10 Best Rock Climbing Games

There are quite some rock climbing games you can play alone or with the company of other climbers.

As exhilarating and thrilling as rock climbing can be, the fiery thrills and exhilaration can sometimes be dosed out by the repetition and monotonous climbing pattern climbers something find themselves engaged.

Aside from this, when the bitter cold of winter sets in, the vast array of climbing locations beckoning on avid climbers losses its great appeal. With climbers restricted to climbing in the gym during such periods, the fiery passion that drove them to climb may soon dose out.

The repetition and monotonous patterns become a regular feature of their climbing routine.

In either instance, whether climbers feel weary due to monotonous climbing patterns or lack of exciting climbing terrains, climbing games have proven to be effective in flaring the passion of climbers.

Climbing Apex thus presents the 10 of the vast rock climbing games available.

Rock Climbing Games

Rock climbing games foster the spirit of healthy rivalry. The sort of rivalry between Adam Ondra and Chris Sharma also serves as good training sessions where climbers can try out the vast array of rock climbing techniques.

With just a couple of rock climbers needed, these games can be tried out in your local gym, and it’s bound to spark life in your climbing routine. In descending order, here are the best rock climbing games;

10. Forced Fall

Most climbers will take a pass on this game, but its an effective way of dealing with the fear of falling during climbing. Often held on a boulder problem with a dense crash pad, free from equipment around the climbing route, this game requires two climbers.

A belayer, usually an advanced climber, and the beginner climber, struggling with the fear of falling, are the two parties involved in the game.

Gameplay (2+ Players)

The beginner climber picks a climbing route. Often this route is one the climber is comfortable with lead climbing. Hence, the grade level of the route falls within the climber’s skillset.

The climber begins to ascend the route, with all gears well fitted. The climber ascends through all the clips, at any point when the belayer yells, “Fall,” the climber lets go.of the rope and fall.

Before letting go of the rope, the climber should make sure that no clips are close, to prevent injuries.

9. Boulder Tag

One of the most exciting rock climbing games, Boulder Tag, is usually fun for both this watching and this playing. It requires a minimum of two players and can rise as much as the climbing route permits.

However, it’s advisable not to allow enough space on the route. It is one-way climbers train their balance. This game, as the name implies, is held on a bouldering route.

Gameplay (2+ Players)

Climbers spread out on the bouldering route and begin to transverse (move horizontally towards each other). Climbers try as much to tag other climbers without falling off the route.

Tagged climbers are out of the game, while climbers who fall or push other climbers have to start from one end of the route.

8. Twisters

Twisters bear similarity to the popular board game for all climbers of various age and skill levels. As you rightfully guessed, the significant difference is that the action takes place on a vertical climbing route, often a boulder route, with different holds.

It’s best played with a group of climbers, with one spinner. The game is an excellent way of developing body positions. Climbers can make use of the Twister spinner app or the spinner from the Twister game.

Climbers can also write down on paper the various movements, such as left hand, right hand, left foot, right foot, and the color of holds. But the app makes it faster.

Game Play (2+ Players)

Climbers start from a different but similar section of the climbing route. The spinner calls out a color and a limb from the app or slip, and climbers find the color of holds and carry out the movement.

Players who can not carry out the called out movement or carry out the wrong move are eliminated. The last climber wins the game.

7. Stick-On

A fundamental aspect of climbing that this game centers on is communicating with your fellow climbers. This skill often needed in rock climbing has proven to be very useful when ascending rigorous outdoor terrains.

Aside from that, climbers also develop their strength. It’s also a great game used by climbing instructors when teaching climbers have to rapidly develop creative movements even if these movements are beyond their scope.

Game Play (2+ Players)

The first climber ascends the climbing route. Other players take turns to point out holds, using sticks or laser beams, for the climber to make his next move.

The climber has to make a move to the handle without falling off the wall. If the climber comes off the wall, the next climber ascends. Climbers can expect any movement to footholds.

