How to Play Charades in 11 Simple Steps

1. Gather a group of 4 or more people

Charades needs a minimum of 4 players so that there can be two teams, each with an “actor” and “guesser(s).” You can add as many players as you like to each team, but we’ve found that 10 players total (5 per team) is the maximum before it starts to feel a little crowded.

2. Split into two teams

Charades is a team game where you’re trying to outscore your opponents by guessing the correct action in each round.

3. Choose your categories and words

We have a [free charades generator above] with words and categories, as well as [word list ideas] below.

You can also create your own prompts by having each player write down 1 idea on a small piece of paper per round you plan to play. The collection of papers with clues will be traded to the other team and become their prompts. For a prompt to be valid, make sure that at least half (and ideally ALL) of the players on your team have at least heard of the prompt you’ve written. It’s no fun playing when the prompt isn’t known by the actors or the guessers.

4. Review the Charades rules

Before you start playing, it’s a good idea to review the rules. It’s actually pretty simple.

The “actor” acts out, in pantomime, the selected prompt and can’t use any words or sounds. But, they can use gestures, as outlined in the next step.

In summary, the Charades rules are as follows:

• Can use your body to act out the prompt
• Can use gestures
• Can’t speak
• Can’t make noises (no humming, clapping, snapping, etc)
• Can’t mouth the words
• Can’t point at objects in the room
• Can’t point at people as the clue (e.g. pointing to a doctor so they guess that word), but can point to people for gesturing game play, such as who got a word right

5. Demonstrate Common Charades Gestures

Charades has its own pantomime language and it’s helpful for everyone to know the basics to keep the game flowing and get more right guesses. Here are the most common Charades gestures.

It’s common practice during every Charades turn to start play with these three gestures:

Category

1. Movie: Crank the camera
2. TV: Draw rectangular box starting top middle
3. Play: Curtains open OR theater rope pull
4. Song: pretend to sing (use hand out)
5. Book title: hands together, then open
6. Quotes and Phrases: do air quotations

See below for other category options

Number of Words

Hold up the number of fingers to indicate the total words in the prompt. For example, if there are 4 words in the prompt, hold up 4 fingers.

Starting Word

Then hold up the number of fingers for the word you’d like to start with. For example, if you’d like to start on the second word, hold up two fingers.

There are additional helpful gestures that can be used during game play as well. See our [full list of gestures] below.

6. Set the timer and prepare to start play

Set the timer for 30 seconds to 1 minute before play. Give more time for beginner players or if you’re working with complex prompts.

7. Play the turn for the first team by acting in pantomime and guessing

First, select which team goes first by any method you like (flip a coin, rock paper scissor, etc). Each team plays the same number of turns, so it doesn’t really matter.

Second, the first team to go will choose their first actor. This, also doesn’t matter since everyone will get a turn to act.

Then, the actor will draw their prompt (slip of paper, online generator, etc). Only the actor views the prompt.

Next, the actor will act out the prompt per the rules above, using only their body language, facial expression, and gestures to give their team clues.

The other players on the team will guess the words and the actor will make adjustments and give feedback through non-verbal gestures.

8. Score the turn with 1 point for a correct answer

If the team guesses the correct prompt, the turn is over and they receive one point. If they don’t guess the prompt in the allotted time, the turn is over and they receive no points for this round.

9. Complete the round by rotating to the 2nd team’s turn

After the first team takes a turn in the round, it’s time for the 2nd team to take their turn with the same process.

10. Play additional rounds until each person has had at least one turn to act

When planning the number of rounds, it’s most fun to make sure every person gets at least one turn as the actor. Both teams should have an equal number of turns.

11. Declare the winning team, who has the most points

Once you’ve finished all the rounds, add up the score and the team with the most points wins!