How to play a categories game: on paper and with one phone
Learn a simple paper categories game, then see how Categories brings the group together around one shared phone.
A categories game is a quick way to get everyone thinking. On paper, players write words under several topics using one starting letter. In the Categories app, friends or family gather around one phone and answer aloud. Here is how to get started with each version.
Set up a paper categories game
- Give everyone a sheet of paper and a pen. Draw matching category columns and leave space to record scores.
- Choose topics everyone understands. Start with a short set rather than making the first round a long writing exercise.
- Agree on one starting letter for the round. Everyone writes one matching word in each category using that letter.
- Choose the stopping rule before you begin: the first person to finish a row can call stop, or you can use an agreed time limit.
- Stop writing, compare answers by category and apply the same scoring rule to everyone. Pick a new letter for the next round.
Agree on house rules before scoring
For your paper game, one simple house rule awards 2 points for a valid answer nobody else wrote, 1 for a valid shared answer and 0 for a blank or invalid answer. Agree on your system before playing and use it consistently throughout the game.
Decide how to handle proper names, word variants and difficult letters. Resolve disputed answers together using the same standard. When ages or language confidence differ, choose familiar topics and adjust the time before starting the next round.
Start a game in the Categories app
Gather two or more people in the same place and share one phone. To get started, try Party, Battle or Points and read that mode’s instructions in the app. Select a category, then say a word starting with a letter on the board before time runs out.
Each mode has its own rules. Everyone plays around the shared phone.
Choose topics for your next round
Plan your next paper round with these 24 topic ideas. Mix easy, funny and more challenging categories to suit your group.