Play Like We Used To: Rediscovering Indonesia’s Forgotten Childhood Games

Surrounded by screens and digital noise, we often overlook the magic of childhoods shaped by nothing more than open skies and a handful of friends. In Indonesia, generations grew up with afternoons spent dashing barefoot across fields, leaping through chalk-drawn mazes, counting shells in the dust, or holding their breath behind a tree as their heart pounded with excitement.

On your next family holiday to Bali, why not revive a bit of that childhood wonder? Whether you’re travelling with the little ones or simply chasing memories, these seven traditional Indonesian games invite you to reconnect, share laughter, and rediscover the joy of play.

1. Petak Umpet

Indonesia’s classic hide and seek

Simple yet thrilling, Petak Umpet begins with one player covering their eyes and counting while the others hide. Once the seeker finishes counting, they begin the hunt. The first person found takes over the role in the next round.

Why it matters: It’s not just about hiding — it’s about the anticipation of being found, and the joy of being seen.

How to play: Choose a base (a tree or wall works well). The seeker closes their eyes and counts to 10 or 20, while others hide. Once found, players can still try to “save” themselves by racing to touch the base first.

2. Petak Jongkok

Freeze tag with a twist

Petak Jongkok is a more active version of tag. When someone is caught, they must squat and stay frozen. Another player can rescue them by tapping their shoulder. It’s a game of teamwork, speed, and strategy.

Why it matters: It teaches children the value of helping others, not just winning.

How to play: One person is ‘it’. When they tag someone, that person must squat and freeze. They can only move again if a teammate taps them to free them. The round ends when everyone is caught.

3. Gobak Sodor

Defence, offence, and quick feet

Played in two teams, Gobak Sodor involves players trying to cross a series of horizontal lines while the opposing team blocks them. The defending team stands on these lines and moves sideways to tag challengers.

Why it matters: The game teaches agility, timing, and how to move as a team.

How to play: Mark a field with several lines using chalk or sticks. Players from one team try to move from one end to the other without being tagged. The other team defends each line and tries to stop them.

4. Congklak

Counting, planning, and quiet focus

Also known as Dakon or Mancala in other regions, Congklak utilises a wooden board featuring two rows of small pits and two larger 'home' pits at each end. Players scoop and drop shells or seeds one by one, trying to collect the most.

Why it matters: It’s a calming game that sharpens memory, planning, and arithmetic.

How to play: Players take turns picking up all seeds from one pit and dropping them in sequence, one per pit. The goal is to collect the most in your ‘home’ pit. A full round usually ends in quiet focus and a bit of friendly rivalry.

Try it: Congklak boards are often beautifully carved and make a lovely travel keepsake. You can also find them in play areas like Mulia Kidz.

5. Dam Daman

Hopscotch, with an Indonesian touch

Dam Daman is played on a hopscotch grid drawn on the ground, made from squares or triangles. Players toss a marker, usually a stone or coin, into a box, then hop through the path on one leg, skipping the square where the marker landed.

Why it matters: Precision, balance, and grace meet childlike joy.

How to play: Draw a grid, number each square, and start tossing. If your marker lands cleanly, you hop through without stepping outside the lines. If you complete the whole course, you win the right to ‘claim’ a square with your name or symbol.

6. Ular Naga

Following the rhythm of the unknown

Children line up behind each other to form a 'dragon,' moving in a circle under an arch made by two players. As they sing a traditional song, the arch suddenly lowers at the end and traps whoever is caught.

Why it matters: It’s about trust, rhythm, and the surprise of what comes next.

How to play: Two players form an arch with their hands. The rest, in a chain, pass under while singing. When the song ends, the arch drops and catches one player, who must then choose a side to join. The game continues until everyone is divided into two teams, at which point a tug-of-war or mini-contest follows.

7. Bentengan

Tag meets capture the flag

Bentengan turns the playground into a battlefield of wits and speed. Each team stakes out a base, perhaps a sturdy tree or a sun-warmed wall. The thrill lies in darting past opponents to tag their base, then racing home before a rival’s hand finds you. Make it back untouched, and victory is yours.

Why it matters: The game blends strategy, speed, and a sense of territory, all while giving an adrenaline rush.

How to play: Divide into two teams. Each team has a base. Players try to run to the other team’s base, tag it, and return safely. But beware — if you’re tagged before reaching home, you're out.

Relive, Reconnect, Remember

These are more than games; they are living stories, woven with lessons of courage, fairness, and friendship. On your next family holiday, set aside the gadgets for a while. Sketch a hopscotch grid on the garden path, hide behind a leafy tree, or let your fingers wander through a handful of shells in the golden afternoon.

Because sometimes, the best souvenirs aren’t things, but memories made while playing together.