There were no televisions, radios, CD's or computers during the Victorian Era.  So what did they do to fulfill the time?  The Victorian family and their closest friends played games, often in the family sitting room.  Below you will find some of the games that were played during the Victorian Era.

The Elements
From "One Thousand and One Home Amusements," circa 1880

In this game the party sit in a circle. One throws a handkerchief at another, and calls out AIR! The person whom the handkerchief hits must call Eagle, Vulture, Lark, Pigeon, Hawk, Goose, Partridge, Woodcock, Snipe, or some creatures that belong to the air, before the caller can count ten; which he does in a loud voice, and as fast as possible.

If a creature that does not live in the air is named, or if a person fails to speak quick enough, a forfeit must be paid*.

The person who catches the handkerchief throws it to another, in turn, and cries out EARTH! The person who is hit must call out Elephant, Horse, Dog, Cat, Mouse, Guinea Pig, Ox, or any creature which lives upon the earth, in the same space of time allowed the other.

Then throw the handkerchief to another, and call out WATER! The one who catches the handkerchief observes the same rules as the preceding, and is liable to the same forfeits, unless he calls out immediately, Trout, Mackerel, Herring, Sole, or the name of some creature that lives in the water.

Any one who mentions a bird, beast, or fish twice is likewise liable to a forfeit.

If any player calls FIRE! every one must keep silence, because no creature lives in that element.

Here are some Outdoor Games to play *S*
From Arthur's Home Magazine, 1868

The Feather Dance

A round of merry little ones take a feather; if that is not to be had, a ball of thistle-down, and toss is into the air, keeping it up by their breath. Each child hastens to blow it to her neighbor, lest it should fall on her dress or on the ground at her side, when she would be obliged to pay a forfeit.

They must not blow too violently, or it will fly so high that it will be difficult to reach; neither must they send it outside the circle, or it will be almost impossible to get it back again. It is great fun for children to keep their light, downy play-fellow afloat upon the summer air. They dance round, of course, very frequently in pursuit of it, but they must not let go each other's hands or break the circle to catch it in its descent.

Take Care

A flower-pot is filled with sand or earth; a little stick with a flag is placed in it. Every child playing has to remove a little sand from the pot with a stick, without upsetting the flag, crying at the same time, “Take care!” The one who upsets the flag pays a forfeit.

It becomes an anxious matter when the sand has been removed several times.

Blind Man's Buff

Blind Man's Buff is a good game on a large lawn; but as at all times it is attended with some risk, we advise our little readers to play it in a safer way, thus:

Pointer's Buff. – A little girl is blinded carefully with a handkerchief, and a wand or stick is put into her hand. The rest take hands and dance round her. When she waves her wand they stop; she touches the one nearest to her with hit, and says, “Who is this?” The little girl touched answers, in a voice as unlike her own as possible, “It is I.” If the blindfolded child guesses rightly by the voice who it is, the two exchange places. The little girl who is caught becomes “blind,” and the player in the centre resigns her want and joins the dancing circle.

~~A Forfeit is a "penalty" that the loser in a game must undertake~~
Here are a few good forfeits from "Games, Puzzles, Charades, Recitations, and Other Home Amusements," 1903

The Secret: This consists in whispering a secret to each member of the company.

The Fool’s Leap: Put two chairs back to back, take off your shoes, and jump over them. (The fun consists in a mistaken idea that the chairs are to be jumped over, whereas it is only the shoes!)

The Quiet Lodger: The person who owns the forfeit may be called upon to choose one or two musical instruments. Having done so, he may be requested to imitate them.