Scattergories

1 Overview

Scattergories is the party game for people who think they're clever - until they realize everyone else thought of the same obvious answer. A 20-sided letter die determines the letter for the round. Players race to fill 12 category slots with words starting with that letter before the timer runs out. The catch: if two players write the same answer, neither of them scores.

This makes Scattergories more than just a vocabulary test - it rewards creativity and lateral thinking. "Type of transportation - letter B? Everyone's going to write Bus. Write Bobsled."

2 What You Need

• 20-sided letter die
• Sand timer (2 minutes)
• 6 card holders with category list cards
• Answer pads (one per player)
• Pencils

3 Setup

1. Each player gets an answer pad and pencil.
2. Insert the same numbered category card into each player's card holder (use card set 1 for your first game).
3. Roll the letter die to reveal the letter for the round.
4. Flip the timer and begin!

4 How to Play

1. When the timer starts, fill in each numbered category on your list with a word or phrase starting with the rolled letter.
2. When time runs out, stop writing immediately.
3. Go around the table sharing answers. If two or more players wrote the same answer for a category, none of them score that point.
4. Unique answers earn 1 point each. You can challenge answers you think are invalid - vote as a group.
5. After scoring, roll the die again for round 2. Play 3 rounds total (you can use different card lists each round).

5 Winning

After 3 rounds, total up all points. The player with the most points wins. In case of a tie, play a single tiebreaker round using a new letter and any category list.

6 Tips

• Think obscure. The first word that comes to mind is usually what everyone else wrote. Push further - secondary meanings, brand names, proper nouns (many editions allow them).
• Proper nouns are your friend. "Famous person, letter Q" - everyone's writing Quincy. Write Queen Latifah instead.
• Multi-word categories are opportunities. Use the letter for multiple words: "Things at a beach - letter S: Sunscreen, Seashells, Sandcastles" - if the rules allow alliteration bonuses, this is gold.
• Know when to challenge. A borderline answer from a leading player is worth challenging. A consensus vote decides.