How to Play Celebrity Guessing Game

Celebrity is a fast-paced party game where players try to guess the names of famous people through a mix of description, one-word clues, and charades. It’s silly, competitive, and works equally well for families, classrooms, or groups of friends.

I love Celebrity because it’s like playing three games in one — first testing your ability to describe, then your cleverness with one word, and finally your acting skills. It always leads to lots of laughs and “aha!” moments.

Age Range

10+ (can go younger with kid-friendly celebrity names)

Game Length

30–45 minutes

Why We Like It for Kids and Families

Celebrity is easy to learn, endlessly customizable, and works with large or small groups. The three different rounds keep kids engaged because each feels like a new challenge. It also sneaks in memory and communication skills, since later rounds rely on remembering earlier clues.

Skills

• Memory – Later rounds rely on remembering clues from earlier rounds.
• Verbal Communication – Describing names clearly without breaking the rules.
• Creativity – Finding clever one-word hints or gestures that connect.
• Quick Thinking – Coming up with fast clues under time pressure.
• Teamwork – Building on each other’s guesses and shared strategies.
• Confidence & Performance – Overcoming shyness and acting out clues in front of others.

What You Need

• Slips of paper and pens
• A bowl, hat, or container to hold slips
• A timer (phone works fine)
• At least 6 players (works best with 8–12)

How to Play Celebrity (Step by Step)

Step 1 – Grab a friend (or several!) and supplies

All you need is paper, pens, and a bowl to hold the slips.

Step 2 – Divide into two teams

Teams should be roughly even in size. Each player will eventually take a turn as the clue giver.

Step 3 – Write down celebrity names

Each player writes 3–5 names on slips of paper, folds them, and puts them into the bowl.

• “Celebrity” can mean real people (alive or historical), fictional characters, or cultural icons (like Santa Claus or Big Bird).
• Agree as a group on what’s fair, but names should be recognizable to at least half the players.

Step 4 – Play Round 1 (Unlimited Description)

• One player from Team A draws a slip and describes the celebrity without saying their name.
• No rhyming with the name (e.g., “sounds like Brian Henolds for Ryan Reynolds”) or giving spelling clues.
• Gestures are allowed.
• The team keeps guessing until they’re correct or time runs out (usually 60 seconds).
• If the clue giver doesn’t know the celebrity, they may pass — but only in Round 1. That slip goes back into the bowl to be played later.
• After time is up, play passes to Team B.
• Continue alternating until every player has been the clue giver once.

Step 5 – Play Round 2 (One Word)

• Remove any unused slips from Round 1. Only the words that were actually played go back into the bowl.
• Now, each clue giver may only say one single word as their clue.
• Gestures and body language are allowed.
• Teams alternate, and the round continues until everyone has had a turn as clue giver.

Step 6 – Play Round 3 (Charades)

• Use the same set of slips from Round 2.
• Clue givers cannot speak — only act out the celebrity name using charades-style gestures.
• Teams alternate turns until all players have acted once.

Step 7 – Tally Points and Declare the Winner

Each correct guess = 1 point. After three full rounds, the team with the most total points wins.

Rules

• Valid Names: Real people (alive or historical), fictional characters, or cultural icons are allowed — as long as they’re recognizable to at least half the players.
• Round 1 (Unlimited Description): Say anything except the name itself. No rhyming, spelling, or giving “sounds like” clues. Gestures are allowed. Passing is only permitted if the clue giver doesn’t know the celebrity.
• Round 2 (One Word): Say exactly one word. Gestures and expressions are allowed.
• Round 3 (Charades): No words, sounds, or mouthing. Only silent acting.

Strategy Tips

• Pay attention in Round 1. Every name will come up again in later rounds, so memory is critical.
• Choose smart Round 2 words. A single, powerful word will make it easier for your team to recall the celebrity in Rounds 2 and 3.
• Repeat successful gestures. If someone acts out a name in Round 3, doing the same motions helps your team connect the dots.

Variations

• Themed Names: Limit celebrities to a category, like athletes, 80s movie stars, or cartoon characters.
• Penalty Points: Deduct a point for illegal clues (like saying part of the name).
• Time’s Up: A published boxed version of Celebrity, especially popular in Europe.

Example Celebrity Name Ideas

Living Celebrities: Taylor Swift, LeBron James, Oprah, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Beyoncé
Historical Figures: Abraham Lincoln, Cleopatra, Albert Einstein, Rosa Parks
Fictional Characters: Harry Potter, Elsa, Spider-Man, Darth Vader, Shrek
Cultural Icons: Santa Claus, Bigfoot, Sherlock Holmes, Barbie

FAQ

What other names does Celebrity go by?
Celebrity is sometimes called “Fishbowl” or “Celebrity Head.”

What are the three rounds of the game Celebrity?

1. Unlimited Description
2. One Word
3. Charades

How do you keep score in Celebrity?
Each correct guess = 1 point. Teams alternate turns within each round, and every player on each team gets one turn as clue giver. That means the max score per round = the number of players on your team. After three rounds, the team with the highest total points wins.

Can you pass on a name?
Yes, but only in Round 1 if the clue giver doesn’t know who the celebrity is. In Rounds 2 and 3, all names have already been played, so passing is not allowed.

Is Celebrity the same as Time’s Up?
Yes — Time’s Up! is a published boxed version of Celebrity that follows the same three-round format.

 

Celebrity Video Tutorial