Acting
Body language only, not a sound. Classic charades and the one that gets the biggest laughs.
How to play charades: the rules
In short: the guesser holds the phone to their forehead, the others act it out or describe it, and the guesser calls out answers. Tilt the phone down for a correct guess, up to pass. Whoever guesses the most by the end of the round wins.
- 01
Pick a topic
Choose one everyone knows. Movies for film buffs, Animals with kids, Act it out for a mixed crowd.
- 02
Choose how to play and set the timer
Acting or describing? The default round is 60 seconds, and you can also pick 45, 90 or 120 seconds.
- 03
The guesser raises the phone to their forehead
Screen facing out, so the others can see the word and the guesser cannot. Landscape, held with both hands, is the most comfortable.
- 04
Everyone else helps
Act, describe, imitate. Saying the word or any part of it is not allowed, and neither is giving a rhyme.
- 05
Tilt: down = correct, up = pass
Got it? Tilt the phone down and the next word appears. Stuck? Tilt it up to pass. A new word only shows once the phone is level again.
- 06
Score at the end of the round
The app tallies the correct and passed words. Hand the phone on, and whoever has the most points at the end wins.
Describing
Explain it with words, but you cannot say the word itself or any part of it.
Humming
Songs, movie themes, jingles: melody only, no lyrics. A favorite with music lovers.
Drawing
Sketch it on paper, a napkin or in the air. No letters or numbers allowed.
Charades rules for scoring and time
Every correct word is 1 point. The default round is 60 seconds, and 45, 90 and 120 seconds are also available. With premium you can turn on bonus time, so every correct answer adds extra seconds. Negative mode penalizes passes, which makes every skip a gamble. Our pick: 60 seconds with bonus time.
Tips for better rounds
- In a bigger group, play in teams and take turns.
- Turn on bonus time for faster, wilder rounds.
- With kids, Animals and Act it out work best.
- Hold the phone with both hands, slightly above your forehead, so everyone can see it.
- If nothing clicks within 5 seconds, pass. Struggling too long costs you points.
Charades rules: frequently asked questions
What are the basic charades rules?
The guesser holds the phone to their forehead with the screen facing the group. The others act out or describe the word, but they cannot say it or rhyme with it. Tilt down for correct, tilt up to pass. A round lasts 45-120 seconds, and the most correct guesses wins.
Can I say the word in charades?
No. The word, any part of it and rhymes are all off limits. That is the one hard rule. Everything else (acting, describing, humming) is up to your group.
How long should a round be?
Start with 60 seconds. 45 seconds is fast and suits seasoned players; 90 and 120 seconds help with tough topics like Countries or Cities.
How do you keep score in charades?
Every correct word is one point, passes do not count. With premium you can switch on bonus time (extra seconds for each correct answer) and negative mode, which penalizes passing. Both make rounds a lot more tactical.
The next round is yours.
Free on iPhone and Android. All you need is one phone and at least two people.
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