Hot Lava or The Floor is Lava is a game for small children, in which the players imagine that the floor or ground is made of lava, or variably as any other unsavory substance, such as acid or quicksand, and thus avoid touching the ground lest they get burned or otherwise injured. The players stay off of the floor by standing on furniture or the room's architecture. The players generally do not remain still, moving from one piece of furniture to the next. The game can be played with a group or alone for self amusement. There may even be a goal, to which the players must race. The game may also be played outdoors in playgrounds or similar areas. Players can also set up obstacles to make the game more challenging. This is a variation of an obstacle course.
Typically, any individual can start the game just by shouting "The floor is lava!". Any player remaining on the floor in the next few seconds is "out" and can not rejoin the game for some period of time. This game has become increasingly popular among older children and teens in the past few years.
There often are tasks and/or items/places that can "regenerate" lost body parts/health. Depending on the players, these could be embarrassing tasks, or simple things like finding a particular person.
The concept of deadly lava, which must be avoided, is also a common feature in video games.
The game was referenced in The Simpsons episode "Catch 'Em If You Can", in which Homer Simpson exclaims that "...the floor is made of lava!"[1]
Another reference to "Hot Lava" was in Family Guy when the nudist family's son comes over to the Griffins' house and when he leaves Peter places coasters and says, "don't touch the hot lava, the carpet is hot lava."
The hot lava game was referenced on Comedy Central Presents Episode 23 in season 7 by comedian Daniel Tosh. Tosh stated that it didn't matter what form of the game you played, (lava, acid, quicksand, etc.), resorting to playing said game meant one thing; "You were poor."
A variation of the theme was used in Roald Dahl's short story "The Wish".[2]
On the television show, Adventure Time with Finn and Jake, Jake instigates a game of The Floor Is Lava that becomes reality due to Jake's powerful imagination.