12 Games Like Bingo (Free, Fun and Easy to Play)
The best games like bingo are lotería, picture lotto, tic-tac-toe, four in a row, dice bingo, scavenger hunt bingo, human bingo and the license plate game. They all share bingo's best parts: a grid or a list, a little luck, a "find it and mark it" moment and a race to finish a line. Every one on this page is free to play with paper, a pencil or a printable card, and none of them involve money.
Three of these bingo-style games you can make right now with our generator. The first button makes picture lotto cards. The buttons under it make a word hunt and a number cover-up game.
12 games similar to bingo
Here's a quick look at each game, who it suits and what you need. They're sorted from "most like bingo" to "a fun cousin."
| Game | How it's like bingo | Best for | You need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotería | Picture boards, a caller, beans as markers | Families, ages 5 and up | Lotería boards and cards |
| Picture lotto | Match called pictures to your board | Preschool and K-1 | Picture cards |
| Number cover-up | Cover numbers as they're called or rolled | Early math practice | Number cards, dice |
| Word hunt bingo | Find real objects to mark squares | Rainy days, classrooms | A word card, a pencil |
| Dice bingo | Roll dice, mark the sum | Math centers, families | Two dice, cards |
| Human bingo | Find people who match each square | Icebreakers, new groups | A "find someone who" card |
| License plate game | Spot plates and check them off | Road trips | A checklist |
| Scavenger hunt bingo | Spot things outdoors in a grid | Walks, camps, field trips | A nature card |
| Tic-tac-toe | Three in a row on a 3x3 grid | Two players, any age | Paper and a pencil |
| Four in a row | Line up four before your opponent | Two players, ages 6 and up | A grid on paper |
| Memory match | Find pairs of pictures | Little kids, quiet time | Matching picture cards |
| The beetle drawing game | Roll dice to "fill in" a picture | Parties, ages 5 and up | A die, paper, pencils |
Lotería: the closest game to bingo
Lotería is a traditional Mexican picture game, and it's the one most people mean when they ask for a game similar to bingo. Each player gets a board, called a tabla, with a 4x4 grid of colorful pictures. A caller draws from a deck of 54 picture cards, like el sol (the sun), la luna (the moon), el gallo (the rooster) and el corazón (the heart). Instead of just saying the name, the caller often reads a short rhyme or riddle, and players guess the picture before marking it with a dried bean.
It's a wonderful family game for mixed ages, and a great way to practice Spanish vocabulary. If your class is learning Spanish, our Spanish vocabulary bingo works the same way with words you choose.
Picture lotto (great for little kids)
Picture lotto is the simplest bingo-style game there is. Each child has a board of pictures. You hold up or call out a picture, and whoever has it covers it. First to fill the board, or a line, wins. Kids don't need to read at all, which makes it perfect for preschool.
The first button above makes picture lotto cards with simple emoji pictures like a cat, an apple, a ball and a star. They print on a 4x4 grid with no free space. Want to go further? Emoji bingo has more picture sets.
Number cover-up
This one is bingo's math-practice cousin. Each player gets a card with the numbers 1 to 25 in a mixed-up order. Call a number, or roll dice and call the total, and players cover it. For younger kids, hold up a number card and let them match the shape of the number. For older kids, call a math fact like "4 times 5" and have them cover the answer.
The third button above makes these cards. If you'd rather use the classic 75-ball layout, our number bingo 1 to 75 page has those. And dice bingo is the version where players roll two dice and cover the sum.
Word hunt bingo
Word hunt bingo gets kids up and moving. Each card has things to find around the house or classroom, like "something red," "a spoon," "a book with a dog on the cover" or "something soft." Kids walk around, find each one and mark it. First to finish a line calls "Bingo!"
The second button makes word hunt cards with 30 everyday things to find. It's a great rainy-day or snow-day game, and you can play it with a whole class by giving each table a card.
Party and group games like bingo
Human bingo
Every square says something like "has a pet" or "was born in another state." Players mingle and find someone who matches each square, then write their name in it. It's the classic icebreaker for new classes, teams and family reunions. Our human bingo icebreaker guide has ready-made squares.
Scavenger hunt bingo
Take bingo outside. Each square is something to spot: a pinecone, a bird, a red car, a puddle. It works on walks, camping trips and field trips. Nature bingo has a full list.
The license plate game
On long drives, players try to spot plates from as many states as possible. Make it bingo-style by putting states on a grid. Our license plate bingo turns it into printable cards for the whole car.
Two-player games similar to bingo
Tic-tac-toe
Tic-tac-toe is basically bingo with a 3x3 card and a strategy twist. Players take turns marking X or O, and the first to get three in a row wins. Kids can play it anywhere with a pencil and a napkin.
Four in a row
Draw a grid seven squares wide and six tall. Players take turns "dropping" their mark into a column, where it lands on the lowest empty square. First to line up four, across, down or diagonally, wins. It's a great step up from tic-tac-toe.
Memory match
Lay picture cards face down. Flip two at a time to find pairs. It shares bingo's picture-matching fun and is wonderful for quiet time with little kids.
The beetle drawing game
Each number on a die stands for a part of a beetle: a 6 for the body, a 5 for the head, and so on. Players take turns rolling and drawing the part they rolled. The first person to finish a whole beetle wins. Like bingo, it's all luck and a lot of giggles.
How to pick the right game
- Non-readers: picture lotto, memory match, lotería.
- Math practice: number cover-up, dice bingo, math bingo.
- Getting people talking: human bingo.
- Getting kids moving: word hunt bingo, scavenger hunt bingo.
- Car rides: the license plate game, road trip bingo.
- Two players: tic-tac-toe, four in a row.
Still love the original? Our types of bingo page covers twists on the classic game, from blackout to four corners.
Common mistakes
- Picking a game that's too hard for the youngest player. If a 4-year-old is playing, start with pictures.
- Cards that are all the same. In any bingo-style game, identical cards mean everyone wins at once. The generator makes every card different.
- Prizes that steal the show. Stickers, first pick of snacks or choosing the next game are plenty. Keep it about the fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What game is most similar to bingo?
Lotería, a traditional Mexican picture game. Players have 4x4 picture boards, a caller draws picture cards (often reading a rhyme or riddle), and players mark matches with dried beans until someone completes the board or a line.
What are some games similar to bingo for kids?
Picture lotto, memory match, number cover-up, word hunt bingo, scavenger hunt bingo and tic-tac-toe are all great for kids. Picture games work even for children who can't read yet.
What is a bingo-style game for math?
Number cover-up and dice bingo. Players cover numbers that are called, rolled or given as math facts, like '4 times 5,' so they practice while they play.
What games are like bingo for a group or party?
Human bingo is the classic icebreaker: players find people who match each square. Scavenger hunt bingo and the license plate game also work well for groups.
Is tic-tac-toe like bingo?
Yes, in a way. Both are about getting a line on a grid. Tic-tac-toe is a 3x3 grid for two players taking turns, so it adds strategy instead of luck.
Can I make my own bingo-style game?
Yes. Use a free bingo card generator with your own words, pictures or numbers. It makes every card different, so everyone has a fair chance.
