13 Paper Games Like Mash that you Can Play with Kids! [2024]

Finding the other paper games like Mash? This article will show you the 12 best games like Mash which you can play with your friends or family for hours, and you'll not even feel bored. 

Mash is a two-player paper and pencil game that starts with the player writing out Mash at the top of the paper.

It is an amazing game that provides enjoyable gameplay to engage the player deep into the brilliant game world. 

One of the best things about games like Mash is that you only have a simple piece of paper and pencil and two or more friends to play with you.

Check out these 13 fun paper games like Mash, which you can play with your kids:

Word Finder

Word Finder is a type of game where one player has to write six random letters on top of a paper and set a timer. 

The player who creates the most words out of those six letters will be the winner! Remember that it is important to include at least one vowel.

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Race Track

Race Track is another paper and pencil game that two or more players play. It comprises a car race with a pencil line tracking each car's movement—the rules for moving to represent a car with specific inertia and physical limits on traction. 

Also, the game needs to slow down before bends in the track to avoid crashing and planning for successful play.

Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic-Tac-Toe or Xs and OS or noughts and crosses is a paper and pencil game for two players (X and O). 

It is from one of the best games like Mash. The person who succeeds in placing three of their marks in a horizontal, diagonal, or vertical row will be the winner.

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PANTS

PANTS stands for Place, Animal, Name, Things, and Score. It is a multiplayer game where all are given a random letter of the alphabet, and all players are supposed to find words (place, animal, name and think) for that letter. 

This is one of the best paper and pencil games you can play with your friends or family.

Bulls and Cows

Bulls and Cows is one of the oldest code-breaking mind or paper and pencil games for more than two players. 

One player (the chooser) is supposed to think of a four-letter word, and the other player (the guesser) tries to guess the world. The guess has to guess the answer in the least number of turns.

Dots and Boxes

Dots and Boxes is one of the best games like Mash which is a game of two. 

The game starts with a blank grid of dots, and the two players have to try adding a single vertical or horizontal line between two unjointed adjacent dots. It is also a game of dots, boxes, dot to dot grid, and pigs in a pen.

Sprouts

Sprouts can be played easily by both children and adults. Its setup is much simpler than the Dots and Boxes game. Two players start the game with a few spots drawn on paper. 

Then they take chances where each turn comprises of drawing a line between two spots and adding a new spot anywhere along the line.

Hangman

Hangman is a two or more players' paper and pencil guessing game. It is from one of the best games like Mash. 

In this game, one player thinks of a phrase, word, or sentence, and the other player attempts to guess it by telling letters within a certain number of guesses.

Telephone

Telephone or Chinese Whispers is a popular international children's game. Players are supposed to form a circle or line, and the first player comes up with a message and whispers it to the ear of the second player, and so on. 

The last player declares the message they heard to the whole group. This game often appealed as a metaphor for collective error such as gossip or rumours spread.

Battleships

Battleships or Sea Battle is a tactic-type guessing game for two players. It is played on a ruled grid paper on which each player's fleet of ships is marked. 

The positions of the fleets are hidden from the other players. The main aim of the game is to terminate the opposing player's fleet.

Flames

Flames is one of the games that you might've played in your childhood to find the compatibility between you and your crush. 

It is an acronym for Friends, Lovers, Affectionate, Marriage, and Enemies. Remember that it doesn't really evaluate whether an induvial is right for you, but it can be a fun game to play with your friends.

Pictionary

Pictionary is one of the best games like Mash out there. It is a charade-inspired word guessing game. This is usually played in teams with players who try to recognize exact words from their teammates.

Cootie-Catcher/ Paper fortune teller

Cootie-Catcher or fortune teller is a type of origami used in children's games. Parts of it are labeled with numbers or colors that aids as choices for a player to select from, and on the inside are eight covers, each covering a message.

Final words: These games might be great if you are bored when on a trip with your friends. I hope you have selected the best game from the above article on the 13 best games like Mash.