How to Play a Funny Left Right Story Game Everyone Will Love
Whipping out a round of the left-right story game for you next party or game night is probably the best thing to explode your street cred as an awesome party host.
Low-prep and easy to play? Check. Reasonably priced? Check. Check.
Fun and absolutely perfect for large groups made up of adults, kids and everyone in between? Uhhhh, triple diple check.
Bonus? The left right story game can be played at ANY occasion (cue gasps of delight). Let’s get started!
How to Play a Funny Left Right Story Game for Any Occasion
Okay, so I played the left-right story game at a Christmas party with co-workers a few years ago – after all of our 5th graders were dismissed for Winter Break.
It. Was. A. Blast.
But, don’t think you have to wait for Christmas or a special holiday to play. Nuh-uh.
You can play a funny left right story game for ANY OCCASION. Birthdays, game nights. Whenever you have a large enough group of people.
Now, let’s get you squared away with…
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Get instant access to two, FREE low-prep laugh-out-loud Left Right story games—The Cookie Caper and Supermarket Showdown. They’re crowd-pleasers you can whip out whenever the vibe needs a lift. No complicated rules. Read the story, pass the gift, and have ridiculous fun.
What You Need to Play the Left Right Story Game
The whole purpose of the left right story game is to have a great time passing and swapping gifts back and forth while a story is read – preferably a funny left right story.
In my humble opinion, the funny left right stories are the BEST ones. But, the left right story game can be played with ANY topic.
And good news is that it doesn’t take a lot of prep to get the game going. Here’s your no-nonsense setup:
- Choose your gifts: One big prize is fine, or a bunch of small ones, or hey, snag that hideous mug from last year’s Secret Santa. I like to keep a basket of fun, cheap dollar store gifts for spontaneous play.
- Snag your players: Ideally you’ll want 6 to 20 people, but bigger is totally doable.
- Seating: Everyone needs to be plopped into a circle…or a horseshoe. The closer, the better to avoid dropping gifts.
- Pick a story: Find a printable left right story (like the ones in the freebie I have below) or you can write your own if you have time (I sometimes prefer the homemade disasters, lol)
- Assign a reader: Nominate someone with a Morgan Freeman voice or at least a reader who doesn’t mind hamming it up in front of a crowd (seriously, though the reader can MAKE or BREAK the fun – choose carefully)
- Hand out gifts: Depending on what version you’re playing, every player should start with one gift OR just randomly hand out the few gifts you have to a few people (those gifts won’t be staying put for long once the game starts, trust me on that one)
To cut costs, you can always have each guest bring a small prize for the game. Like dollar store small. Everyone is walking away with something anyway, right? And then you don’t have to foot the entire bill.
How to Play the Left Right Story Game
The reader starts the story.
Everyone else listens for the words “LEFT” or “RIGHT”.
When they hear the words, everyone takes the gift that they have and passes it in that particular direction. It’s hilarious confusion.
Now, the reader sets the pace of the game and the story (BIG RESPONSIBILITY).
Reading a left right story at a faster pace means that people are going to do one (or more) of the following:
- Pass their gift the wrong way (extra funny when multiple people do it at the same time)
- Drop their gift (which is why I say breakable gifts are a big no-no when playing this game)
- Ask the reader to repeat what was said (Ummm…nope, the reader repeats nothing, lol)
I recommend that the reader switch up the pace during different parts of the story. Unpredictable = fun in this case.
The game is over when the story stops. Whatever you’re holding, you keep.
No do-overs.
Dum. Dum. Duuuuuuuum.
If your group loves speed, check out my posts about relay games for large groups or 50 minute to win it games for large groups or 11 Budget Friendly Party Games for Large Groups for some high-energy, high speed inspiration. Relay races are perfect for keeping the crowd moving.
Left Right Story Game Tips to Beef Up the Fun for Any Group
In my game playing experience (and I’ve had LOTS), there’s usually plenty of different ways to play games. Just to keep the experience spicy.
And it’s the same with the left right story game.
Here’s a few tips to help you squeeze out a bit more fun when you’re playing with your family and friends:
- Get your players moving: Add in a few surprises in the story where players have to swap seats 2 or 3 times throughout the game. I’ve never played it like this before, but I can see it being super fun. That extra unpredictablity is always a win – for most games, anyway.
- Theme it up. Here’s an example for Halloween. Instead of the prime time words being “LEFT” or “RIGHT”, the words are “BOO” (left) and “WITCH” (right). Now, this option can get confusing, so only choose it for the right group of people.
- Timed gift switch. You can set a timer (or cell phone) for 1 to 2 minute intervals. The reader starts reading the left right story and when the timer rings, the reader stops reading. And EVERYONE has to pass the gift they’re holding 3 time to the left or twice to the right. Or whatever.
My personal favorite is to get the players up and moving – especially if you’re playing with a younger, high energy group.
If you’re playing with older people who can’t move around that easily, stick with the classic version OR give the timed gift switch a try.
Left Right Story Game vs Left Right Across Story Game
Side note: Have you ever heard about the “Across” version of this game?
It’s actually quite a bit crazier than the classic version.
As long as it’s played with the right group of people, it still has lots of fun potential.
If you’re viewing this on a mobile device, put your finger on the table below and swipe to the left (or right) to see the full table.
| Feature | Left Right Story Game | Left Right Across Game |
| Main Action | Pass left or right when the word is read | Pass left, right, or across when the word is read |
| Group Size | 6 to 20+ players works great | Better for smaller groups of 8 to 10, cuz that “across” will have you MESSED up |
| Chaos Factor | High (but not too bad ) | Absolutely insane, so watch out (it’s those ACROSS calls that’ll confuse people |
| Best For | Anything: holidays, birthdays, any game night | Anything: But, younger, sharper players will probably do better with this version |
How to Play the Left Right Story Game When Your Groups Are Huge
Let’s just say that your party size has doubled or triped. Or maybe you want to play this game as part of a youth group party or a church event.
No problem.
You can play a left-right story game with 20+ people.
It can be done, but you need to be careful.
Typically, bigger groups mean that people are more likely to get confused or forgotten while playing the game. That can really mess up the vibe of the occasion.
Here’s what I think you need to do to prevent the game to plummeting into abject chaos and despair:
- Separate players into smaller circles: Split everyone into circles of 10 to 12 people. And then have a “winner’s round” at the end. Or do rock, paper, scissors…you know whatever works.
- Rock it out Tournament Style: You can play several round between people as a bracket challenge. Winner take all.
- Go Freakin’ Big (my personal favorite): If you want EVERYONE playing, then have a megaphone handy and slow the pace way, way down. Just make sure you have a space big enough to hold everyone.
That way no one gets left out. And the fun meter still stays high.
Some people like to wrap their gifts for the left right story game. Me? I prefer unwrapped gifts, so everyone can try to guess who’s gonna get what. Definitely ups the pressure, the suspense, and the fun. Highly recommended!
Final Thoughts About the Left Right Story Game
You really can’t go wrong choosing to play this game.
Keep it simple or mix it up with fun challenges or a megaphone or whatever. There’s no wrong way to play.
You’re sure to have a fantastic time.
I know I have every time I’ve played.
Give it a shot.
And snag my freebie to give yourself a head start.
I promise you’ll LOVE it!