Wall Tag, Hold Roulette, and Other Climbing Games You’ve Never Tried (But Should)

Wall Tag, Hold Roulette, and Other Climbing Games You’ve Never Tried (But Should)

Introduction

There’s more to your home climbing wall than training drills and session circuits. If you’re looking to break out of a rut—or just bring more joy to your wall—these lesser-known, offbeat, and downright fun climbing games are guaranteed to get you laughing, sweating, and leveling up without even realizing it.

From partner games to solo challenges, here’s a lineup of creative climbing games you probably haven’t tried... but absolutely should.


1. Wall Tag (Yes, It’s What It Sounds Like) 🏃♂️

How it works:

  • Two climbers start on opposite ends of the wall.

  • One is “it” and tries to tag the other without touching the floor.

  • No contact with the ground, and no crossing paths!

Why it’s awesome:

  • Insanely fun and fast-paced.

  • Great for footwork, route reading, and strategy.

Play it safely: Make sure to have lots of padding and set clear rules for tagging.


2. Hold Roulette 🎲

How it works:

  • Use a spinner, dice, or app to randomly select hold types or wall zones.

  • Examples:

    • "Only slopers"

    • "Right side of wall only"

    • "3 random holds + dyno required"

Why it works:

  • Builds adaptability and grip strength variety.

  • Keeps solo sessions from feeling repetitive.

🔗 Need more hold options to pull this off? Explore our climbing hold packages designed to mix things up.


3. King (or Queen) of the Wall 👑

How it works:

  • Players take turns setting short problems (4–5 moves max).

  • Everyone tries the problem—if you flash it, you earn points.

  • Rotate the setter each round.

Why it works:

  • Encourages creativity and friendly competition.

  • Builds route-setting skills alongside movement.


4. Shadow Climb 🕶️

How it works:

  • One climber moves up the wall at a steady pace.

  • A second climber follows behind, mirroring their every move exactly.

  • If you lose sync, reset and try again.

Why it works:

  • Amazing for improving movement fluidity and focus.

  • Great warm-up for group sessions.


5. “One and Done” 🔁

How it works:

  • You only get one attempt on each new route.

  • Whether you fall or flash, you must move on to a different climb.

Why it works:

  • Builds focus, commitment, and mental game.

  • Simulates the pressure of outdoor onsight attempts.


6. Build-A-Problem Challenge 🧱

How it works:

  • Start with a blank section of wall.

  • Roll dice or draw cards to choose hold types, move count, or direction.

  • Set a problem using whatever comes up—and then try to send it.

Why it works:

  • Trains your route-setting skills.

  • Adds structure to wall resets and keeps things playful.

🔗 Use our modular wall design instructions to rearrange your wall layout for endless problem-building.


7. Climb & Freeze ❄️

How it works:

  • Climb with music playing in the background.

  • When the music stops (someone else hits pause randomly), freeze in your exact position.

  • Hold it for 5 seconds—then keep climbing.

Why it works:

  • Great for building static strength and mental control.

  • Hilarious and engaging, especially for families or groups.


8. The Impossible Beta Game 🤯

How it works:

  • Set a route using the weirdest, most awkward beta possible.

  • Make it do-able—but not obvious.

  • Bonus points if your partner figures out a better way!

Why it works:

  • Encourages creative problem-solving and humor.

  • Gets you thinking outside the box (and body).


Conclusion

Climbing isn’t just about progress—it’s about play. These under-the-radar games make every session more engaging and dynamic, whether you’re training alone, with a partner, or with your family.

Give your wall a boost of variety with new climbing hold packages and expand your creative space using our modular wall design instructions. Get weird, get playful, and keep the stoke high!

Back to blog