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# Virus
- URL: https://thepulse.org/en/virus/
- Published: 2026-09-17T09:23:39.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-29T06:51:04.000Z
- Description: The group follows a secret rule, and the guesser has to crack the “virus.”
- Author: Andy Fronius
- Tags: Games, #age-teens, #games-genre-puzzle, #games-genre-communication, #games-location-indoor, #games-material-none, #games-group-small, #games-group-medium, #games-group-large, #games-skill-logic, #games-skill-creativity, #games-skill-teamwork, #age-young-adults, #target-educators, #target-leaders, #context-youth-night, #context-school

🎲

****Group:** 6 to 25 · ****Where:** Indoors · ****Materials:** None · ****Skills:** logical thinking, creativity, teamwork

The players stand or sit in a circle. One player leaves the room while the rest of the group agrees on a “virus”: a secret rule that determines how everyone answers.

Example: everyone always answers for the player to their right.

Once the “virus” is set, the player waiting outside is called back in and tries to decode it with yes-or-no questions.

Example: “Are you wearing black shoes?” Or “Do you wear glasses?”

The person asked has to answer correctly according to the rule. If they slip up, say they claim to wear glasses when the virus says otherwise, the whole group shouts “Virus!” and everyone has to find a new seat. Then the questioning continues.

The guesser gets three chances to state a hypothesis about the virus. If they figure it out, they win. If not, the game is over, the virus is revealed and the guesser has lost.

💡

****Variation “Pattern”:** With an answering pattern, more complex viruses become possible, like switching between truth and lie based on certain signals. There are no limits to your creativity.  
  
**Examples: always answer for the person across from you. Whenever a certain player crosses their legs, answer for the person to the left.*  
  
****Tip:** set a time limit or drop hints if it takes too long.

🎁

This game is part of our collection [“The 50 Best Games for Youth Ministry”](https://thepulse.org/en/games/).