How do you play a category word game?
Quick answer: Choose a list of categories, then draw one letter that everyone will use. Set a timer and have everyone write one answer for each category, starting with that letter. When time runs out, read the answers aloud one category at a time. Blanks score nothing, and accepted answers that nobody else wrote earn points. Under the one-point rule used by three of the four Party Whammy sheets, matching answers cancel out and score zero. You don't need a boxed set. Paper, pencils, a timer and a few house rules agreed before you start are enough.
How to play a category word game, step by step
A category word game, often called by the name of the boxed game Scattergories, asks everyone to think of answers that fit a category and start with the same letter. For example, the category could be party snacks and the letter S. The rules below are suggested house rules for playing at home. They are not a copy of any official rulebook, so agree on them with your group before the timer starts.
Everyone needs the same categories in the same order. Either print a copy for each player or team or put one list where everyone can read it. Number each answer sheet to match the list, and write the letter and list name at the top so you can tell rounds apart.
- Choose the categories first, then draw or choose a letter. Everyone uses the same letter.
- Start the timer. Everyone writes at the same time, giving one answer per category. It's fine to skip a hard category and come back to it.
- When time is up, everyone stops writing. Go through the answers one category at a time.
- Score the answers under the rule you chose: cross out matching answers if you use the one-point rule, or give each valid matching answer one point under the two-point rule. Then decide on any disputed answers and add up the points.
- Play another round with a new letter, or stop after the number of rounds you agreed at the start. If the final scores are tied, share the win.
Do I need a boxed set to play?
Quick answer: No. A printed or handwritten list of categories, paper, pencils, a timer and a way to pick a letter are all you need.
You can play Party Whammy's Scattergories lists with your own paper, pencils and a timer, and the group chooses the letter together. The Christmas category game sheets use their own 24 prompts, a blank answer sheet and paper letter strips that players draw from a mug. In that version, players write for three minutes, cross out duplicates and score one point for each valid answer nobody else wrote.
Before the timer starts, agree whether names, brands and phrases are allowed. One house rule from the Scattergories lists: count the first word of a phrase, and don't add an adjective just to make an answer fit the letter.
Choosing and printing your categories
Choose a set of categories that suits the occasion. Party Whammy's Scattergories lists are split into four groups of ten: party categories, around the house, out and about, and wild cards. The holiday sheets use Thanksgiving and Christmas prompts. You don't need to play through every list in one sitting.
What makes a good category?
Quick answer: A good category has plenty of possible answers and a clear meaning that everyone understands.
Avoid categories that rely on private knowledge, such as inside jokes that only some guests would get. If a category's wording is unclear, try an example answer together before you start.
How many categories should one round have?
Quick answer: Use ten categories for a full round, or five for beginners, younger players or a shorter game.
Choose your categories before you choose the letter. If ten feels like too many, use the first five from a list, and give everyone the same shorter list so the scores can still be compared. The Christmas sheets also include a set of eight food prompts that suits younger players.
Can I print the lists?
Quick answer: Yes. Use the print buttons on the Party Whammy pages or your browser's print command. They open a print dialog. Nothing is downloaded as a separate file.
On the Scattergories lists and categories pages, Print all 40 next to the random picker prints the whole collection. The categories page also has a Print categories and answer sheet option, which prints a blank answer sheet. You can write your chosen categories and answers on that sheet.
Choosing which letters to draw
Some letters make most categories very hard. That's why the holiday sheets leave several letters out of the draw. Write the letters you're using on paper strips, put them in a cup or mug and draw one letter each round. The two holiday sets leave out slightly different letters, so use the set that comes with the sheet you're playing.
| Sheet | Letters to use | Letters left out |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving category game sheets | A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, W (20 letters) | Q, U, V, X, Y, Z |
| Christmas category game sheets | B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, W, Y (20 letters) | A, Q, U, V, X, Z |
Which letters should go in the cup?
Quick answer: Use the 20 letters listed for your sheet and leave out the hardest ones, such as Q, X and Z.
Even with the harder letters removed, no letter is guaranteed to give an answer for every category, so blank answers are allowed. For a first round with the Scattergories lists, you could try S, B or C. The random picker on that page chooses a category, not a letter, so choose the letter separately.
How long to write and how long to score
Each round has two parts: writing time and scoring time. The timer only covers the writing. Reading answers aloud and agreeing on scores takes extra time, and how long depends on the number of players and categories.
How long should a written round last?
Quick answer: Start with two or three minutes of writing. Allow up to five minutes if players need help reading or writing.
Each source suggests different times. The Scattergories lists suggest two minutes for a ten-category list. The Christmas sheets use three minutes, or two minutes for the junior version. The Thanksgiving sheets suggest three minutes for confident writers and five minutes for players who need help. They also suggest calling out the halfway point and giving a ten-second warning.
Agree on a longer writing time before the round if anyone needs it, rather than changing the time partway through.
How long does a whole round or session take?
Quick answer: For a short session, plan about 10 to 15 minutes, including scoring.
The Christmas sheets give an illustrative round of three minutes of writing and seven minutes of scoring, which makes ten minutes in total. With more players or categories, scoring can take longer.
Scoring matching answers and settling disputes
The sources use two different ways to score matching answers. Choose one before you start and use it for the whole game.
Under either rule, answers only count as matching within the same category. You can use the same word in two different categories, as long as it fits both. Under the one-point rule, matching answers cancel out and score zero. Under the two-point rule, a valid matching answer still earns one point.
| Answer | One-point house rule | Two-point house rule |
|---|---|---|
| Valid answer that nobody else wrote | 1 point | 2 points |
| Valid answer that someone else also wrote | 0 points | 1 point |
| Blank or answer that doesn't fit | 0 points | 0 points |
What happens when two players write the same answer?
