to use all words. You should be creative as possible. Here are a couple of examples for the word list above.

Statement:

During extensive travel I like to eat a creamy, fresh-baked banana pie while comfortably sitting on the toilet which is next to the leaky faucet.

Pattern:

Some faucets are arched like bananas. Bananas are used in toilets during fraternity hazings. Toilets are frequently used by contestants who travel to eat lots of pie during regional pie-eating contests.

A short story should be imaginative and very descriptive. Think of describing a plot.

Scenester

This is more of an activity than a game. No matter how shy, inexperienced or unfamiliar both partners are with acting, the point of this game is for both partners to act out scenes with one another. The best way to start is to purchase cheap but very resourceful scene books. Both partners should have copies of the same books. I have a few in my personal library. These are some of my recommendations:

    
• The Actor's Scenebook: Scenes and Monologues From Contemporary Plays
  by Michael Schulman and Eva Mekler

    
• Great Scenes and Monologues for Actors by Michael Schulman and Eva Mekler

    
• Play the Scene: The Ultimate Collection of Contemporary and Classic Scenes and Monologues by Michael Schulman and Eva Mekler

You'll notice, upon looking for scene books, that these two authors have a lot of books available for purchase. I find that they have some of the best and diverse collections of short scenes, dialogs and monologues.

Both partners can try memorizing some of the lines, reading directly from the scene books to one another and even experimenting with costumes and props to make the activity more enriching. Again leave all shyness behind. This activity should get partners to enjoy each other's company more and decrease their inhibition with one another to develop stronger intimacy levels.

The Dice Say

This is like spin the bottle but different. A couple should have several pairs of dice handy. Any style. Any size. In fact, the more styles, the better. As a person who is fascinated with dice, I love to collect as many designs as I can. Having a variety of styles makes the game more interesting and associative.

Once you have some pairs of dice on hand, you will assign different acts or gestures to each symbol, letter or number on the die pieces. For example, if you have a classic pair of white dice with black dots that represent numbers you can assign a sexy gesture or act to each value:

2 = Kiss my lips
3 = Massage my back
4 = Take off an article of clothing
5 = Take a sip of wine/beer/other drink
6 = Say something sexy about me
7 = Describe a sexual fantasy
8 = Plant a trail of kisses on my stomach
9 = Massage my temples
10 = Provocatively dance for me
11 = "other sexy act"
12 = ' '

The game is played by each partner taking a turn rolling the dice or tiles. Whatever "the dice say", the other partner must do. After that, the other partner takes his/her turn rolling the dice to follow command.

The couple can assign any act or gesture to the symbols, letters or numbers on the dice before the game starts. The acts and gestures can be sexual, casual, playful, whatever. The couple should use a small notebook to keep the list of associations handy at first until they are memorized further into the game. You can also use Mah Jongg tiles and other items that act somewhat like dice.

Here are some link references for dice and mah-jongg/mahjong tiles:

    
• Chessex

    
• Exclusively Mah Jongg

You can buy them in stores (on-line or off)  that sell game sets or game pieces.

Loving Chefs

This is another activity rather than a game. The objective of this activity is for both partners to come up with a culinary recipe together. Pastries, meals, other desserts or even just beverages and snacks.

Whatever it is, It should be unique, tasty and mutually desired with a creative name. The couple must think of the idea, research, shop for the items and make and cook the recipe together from start to end even if one or both partners cannot cook. After the recipe is cooked, they must prepare their dining area together with candles, accompanying drinks, eating ware or whatever else they feel would make the dining experience rewarding.

The couple should also save any recipes that they make together in a notebook called The Book of Eats & Drinks or whatever else they wish to call the collection of recipes. A recipe can be cooked again in this activity from out of the book. The couple can improve the recipe, try a different version of it or simply have it again. However the goal should be to come up with new recipes for the most part.

These are just a few of the game/activities I came up with for couples to try together. I will continue to post more games/activities on my blog in the Hallway of Innovations category. Keep a lookout for future ideas...

I'd also like to hear any ideas that you have for partner games/activities.