Charades › Charades ideas for parties
Charades ideas for parties: how to play with friends and family
Charades is one of the games that works best at a get-together: it needs no preparation, everybody can join and it always ends in laughter. These ideas work with Charades or any other guessing game.
1. In teams
Split the group into two teams. Each team plays one 30-second round per turn and keeps score. After three or four rounds each, the team with the most points wins.
2. Everyone for themselves
The phone goes from hand to hand: everyone plays a round and writes down their score. At the end, whoever scored the most wins the night.
3. With forfeits
Agree before you start: whoever scores the least in a round does a mild forfeit (sing a song, imitate someone, tell a story). Keep it light: the point is to laugh.
4. One category per round
To mix it up, each round uses a different category: animals, food, movies, football, objects or Argentina. That way everybody gets a strong category.
5. Acting only
To raise the difficulty, no talking: clue givers can only use gestures. It is the classic way to play and the one that gets the most laughs.
Party tips
- Keep a timer or a sheet of paper handy to track points if you play in teams.
- Pick a category everybody knows: if there are kids, start with animals.
- Take care of the phone: hold it with a hand on each side and do not shake it when tilting.
For the basic rules, see how to play Charades.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play charades in teams?
Each team plays one 30-second round per turn and scores points; after several rounds the team with the most points wins.
Can kids play?
Yes. The Animals category is the easiest to start with and can be solved with sounds and gestures.