To play Scattergories, roll the 20-sided die for a letter, flip the sand timer, and write an answer starting with that letter for each category on your list. When time's up you read your answers aloud, and you only score for answers nobody else wrote, so the clever answer beats the obvious one every time.
Scattergories in a nutshell
Scattergories is a quick-thinking word game for ages 12 and up and 2 to 6 players, and the Hasbro rules sheet (as of November 2026) says you can play in teams too. A game is two rounds. Each round has a fresh letter, the same category list, and a race against the timer.
The twist is in the scoring. You're not trying to find a right answer; you're trying to find one that's right and that nobody else thought of.
What's in the box, and what each player needs
| In the box | Each player needs |
|---|---|
| 6 folders | A folder |
| An answer pad | An answer sheet, slotted into the folder |
| A 20-sided die | A pen or pencil (not included) |
| 48 category cards | A category list, the same one as everyone else |
| A timer |
The first time you play, punch out the cardboard on each folder to make the slot for the answer sheet. And when you choose a category list, everyone, or every team, has to pick the same one.
How a round runs
- Roll the die and call out the letter showing.
- Flip the sand timer and start thinking up answers for each category.
- Slide your answer sheet into the slot and flip up the top of the folder so nobody can see what you're writing.
- Write answers that fit each category and begin with the rolled letter. The sheet says you can write up to 3 answers for each category, using columns one to three.
- When time runs out, everyone stops writing.
- Take turns reading your answers aloud, one category at a time.
- Score your points and keep track of them at the top of your answer sheet.
For the next round, roll a new letter, restart the timer, and use the same category list as before, but fill in a different sheet. If the same letter comes up twice in a game, roll again for a different one.
How scoring works
- You score 1 point for each different, acceptable answer.
- If someone else wrote the same answer, it doesn't score. The object, in the sheet's words, is to score with answers that are different from all the other players' answers.
- You score double points for repeating the rolled letter as a first letter. The sheet's example is SpongeBob SquarePants, which scores 2.
- After two rounds, add up both scores. The highest total wins, and if there's a tie, you play a third round.
A worked scoring example
Here's a made-up round to show how it plays out. Three players, Ana, Ben and Cara, roll the letter P, and four of their categories are a boy's name, cities, spices and herbs, and a movie title.
| Category | Ana | Ben | Cara |
|---|---|---|---|
| A boy's name | Peter (0) | Paul (1) | Peter (0) |
| Cities | Paris (0) | Paris (0) | Prague (1) |
| Spices and herbs | Pepper (0) | Pepper (0) | Posh (1 after a vote) |
| Movie title | Peter Pan (2) | Psycho (1) | The Princess Bride (1) |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Peter, Paris and Pepper were the obvious answers, and because two players wrote each one, they all scored nothing. Peter Pan scores double because both words start with P. The Princess Bride counts under P, since articles don't count as the first letter, but it only scores 1 because Bride doesn't repeat the P.
Posh is the sheet's own example of a creative answer for spices and herbs. Ana challenged it, so all three voted, Ben and Cara said yes, and the majority let it stand. That single point won Cara the round.
The acceptable-answer checklist
Before you read an answer out, run it past these rules from the sheet:
- It has to fit the category.
- The first word has to begin with the rolled letter.
- A, an and the can't be used as the first letter, so The Hobbit counts under H.
- You can't give the same answer more than once in a round. The sheet's example is using Gary for both a boy's name and cities.
- Creative answers can be acceptable, but if anyone challenges one, the group votes on it.
Challenging an answer
Challenges happen during the scoring phase. When an answer is challenged, every player votes on whether it's acceptable, and that includes the player who wrote it. Majority rules.
If the vote is tied, the challenged player's vote doesn't count. In practice, that usually settles it against them, since they've almost certainly voted for their own answer.
Two rules about the die
If the same letter is rolled twice in a game, roll again. And roll it inside the game box: the sheet warns that the 20-sided die is heavy and could cause damage if it's rolled anywhere else.
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Why the two phases have different names
The rules sheet splits every round into two phases, and the names tell you how to play. Phase 1 is called Be Creative: that's the timed part, where you write your answers behind the folder flap. Phase 2 is called Be Unique: that's the reading-aloud part, where only answers nobody else wrote earn a point.
So you're really doing two jobs at once. While the timer runs, you're hunting for an answer that fits and starts with the letter. Before you write it down, ask whether anyone else at the table is likely to think of it too. If they are, it's worth looking for a second idea.
My verdict on Scattergories
I'd teach Scattergories with one sentence: write something that fits, starts with the letter, and that nobody else will think of. The worked example above shows why that last part matters more than anything, because the obvious answers are the ones that score nothing.
I'd skip long debates over creative answers and let the vote do its job; it's quick, and it's what the rules are for. It's one of my favourite picks among party games for a group, it sits well next to trivia board games, and if you'd like more ideas for getting people talking, try these ChatGPT prompts for icebreakers and party games.
Frequently asked questions
How many rounds are there in Scattergories?
You play two rounds and add up both scores. The highest total wins, and a tie means you play a third round.
Do Scattergories answers have to start with the letter?
Yes. The first word of your answer must begin with the rolled letter, and a, an and the don't count as the first letter.
What if two players have the same answer?
Neither of them scores for it. You only score for answers that are different from everyone else's.
How do challenges work in Scattergories?
All players vote on whether the answer is acceptable, including the challenged player, and the majority rules. In a tie, the challenged player's vote doesn't count.
What happens if the same letter is rolled twice?
If the same letter comes up twice in a game, you roll the die again for a different letter.
