10 Playground Games from the ’80s Kids Don’t Play Anymore
Playground games from the ’80s were active, creative, and sometimes rough, but many of them have disappeared from today’s schoolyards.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
In the 1980s, kids played physical, social games that often needed no equipment — just space, energy, and imagination. These games were passed down from older kids, learned outside, and changed slightly from one neighborhood to another. Today, many of them have faded due to safety concerns, changing technology, and different childhood routines.
1. Red Rover
Kyra Malicse on Wikimedia Commons
Red Rover involved two lines of kids holding hands and calling someone from the other team to run and try to break through. If the runner broke the line, they got to take someone back to their team. If they didn’t, they had to stay on the opposite side. The game was fun but could get rough, which led many schools to ban it.
2. Four Square
Seaneffel on Wikimedia Commons
Four Square was played with a rubber ball and four connected squares drawn on the ground. Each player stayed in their square and bounced the ball into someone else’s square, trying to mess up the other players. Rules varied from place to place, with special moves and tricks often added. The game relied on quick reflexes and got competitive fast.
3. Tetherball
Bogdan on Wikimedia Commons
Tetherball was played with a ball attached to a rope on a tall pole. Two players hit the ball in opposite directions, trying to wind the rope all the way around the pole. The other player tried to stop it and send it the other way. It required timing, coordination, and a bit of luck with how the ball spun.
4. Kickball
Tulane Public Relations on Wikimedia Commons
Kickball looked like baseball but used a large rubber ball instead of a baseball. Players kicked the ball and ran bases while the other team tried to get them out by tagging or catching. It was a favorite for recess because it worked with big groups and needed little equipment. Many kids played it even if they weren’t into sports.
5. Freeze Tag
EJ Fox on Wikimedia Commons
In Freeze Tag, one person was “it” and tried to tag the other players. If you got tagged, you had to freeze in place. You could only move again if someone else untagged you. The game kept everyone moving and required teamwork to stay in.
6. Dodgeball
Jeffness on Wikimedia Commons
Dodgeball involved two teams throwing soft rubber balls at each other while trying to avoid getting hit. If you got hit, you were out. Some versions let you back in if your team caught a ball. Because of injuries and complaints, some schools banned it from playgrounds completely.
7. Hopscotch
Kenneth Allen on Wikimedia Commons
Hopscotch used a pattern of numbered squares drawn in chalk on the ground. Players tossed a small object into a square and hopped through the course on one foot, skipping the square with the object. It was simple, quiet, and could be played alone or with others. It also helped kids practice balance and coordination.
8. Wall Ball
B. on Wikimedia Commons
Wall Ball used a rubber ball thrown against a wall. Players took turns catching or hitting the ball before it bounced twice. If you dropped it or missed, you had to run and touch the wall before someone else hit it with the ball. It was fast-paced and sometimes led to scraped hands or knees.
9. Marbles
JITENDRA ready on Wikimedia Commons
Kids played marbles by drawing a circle and trying to knock each other’s marbles out using a larger “shooter.” There were rules about which ones you could keep or had to give back. Some kids collected marbles with special colors or designs. Over time, the game faded as fewer kids knew how to play it.
10. Monkey Bars Challenges
Ntsctalk on Wikimedia Commons
Kids in the ’80s didn’t just climb the monkey bars — they made games out of them. They raced across, hung upside down, or played “lava floor” under them. There were no safety mats, and falling was common. Today’s playgrounds are more cautious, and fewer kids spend time trying tricks on the bars.