Quick answer: Under the one-point rule used by most of these sheets, everyone who wrote that answer crosses it out and scores zero for that category.
The Scattergories lists, Thanksgiving sheets and Christmas sheets all give matching answers zero points. Under the Christmas house rules, two ways of naming the same thing also count as a match. For example, sprouts and Brussels sprouts would cancel each other out. Agree on this before playing.
Do matching answers score any points?
Quick answer: Under the one-point rule, no. Under the two-point rule on the Scattergories categories page, a matching answer that fits still earns one point.
The two-point version gives two points for an answer nobody else wrote and one point for a valid answer someone else also wrote. Blanks and answers that don't fit still score nothing. This version can feel gentler for a mixed group, because a sensible answer is never wasted.
Can players challenge an answer?
Quick answer: Yes. The player who wrote the answer explains in one sentence how it fits, then the group takes a quick majority vote.
If the vote is tied, that answer scores nothing and play moves on. Agree on this tie rule before you start, because it's harder to settle once a disagreement is underway.
Agreeing on rules before play also helps prevent score arguments in later games. Ways to keep party games from getting too competitive, such as clearing the scores and resetting supplies before starting another game, work alongside this tie rule rather than replacing it.
Example: scoring a three-player round
Illustrative example: three players, Ana, Ben and Cal, play with the letter S and three categories from the party list. The group accepts every answer except the blank.
- One-point rule: Ana scores 0 + 0 + 1 = 1, Ben scores 0 + 0 + 1 = 1 and Cal scores 1 + 0 + 1 = 2.
- Two-point rule: Ana scores 1 + 1 + 2 = 4, Ben scores 1 + 1 + 2 = 4 and Cal scores 2 + 0 + 2 = 4.
- Under the one-point rule, the two sandwich answers cancel out and strawberries scores. Under the two-point rule, the matching answers still count for something, and Cal's blank costs as much as both matches put together.
| Category | Ana | Ben | Cal |
|---|---|---|---|
| party snacks | sandwiches | sandwiches | strawberries |
| things in a gift bag | stickers | stickers | (blank) |
| dance moves | salsa | swing | shuffle |
Adjusting the game for younger children and larger groups
Ask players to keep jokes kind and their answers family-friendly. Nobody should have to explain a blank or read out an answer they'd rather keep to themselves.
If the scoring itself is making guests uneasy, a fill-in-the-blank story keeps the word play without points. Players give a type of word, such as a noun or verb, instead of an answer starting with a letter. Our guide to playing a fill-in-the-blank story game covers choosing stories for your group's ages or having an adult read and write.
Before you start, read any unfamiliar categories aloud. If writing is getting in the way of the fun, use fewer categories, give players more time or switch to the spoken version described below.
If you're running the game alone, helping several players write at once can be hard. A spoken category round robin, where you read a category aloud and players answer in turn, is simpler. These party games one adult can run alone also point out setups that would give one adult two jobs at once.
How many people can play, and what ages are the lists for?
Quick answer: Try the Scattergories lists with 2 to 20 players. Their family-friendly categories are intended for ages 8 and up.
Everyone writes at the same time. At a crowded table, split into teams and give each team one answer sheet, then compare scores between teams.
Form teams before handing out sheets, so nobody is picked in front of the group. Count the players, then use a prepared list or a simple draw. These tips on choosing teams without hurt feelings explain each method. After that, give each team its one answer sheet.
If twenty or more people want to play, one table may not fit everyone. The party games for 20 or more people include a team category game: teams of six to eight suggest answers for 60 seconds while one teammate writes them down, and a repeated answer counts once within a team's list. Unlike these rules, it doesn't use a starting letter.
For players who need it, read unfamiliar categories aloud, pair players who need writing help or use fewer categories.
If pairing readers and writers still leaves some guests waiting, a game built for mixed ages may work better. Before starting, check who wants reading help or a seat. These party games for a wide age range include shared roles and Categories Countdown.
Can younger children play with adults?
Quick answer: Yes. Pair a child with someone who can read the categories and write down the child's answers.
In the Thanksgiving sheets, readers around age 6 and up can try writing their own answers. Five- and six-year-olds may prefer an adult partner, and children who can't read yet can say their answers aloud or join the spoken version. These ages are a guide, not a requirement, so adjust the help to suit the child.
The Christmas sheets suggest the eight food prompts with a two-minute timer for younger players. Only compare scores between players who used the same prompts and the same time limit.
Can we play without pencils?
Quick answer: Yes. Play a spoken team version, in which two teams take turns calling out answers to one category.
For a version with no supplies at all, a seated Categories game works too. It's a separate format from the Thanksgiving team rules, so keep their scoring apart. Show a practice turn and say how many turns you'll play. It's one of these no-supplies party games you can play together.
In the Thanksgiving version, you read out one category and the two teams take turns giving answers for 30 seconds. Each new answer scores one point, and repeated answers score zero. Keep a running score across categories and stop when one team reaches 10 points or dessert arrives. This version doesn't use a starting letter.
This short spoken round suits a wait for food better than a full written game, because you can stop after any turn once dessert arrives. Explain the rules in a sentence or two before the first turn. Our list of quick games to fill a gap in a party schedule has more options like this.
Checklist before your first round
- Pick a list and decide how many categories each round will have (for example, ten or five).
- Put out paper, pencils and a timer, or plan the spoken version instead.
- Put the letter strips for your sheet in a cup.
- Agree on the writing time, the scoring rule and whether names, brands and phrases are allowed.
- Agree how to settle disputes: a one-sentence explanation, then a majority vote, with no point if the vote is tied.
- Pair up players who need help, or form teams.
- Decide how many rounds you'll play before you start.