These days, video games are typically a major form of entertainment for children. But long before these showed up in its various forms, there were equally fun indoor and outdoor games that kids played with gusto in school or with their neighbours at home.

Many adults today would have fond memories of playing some of these games when they were growing up – here are five ones borne out of pure creativity.

Hopscotch

Also known as “ketinting” or “teng-teng” in Malaysia, this game involves the player jumping from one square to another on one foot.

If you played this game, you no doubt remember drawing squares in the sand using any old stick, or a piece of chalk if drawing on concrete ground.

Before beginning the game, the player must select a marker – typically a small stone – which will be thrown onto the first square.

The player must hop over the first square, then hop across the entire length of the framework before returning to pick up the marker. This process is then repeated with the subsequent squares.

Here’s a fun fact: according to the Guinness World Records, the fastest game of hopscotch was completed by Ashrita Furman on Nov 9, 2010, in New York – a feat which he achieved in one minute 1.97 seconds.

He is also the record holder for playing the most hopscotch games in one hour (a total of 33), a record which he set on Dec 25, 2009.

Batu Seremban (five stones)

Batu Seremban, or five stones, is typically played using small pyramid-shaped pouches filled with sand, seeds, or rice grains. Alternatively, marbles or rubber seeds were used instead of these pouches.

This game involves the player throwing one of the “stones” into the air, scooping another stone from the floor before deftly catching the one that was previously thrown – all using one hand. The process is then repeated with the remaining stones.

The game has multiple levels, with each differing in the number of stones to throw and catch. There are also different variations as to how this game is played.

Typically played sitting on the floor in a circle with friends, this game – which requires concentration and a certain degreee of hand-eye coordination – always brings a fair share of laughter!

Lompat getah (a rope game)

This is a simple game involving two players holding the ends of a rope as other players attempt to jump over the said rope without touching it.

The catch? As the game progresses, the rope is held higher, and the higher it goes, the players are allowed to touch the rope with their foot as they attempt to scale it. The player who manages to clear the highest level is declared the winner.

Variations to this game include the player having to clear the rope as it swings above their heads and under their feet.

Some may remember playing this game before or after school, or even during recess. Part of its fun is the process of making the rope using rubber bands – especially if you are doing it with a group of friends.

Baling selipar (a game that involves the throwing of slippers)

This is another fun game that only requires – as its name denotes – slippers! Before the game begins, three slippers are used to construct a pyramid on the ground.

The players are divided into two groups – the attackers and defenders. For the players of the attacking group, the objective is to throw a flip-flop at the pyramid to dismantle it.

Once this has been achieved, the player who dismantled it must rebuild the pyramid – while staying clear of the defending team who will try every trick in the book to derail the effort!

Thumb wrestling

This game involves two players linking four fingers of their hands together and leaving the thumb exposed. Then, using only the thumb, players must get their opponent’s thumb under theirs for a set number of times.

It’s a simple game that can be played anywhere, so perhaps some of you may remember playing this during a particularly boring history class or during school assembly.