Paintball has tons variations and one can create many more. Some sites have little combat towns with little forts (tree houses on the ground) and bunkers. Some have a cemetary with large imitation tombstones all over a huge field. There are even night games played with few lights. Some fields have huge high weed fields where visibility is limited. I'll briefly describe some of my favorite games.
Capture the FlagThis is the most commonly played game. two team each starts at a fort at different ends of the playing field, be it woods, or combat town, or even a cemetary. the idea is to get the other flag and bring it to your fort.
Center Flag
One particularly interesting game is center flag. One flag in the center of the playing field and two teams starting on either side trying to get the flag and take it across the field to the other team's bunker (base). I really like this game.
President's Men
Another variation is President's men. One person is the President and does not have a gun. He has 4 or 5 men around him that have to protect him for a given length of time.
Paris Island
Another variation is called Paris Island in which a 5 people have to protect the flag that hangs in the center of a triangle of forts, bases, and towers. A small group hides in these and tries to protect the flag. The other larger group has to get the flag 'off the island' or out of the triangle to a safe outside location. This game was invented by Mike Gomez (11 year veteran)and can be played at his field, Michigan Battlefield
Predator Prey
This is an interesting game. Four predators are released into the forest to hide. Then the rest of the crew is sent in to find them. Once a predator is killed they are eliminated and have to leave. But if a Predator kills a prey, the prey player becomes a new Predator. Thus the object of the game for the Predator is to increase and proliferate, while the object for the prey is to kill all the predators. This can get to be pretty interesting, if the Prey don't have to check with a referee to become Predators. All a predator has to do is kill a few of the prey in the back of the pack and watch them open fire on their own teammates as they become predators. This can be abused, so it may be better to have the new predators check in with areferee first to be readmitted.
Bunny Hunt
One bunny goes into to hide in a large forest, and bunch of other player's (hunter's)have to kill him.
Freeze Tag
Another capture the flag variation. If you get killed a teammate can tag you back in. This gets silly after a while. You have to defend and protect the killed player's so their friends don't tap them in.
Hostage Rescue
One team must rescue a hostage from the other team and return him "home" unharmed. This game gets very interesting.
Kill the Leader
Each team must kill the other team's leader. Each team has to defend their leader. This can become interesting when a traitor is introduced to each side. One player is a traitor and can turn against his teammates, usually designated by the referee. However, adding traitors makes the game more confusing.
Run the Flag
This is another capture the flag variation. Two teams each starts with their own flag in their hands. They have to charge with their flags to the other teams base and hang it there. No need to go get the other teams flag, you (sorta) start with it. The challenge is getting there.
JailBreak
Two players are prisoners and are trapped inside a base. There are a few guards outside. The prisoners can only leave from a designated entrance. The guards guard that entrance. The prisoners' friends are on the perimeter waiting to recue their friends. The prisoner's have no weapons, the guards do. The prisoners' teammates can't fire at the guards until the guards fire at the prisoners. The object is to get the prisoners out without anyone getting killed. The guards succeed if they kill anyone.
Get the Bands
Every player for himself, and each player has an arm band. When you eliminate a player you take his armband away and he dies (leaves). When time runs out the player that has the most arm bands wins.
Old War
Two teams line up in straight lines facing each other, can't move. Fire at each other. If get shot must lay down. Winning team has last players standing.
Prison
A few players are in a building with small holes in it. Fifteen minute time limit. All other players must kill the two or three players in the prison. Either by shooting their guns, shooting high up and landing them, or from other towers far away. The two in the prison just have to stay alive.
Terminator
This is a nice game to end the day with. A few terminators (2-3) have a duct taped X on their chest. To eliminate them you must hit them on the center of the X. The Terminators run around and eliminate the other 20 players. You can also add the requirement of having to shoot the Terminators once in the center of the X and once on the back. We tried this once, and the Terminators wasted everyone! It is a nice way to end the day!
Capture the FlagThis is the most commonly played game. two team each starts at a fort at different ends of the playing field, be it woods, or combat town, or even a cemetary. the idea is to get the other flag and bring it to your fort.
Center Flag
One particularly interesting game is center flag. One flag in the center of the playing field and two teams starting on either side trying to get the flag and take it across the field to the other team's bunker (base). I really like this game.
President's Men
Another variation is President's men. One person is the President and does not have a gun. He has 4 or 5 men around him that have to protect him for a given length of time.
Paris Island
Another variation is called Paris Island in which a 5 people have to protect the flag that hangs in the center of a triangle of forts, bases, and towers. A small group hides in these and tries to protect the flag. The other larger group has to get the flag 'off the island' or out of the triangle to a safe outside location. This game was invented by Mike Gomez (11 year veteran)and can be played at his field, Michigan Battlefield
Predator Prey
This is an interesting game. Four predators are released into the forest to hide. Then the rest of the crew is sent in to find them. Once a predator is killed they are eliminated and have to leave. But if a Predator kills a prey, the prey player becomes a new Predator. Thus the object of the game for the Predator is to increase and proliferate, while the object for the prey is to kill all the predators. This can get to be pretty interesting, if the Prey don't have to check with a referee to become Predators. All a predator has to do is kill a few of the prey in the back of the pack and watch them open fire on their own teammates as they become predators. This can be abused, so it may be better to have the new predators check in with areferee first to be readmitted.
Bunny Hunt
One bunny goes into to hide in a large forest, and bunch of other player's (hunter's)have to kill him.
Freeze Tag
Another capture the flag variation. If you get killed a teammate can tag you back in. This gets silly after a while. You have to defend and protect the killed player's so their friends don't tap them in.
Hostage Rescue
One team must rescue a hostage from the other team and return him "home" unharmed. This game gets very interesting.
Kill the Leader
Each team must kill the other team's leader. Each team has to defend their leader. This can become interesting when a traitor is introduced to each side. One player is a traitor and can turn against his teammates, usually designated by the referee. However, adding traitors makes the game more confusing.
Run the Flag
This is another capture the flag variation. Two teams each starts with their own flag in their hands. They have to charge with their flags to the other teams base and hang it there. No need to go get the other teams flag, you (sorta) start with it. The challenge is getting there.
JailBreak
Two players are prisoners and are trapped inside a base. There are a few guards outside. The prisoners can only leave from a designated entrance. The guards guard that entrance. The prisoners' friends are on the perimeter waiting to recue their friends. The prisoner's have no weapons, the guards do. The prisoners' teammates can't fire at the guards until the guards fire at the prisoners. The object is to get the prisoners out without anyone getting killed. The guards succeed if they kill anyone.
Get the Bands
Every player for himself, and each player has an arm band. When you eliminate a player you take his armband away and he dies (leaves). When time runs out the player that has the most arm bands wins.
Old War
Two teams line up in straight lines facing each other, can't move. Fire at each other. If get shot must lay down. Winning team has last players standing.
Prison
A few players are in a building with small holes in it. Fifteen minute time limit. All other players must kill the two or three players in the prison. Either by shooting their guns, shooting high up and landing them, or from other towers far away. The two in the prison just have to stay alive.
Terminator
This is a nice game to end the day with. A few terminators (2-3) have a duct taped X on their chest. To eliminate them you must hit them on the center of the X. The Terminators run around and eliminate the other 20 players. You can also add the requirement of having to shoot the Terminators once in the center of the X and once on the back. We tried this once, and the Terminators wasted everyone! It is a nice way to end the day!