YouTube challenges are everywhere.
Just about any channel you check out today is taking on some of the funniest and (at times) weirdest challenges that they can think of.
We have collected 28 of the most popular YouTube challenges that are a great way to get views. Here is a very quick compilation of 21 that Door3 accomplished in 2 minutes(!).
So why are they doing it?
Well, because for some reason, viewers just can’t get enough. Many of these videos have 1+ million views, and even channels without millions of subscribers are seeing huge jumps in their views by delivering entertaining YouTube challenge videos. It’s as simple as setting up your vlogging camera, and letting the madness begin.
Check out vlogger Paul Greenberg who saw 10 times more than his typical view numbers by posting an entertaining 10,000 calorie challenge video.
The motive is clear: YouTubers want more views, and viewers love to watch YouTube challenges.
So what can you do? Well, the good news is that there are a ton of options. They might not all be that fun in the moment, but you are just about guaranteed to have some laughs, and an entertaining video to show for it. Your audience will love it and you can take suggestions from them on what challenge you should take on next.
We want all our YouTubers happy and vlogging at full health 🙂
28 of the Best YouTube Challenges
#1 – Cinnamon challenge
The cinnamon challenge is one of the original YouTube challenges and dumb things that too many of us have tried with our friends. It seems so simple, maybe even tasty, but it is VERY difficult. Cinnamon does not go down easy.
If you are looking for a laugh… get someone else to do it, and make sure that you have your camera for YouTube turn on to capture the moment :). Have a look at this classic video by GloZell that has a whopping 50+ million views.
This video took off and propelled her to status of internet fame for her hilarious reaction. She regularly gets 10+ million views by completing some of the additional challenges below.
#2 – 10,000 calorie challenge
There are many variations of this one. It was called the Michael Phelps diet for a while because of the swimmer’s famous level of food consumption. Now you mostly see it take on the title of a gigantic number of calories (10,000+).
The idea is eat a TON of stuff in one sitting or in one day. Most people stock up on fast food like McDonalds and Burger King to get the most calories possible per bite. It is not as easy as it seems, and usually by the end of the videos, vloggers have some pretty hilarious reactions.
#3 -What’s in the box?
What IS in the box anyways? That is what these YouTubers need to figure out. The idea here is to feel around with your hands inside a box until you have solved whatever mysterious item your partner(s) in crime have left there for you. The more outrageous videos include some sort of live animal, or just something really gross. Those tend to get the best reactions (for the audience at least).
Here is an example from DerekDeso:
#4 – Diet Coke and Mentos
Putting Mentos into a Diet Coke bottle is one of the simple pleasures in life. Watching the coke explode from the bottle is cooler than any volcano that you built as a kid.
So what happens when you put that same combination in your mouth?
Well… let’s let ReactionResponseKing show us:
#5 – Cake challenge
This one is what you might call, fun for the whole family. There are many different versions of the cake challenge, and you can choose whatever works best for you. It could involve baking a cake with ridiculous ingredients – usually designed to be a surprise by picking ingredients from a hat. You could a cake cook off, or cake decoration contest among two or more contestants.
#6 – Not my arms
Combining on person’s body with another person’s arms is just about guaranteed to be a good time. You can go a few different ways with this one. You might just be silly and make your viewers laugh with one person speaking, and another acting how their arms might act.
Or you can make things more difficult – and probably more fun. Try to do something challenging as a team and get it all on film.
Bonus: make it something that can get messy like Rosana Pansino with Manny Mua.
#7 – Eat it or wear it
Some of the best Youtube challenges are messy, so let’s stick with that for a moment. You can tell just by reading the name of this challenge, that it whoever in the video is likely going to get covered with something.
Here are the rules: two or more people will take turns making a big decision: eat it, or wear it? That person will be given with an item (the weirder the better) and they can decide if they are willing to eat it. If they don’t then they wear it – all over everything.
The catch is that whatever you choose to do, the people around the table have to do the opposite. If you eat, they wear 🙂
#8 – Ghost pepper challenge
This one is pretty simple, and not for the faint of heart. A ghost chili pepper is one of the most intense, spicy foods in the entire world. Is it any surprise that it is hilarious to watch the reaction of anyone who dares try it?
Tip: Make sure you have some milk near by and only eat a very small amount – eating too much (2+ pounds) kill you!
#9 – Saltine challenge
Similar to the cinnamon challenge listed above, the saltine challenge is a classic that will leave your mouth asking “why are you doing this to me??”
It’s quick, and it doesn’t sound tough, but it is nearly impossible for most people. All you need to do is eat 6 standard saltine crackers in a minute or less with no water or liquids to help.
Easy right? Good luck 🙂
#10 – What’s in my mouth
This Youtube challenge sounds… awkward. It is a set up in the boldness of the ‘what’s in the box’ challenge. One participant is blindfolded, and another places items in the first person’s mouth. The game is to guess what the heck is actually in there.