6. Drag Race

Racing on a climbing route is often uncommon, but the drag race brings that unique reality to life. Racing on a bouldering problem or rock can help climbers improve climbing under tension and stability.

As small as two climbers can play this game, and as many climbers are willing to participate.

Game Play ( Limitless Players)

The route to be ascended has to be chosen. If a bouldering route is chosen, climbers will set the race time to about 15 minutes while rocks double to 30 minutes. During that time, climbers try to ascend as much route as possible.

Making use of auto belay is ideal in this case, as making use of a belayer in this case, can be exhausting to the belayer.

Climbers can also use themselves as a belayer, but in this format, climbers keep tabs on the number of routes ascended within the set time.

Aside from using the number of routes climbed in the appointed time, climbers can attach points to the routes’ difficulty ascended. Climbers who successfully ascend the routes with the most challenges emerge the victor.

5. Tape Game (Hot Lava)

One of the few rock climbing games which can be played by as small as a single climber, Tape Game challenges and builds a climber’s ability to adapt. It also helps builds a climber’s endurance and problem-solving ability.

Game Play (1+ Players)

A climber traverses a bouldering route, and upon successfully getting to the other end of the route. He picks out a necessary hold, which is marked by a colored tape as “lava.”

The next climber tries to traverse without making use of the taped hold. If the climber successfully makes it to the other end of the route without falling or touching the taped handle, the climber then marks out a hold, which is also taped.

The game continues that way until it’s impossible to complete the length of the route. The game can be played by climbing vertical, but traversing works best.

4. Lucky Draw

Another rock climbing game that requires as small as one player, this game centers on significant rock climbing techniques movements. Regular practice of these games can help climbers become skilled at a variety of rock climbing techniques.

It also allows climbers to pick out techniques which they can quickly try out.

Game Play (1+ Players)

Climbers write out ten rock climbing techniques of different kinds on slips of paper, e.g., Gaston, heel hook, right/left lock arm e.t.c. The slips are then placed in a bag, and four slips are pulled out randomly.

Climbers then create a movement pattern, using all four techniques. Climbers can try each other’s movement patterns to see how it fits.

With an endless combination of movement patterns, engaging in this game will reflect in no time on the climber’s skills.

3. Lemon / Lime

Endurance and forearm strength is the focus of this rock climbing game. Regular practice would help climbers remain on challenging routes for a considerable time.

Game Play (1+ Players)

Climbers pick a bouldering route within their skill level. The climber then moves one step from the start, and then one step back to the beginning. He then ascends two steps, before loving two steps to the start again.

He repeats the one step forward, two steps downward until he reached the suit (lemon). Lime is reverse to lemon’s movement.

The climber’s starts from the top of the route, following the Leon movement pattern, until he makes it to the beginning of the route.

Climbers have to start from the top and make it down to the start, before moving back to the top, before finally hopping off the route.

2. Eliminator

This game bears direct opposite to Add-On. Climbers who regularly get involved in this game build their problem-solving ability and develop their dead pointing technique.

Game Play (1+ Players)

A climber ascends the bouldering route up to the summit. Then the climber “eliminates” a hold. The next climber then ascends the route without making use of the “eliminated” handle.

The game continues in this pattern until it’s impossible to climb the route. One climber can play the game, but it’s fun to try out with other climbers.

1. Add-On

This is our number one recommended game on our rock climbing games for all rock climbers, Add-On teaches the very basics of rock climbing. Add-On is a great game that centers on teamwork.

Game Play (2+ Players)

One climber begins the climb by mounting on one hold and making another move to a second handhold. The next climber then makes the two moves by the first climber and adds the third hold.

The game continues as other climbers add holds. The game continues until the movements finish, or the climbers reach the summit. Any climber that falls or cannot complete the next move is eliminated and not allowed to add more holds.

Footholds can be included in other to raise the bar higher.