Categories
Everyone gets the same letter and races to name a band, a city, a TV show and more. Only unique answers score.
the best bit: defending a wildly creative answer to a very skeptical table
- Players
- 2–10 (best with 3–6)
- Time
- 10–30 min
- Learn in
- A minute
- Mood
- Chill
- Format
- Everyone for themselves
The 30-second version
Pick a letter and set a timer. Everyone races to write an answer starting with that letter for each category. When time's up, read your answers aloud. You only score for answers nobody else wrote, so the obvious answer is often the wrong one.
read this, then walk through the steps below once.
Grab these
Set up
- Everyone gets a pen and paper and numbers their page from 1 to 10.
- Use the ten starter categories below, in order.
- Pick a letter. One person runs through the alphabet silently in their head, and someone else says "Stop."
Other ways to set up
- Make your own list
- Agree on ten categories as a group and write them at the top of a page everyone can see. Make a fresh list each round to keep it surprising.
How to play
-
Start the clock
Set a timer for two minutes. Everyone writes one answer per category, each starting with the chosen letter.
-
Pens down
When the timer goes off, stop writing, even mid-word.
-
Read it out
Go through the categories one at a time. Everyone reads their answer.
-
Score
You get a point for every answer nobody else wrote. If two people have the same answer, neither of them scores it. The table can veto an answer that's a real stretch.
-
New letter
Pick a new letter and play again with the same categories.
How to win
Play three rounds. Most points wins.
Starter categories
- A band or musician
- Something in a kitchen
- A reason to be late
- A TV show
- Something you'd find at a wedding
- A city
- A bad name for a pet
- Something that's sticky
- A job
- Something you shout
Once you know it
- Alliteration bonus
- Score an extra point for every word after the first that starts with the letter. "Bob's Burgers" for B is worth two.
- Stop the Bus
- No timer. The first person to fill every category yells "Stop the bus!" and everyone else stops writing.
From experience…
- Skip Q, X and Z unless everyone wants chaos.
- Arguing about whether an answer counts is half the game. Settle it with a quick vote.