Make sure you film this with someone who has a sense of humor to make it a good video. Just make sure that person doesn’t have a secret grudge against you, because it could get very unpleasant in a hurry.
Here is a good-natured version of the challenge from Jenna Marbles. Some other versions definitely get riskier.
#11 – The floor is lava
This YouTube challenge is blowing up in a big way. It is based on a game where anyone can yell ‘the floor is lava’ and others in the area have 5 seconds to figure out how to not be touching the floor. It can cause hilarious chaos in bigger groups, especially in interesting places.
Another version of this challenge is trying to get from point A to point B without ever touching the floor. You know… because it’s lava.
#12 – Gum challenge
Another simple challenge that probably tastes better than some other son this list. You can keep it very simple and just eat a TON of bubble gum. Let’s say about 100 pieces?
You can also make things more interesting by making it a showdown between two people. Here is an example with Romeo Lacoste, and Griffin Arnlund.
#13 – Whisper challenge
You might have seen this game featured on Jimmy Fallon’s show with celebrity guests. Luckily, you don’t need celebs for hilarity to ensure.
You will need noise cancelling headphones that can play music into at least one participants’ ears. The first person will draw an unknown word or phrase, and then whisper it softly to the second person who is listening to loud music. That person needs to read lips in order to understand. They can then guess what they think it is.
Bonus: If you have more than two people, you can keep the guessing going from person to person like a game of broken telephone.
#14 – Draw with a blind fold
Test out your art skills with this challenge. Blindfold yourself and try to draw something. Anything will do! Take suggestions from a friend, or better yet from your audience members.
You can crank up the stakes by making blindfolded art with messier objects like paint or glue.
#15 – Cotton ball challenge
Another family friendly challenge between two or more contestants. All you need is a blindfold, a big spoon, 2 bowls, and a bunch of cotton balls. Each person takes a turn wearing the blindfold. Then they spoon as many of the cotton balls as they can from the first bowl to a second bowl they are holding on their head.
After each turn, count them up, and at the end a winner will be declared!
Here is an example from TiffyQuake.
#16 – Try not to laugh
Usually a good laugh for you and the audience. Find and do hilarious things, and try to keep a straight face. Or make the challenge one for your audience and challenge them to hold it together.
#17 – Accent challenge
This is a good one to realize that most people are not very good at accents. That doesn’t meant they shouldn’t give it a try and put it on their YouTube channel!
#18 – Brain freeze
This also goes y the name ice bath challenge, and according to most participants… it sucks. Just not for your viewers!
Plunge your body into a bath full of ice and see how long you can last. Or try and answer questions and complete other tasks while you are distracted by the cold.
Bonus: For the truly brave, stick your head right into the water. Thus the brain freeze.
#19 – Chubby bunny
More stuff in your mouth! This is a good quick laugh. Stuff your mouth with food (ideally marshmallows) and see if you can still say the phrase ‘chubby bunny.’
#20 – 7 second challenge
The premise is simple – read a challenge and then complete in 7 seconds or less. The surprise factor is always fun, and it keeps you and the audience on the toes by going through the different activities in rapid fire.
Bonus: Make it a competition and you will get a ton of 7 second races in a row like Matt Slays and Rebecca Zamalo
#21 – The Condom challenge
This YouTube challenge is… hard to explain. It doesn’t always work, and it’s super weird, but it is hilarious.
Here it is in glorious slow mo thanks to TheSlowMoGuys
#22 – Super Glue Challenge
You can use super glue for a long list of crazy things. Feel free to get creative, but just be warned: they call it super glue for a reason! Stick a part of yourself to another part.
Bonus: For some real laughs, get stuck to someone else!
#23 – Real vs. Gummy
Two people square off with two surprise dishes. One dish will be a gummy candy, and another will be the real world version of that same thing.
#24 – Chapstick challenge
This video can get a little steamy. The challenge is to kiss someone and then guess the flavor of the chapstick that they are wearing.
Something tells us that nobody clicks on these videos because they are into chapstick.
Here is an example from Marissa Rachel.
#25 – Teabag challenge
An unlikely eating challenge video on Youtube: open up a tea bag and throw it back. Those things pack a punch!
Have a look at how much SupDaily06 and Shane Dawson enjoy it:
#26 – Tin can challenge
This is another surprise food game. Fill a bunch of tin cans with food, and assign every can a number. Then draw numbers from a hat and now you have to eat whatever happens to be in that tin.
#27 – 100 shirts challenge
Put on 100 shirts. All at the same time. That’s it. Think you can do it?
#28 – Baby food challenge
Try out some good old fashioned baby food. Eating it is weird enough, but the real challenge is keeping your composure and guessing what odd flavor you might have just tasted.
That is our list of the hilarious YouTube challenges that are taking over the internet right now. What did we miss? Leave your favorite challenge in the comments below.
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