Scattergories
- Players
- 2-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 30 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 1.4 / 5
- Year
- 1988
About the game
Scattergories is the classic party word game where players race against the clock to fill out a category list with answers that all begin with the same randomly chosen letter. Score points for any answer that no other player matched, rewarding creative and unusual thinking over obvious choices. Play unfolds over three timed rounds before a winner is crowned, with a new game easily started right after. First published by Milton Bradley in 1988, it's a commercial descendant of the classic parlor game Categories, or Guggenheim, and remains a staple party title decades later.
Hobbli's Notes
A timeless party classic that never really goes out of style: the real-time pressure and creative wordplay make it a reliable crowd-pleaser for almost any group. It can get repetitive after many sessions with the same crowd, but as an occasional pick it's hard to beat.
What we like
- Quick and easy to learn for players of nearly any age.
- Encourages creative, fast-thinking wordplay.
- Scales well to larger party-sized groups.
- Proven, decades-tested classic design.
Keep in mind
- Can feel repetitive after many plays with the same group.
- Real-time pressure may stress players who think slowly under a clock.
- Scoring disputes over creative or borderline answers are common.
Who it's for
Great for parties and family gatherings of players aged 12 and up who enjoy quick creative wordplay under time pressure.
