Eight hand games, and how to play them
Rock paper scissors is only the beginning. Japan and Korea grew up with a whole family of hand games built on it: stair races, pointing duels, chases and two-handed bluffs. Here are the rules of every game on Janken, with a free online game against real players or bots one click away.
- JankenRock paper scissors the Japanese way: guu, choki, paa.Rules →
- GlicoWin a round, climb the stairs: rock 3 steps, scissors or paper 6.Rules →
- Acchi muite hoiWin janken, then point: score if they look the way you point.Rules →
- MukjjippaThe winner attacks and keeps throwing; matching hands score.Rules →
- Hana-ppaegiShow two hands, see theirs, then take one away.Rules →
- Mushi-kenJanken's ancestor: frog beats slug, snake beats frog, slug beats snake.Rules →
- Kitsune-kenThe fox tricks the village head, who outranks the hunter, who shoots the fox.Rules →
- Rock Paper Scissors Lizard SpockFive hands, fewer ties: each beats two and loses to two.Rules →