Smuggling game
in a forest or field
Smugglers against customs, a border through the forest and loot that has to get across. The classic Scout game, set up and run for adult groups.
How a smuggling game works
A smuggling game is an outdoor game for two groups. The smugglers have to get their goods from one side of the area to the other, across a border guarded by customs. If a smuggler is tagged, they have to show what they're carrying. Whatever customs finds, they lose.
Anyone who was in the Scouts knows the game. It works at least as well for adults, provided the area is right and someone runs the game tightly. We bring the contraband, the market and the game hosts, and mark out the border at a place we've checked beforehand.
- Contraband, depot, market and scoreboard provided by us
- By day or in the dark, with torches and lights
- Area scouted beforehand, border clearly marked
- One and a half to two hours, from about 16 people
Smugglers, customs and a market on the other side
The smugglers
They collect their goods from a depot on one side of the area: cards or small objects, each with its own value. Whoever carries more earns more, but is also penalised more heavily if caught.
Customs
Guards the border, usually a path, a row of trees or a tape line through the forest. A tagged smuggler has to show what they're carrying, and everything customs finds is confiscated.
The border and the market
On the other side is the market where the contraband is traded in. That's also where the score is kept, so each team can see how much more it needs.
The switch
After the first round, smugglers and customs swap roles. Whoever was just crawling through the undergrowth now knows all the secret routes and puts their colleagues in the right spots.
The smuggling game in the dark
In the dark, the game changes. Smugglers sneak instead of running, and customs has to rely on sound and a torch. Anyone caught in the beam and called by name is caught. That makes it more exciting and calmer at the same time, because nobody is running flat out through a dark forest.
It does need extra agreements, though. The playing area gets smaller, everyone wears a light or reflective strip so the game hosts know where the group is, and there's a fixed, lit assembly point. After the final whistle, we count heads before we count the loot.
An evening game goes well after a barbecue or dinner, or to round off a weekend away with friends. For an evening where the group then has to find its own way back, also take a look at a dropping (Dutch night-time orienteering game).
Which groups and which terrain
We play the smuggling game with adults: colleagues on a company outing, a sports club after the season, groups of friends and hen and stag parties. It works best with groups who don't mind getting dirty and can be a bit competitive. For those who'd rather walk less, there's a role at the market or the depot.
A forest with paths, bushes and a bit of variation in height is ideal. A group accommodation, Scout grounds or campsite with its own woods also works, and there you can sort out permission with the owner in one go. We play across the Netherlands, from Enschede, and can also suggest a site if you don't have one yet.
The price depends on the group size, the time of day and the number of game hosts. You'll get it after a short enquiry, within 1 working day.
Frequently asked questions
What is a smuggling game?
An outdoor game for two groups. The smugglers try to get contraband across a border unseen, while customs tries to tag and search them. Whatever gets across the border is handed in for points. Halfway through the roles switch, so everyone plays both sides.
Can you play a smuggling game in the dark?
Yes, and then it becomes a different game. In the dark, we make the playing area smaller, the customs officers get a torch and all players wear a light or reflective strip so the game hosts can find them. We walk the area in daylight, so we know where the holes and ditches are.
How many people do you need for a smuggling game?
From about 16 people, so both sides are big enough. Customs is usually smaller than the group of smugglers, about one in three. With larger groups, we make the border longer and bring in extra game hosts.
How long does a smuggling game take?
Allow one and a half to two hours, including the briefing and counting the loot. That's two rounds of about forty-five minutes, with a role switch in the middle. Longer is possible, but we don't recommend it in the dark.
Tell us about your plan
Interested in a smuggling game? Fill in the short form and we'll send you a price estimate within 1 working day.
A smuggling game for your group
Tell us the date, the number of people and whether it'll be during the day or in the evening, and we'll send you a proposal.