The Pants Game: Arguably the Greatest Game Ever Invented

The Pants Game is one of the easiest and funniest word games ever invented. The rules to The Pants Game are so simple that any kindergartener will understand them within a minute, or two minutes at the most. Yet, the enduring appeal of The Pants Game with people of all ages shows that there is more to this great word game than child's play. The Pants Game is one of the most widely playable games in history, because it does not require a set amount of time or a specific number of players. It can be played in any location at any time of day or night, and you do not need any special equipment. It is a great travel game, as it works as well in the backseat of a car as it does at home, and it is an ideal way to fill the time when you are waiting in line or have a few minutes to waste in any situation.

Because there is no way to score points or to win The Pants Game, it could perhaps be better described as a method for telling a joke that never ends. In a good round of The Pants Game, the joke stays funny for up to ten or fifteen minutes, an in an exceptional round, the joke is funnier for even longer. Any number of people can get into the act. Commonly, it is said that a great round of the game requires at least two players, and in most cases this is true, but silent solo rounds of the game have been known to occur with hilarious consequences.

The Pants Game is very simple to play. All that you do is replace certain words in well known names, titles, or phrases with the word "Pants." For example, the movie "The Wizard of Oz" becomes "The Wizard of Pants." The classic Walt Disney cartoon "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" becomes "Snow Pants and the Seven Dwarves," or the more nonsensical and potentially more hilarious "Snow White and the Pants Dwarves." In this manner, the most mundane books, movies, and television shows become outrageously nonsensical, and the imaginations of the players run wild as they contemplate what the plots of these ridiculous works of art could possible prove to be like.

This may not sound like much of a pastime, but aficionados of the hobby well know that there is a lot more to the fine art of The Pants Game than just blindly swapping syllables. The key to playing a great round of The Pants Game is listening to each other and trying to top your fellow players' jokes in a gentle, good-natured kind of one-upmanship. For example, the one two combination of "The Lord Of The Rings" becomes "The Lord Of The Pants" followed by "The Lord Of The Dance" becomes "The Pants Of The Dance" is far funnier than either of those jokes would be separately.

Although a round of The Pants Game should be slightly competitive as everybody races to outdo each other and get the biggest laugh, try to stay generous towards your fellow players throughout the game. By its nature, The Pants Game encourages a lot of truly terrible jokes and puns, so you have to be willing to accept that bad jokes will be made, probably by both your friends and yourself, so don't be too harsh on each other. Remember that the game is as much about listening to and enjoying other people's jokes as it is about making your own, and you will be well on your way to making The Pants Game a regular part of your parties and gatherings.