How to play charades
Charades is the most universal party game there is: one player acts out a word without speaking and everyone else shouts guesses. Here are the rules as played in this app, plus a few acting tricks that make all the difference.
Setup
One person creates the room and shares the 4-letter code with the rest. Each player joins from their own phone and enters a name. The host picks a theme (viral, countries, classics or a custom list) and presses Start.
Your turn
The game shuffles the turn order. When you are up, your phone shows you the secret word: only you can see it. Press "Start my turn" and act: you get 60 seconds and not a single word. When the group guesses it, tap "They got it!" and the next word appears; if one has you stuck, skip it: there is no penalty.
Scoring
Every correct guess during your turn scores you a point. Everyone acts the same number of turns, and the final podium decides who the group's drama star really is.
Acting tricks
- Break the word up: "ball" + "basket" beats acting "basketball" in one go.
- Set signals early: counting syllables on your fingers and tugging your ear for "sounds like" are standard for a reason.
- Overact everything: there is no such thing as too dramatic in charades. Subtlety is your enemy.
- Change angles: three identical attempts are worth less than one new approach.
- Use the room: stand up. Seated charades is half a charade.
For the guessers
Shout everything that comes to mind: there are no dumb guesses in charades, and words often fall by accumulation. The actor cannot speak, but nodding is allowed: getting warmer is information too.