How to Play Charades: Easy Rules, Scoring and Tips
Here’s how to play charades: split into two teams and take turns acting out a secret word or title without speaking while your own team guesses. Each correct guess before the timer runs out (usually 60 to 90 seconds) earns a point. Teams alternate until everyone has had a go, and the team with the most points wins.
What do you need to play charades?
Very little, which is why charades has survived generations of family Christmases, rainy holidays and Friday game nights.
- Players: at least three. Four or more lets you play in teams.
- Words to act: folded slips of paper in a hat or bowl, or a ready-made deck.
- A timer: any phone timer, kitchen timer or sand timer works.
- Something to keep score: a notepad, the back of an envelope or a whiteboard.
- Space: enough room for the actor to stand in front of everyone and move about.
If you don’t want to write slips, you can play charades online free in your browser and pull cards straight from a deck.
How to play charades step by step
- Split into two teams. Aim for equal numbers. Mix ages so each side has a strong guesser and a confident actor.
- Prepare the words. Each team writes words or titles for the other team, folds them and drops them in a bowl. Keep them guessable: a film, a song, an animal, an everyday action.
- Pick who goes first. Flip a coin, or let the youngest player start.
- Draw a card. The actor reads it silently and does not show anyone.
- Signal the category. Use a quick hand signal so the team knows whether it is a movie, book, song or TV show, and hold up fingers for the number of words.
- Start the timer and act. The actor mimes, points and gestures. Teammates shout out guesses as fast as they like.
- Score. If the team says the exact answer before time runs out, they get a point. If not, the actor reveals it and no one scores.
- Swap teams. The other team sends up its actor. Keep alternating until everyone has acted at least once, or until you reach a set number of rounds.
What are the basic charades rules?
| Rule | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Speaking, whispering or mouthing words | No |
| Spelling letters in the air | No |
| Pointing to objects in the room | Yes, most house rules allow it |
| Sound effects | Usually no; agree before you start |
| Using the classic hand signals | Yes |
| The other team guessing | No, only the actor’s team can score |
| Props | No, unless your house rules say so |
The one rule nobody argues about: the actor stays silent. For the full rulebook, including disputes and house rules, see our complete charades rules.
Which hand signals should beginners learn first?
You don’t need the whole gesture dictionary on your first night. These five do most of the work:
- Movie: hold one hand to your eye like a lens and crank an old-fashioned film camera beside it with the other.
- Book: press your palms together, then open them like a book.
- Song: put a hand on your chest and open your mouth as if singing.
- Number of words: hold up that many fingers, then hold up one finger again to say “first word”.
- Sounds like: cup a hand behind your ear, then act a rhyming word.
Once your group is comfortable, learn the rest from our guide to charades hand signals.
How do you keep score in charades?
The simplest system is one point per correct guess, written on a tally sheet with each team’s name at the top. Play a fixed number of rounds, say five each, and add up the points at the end.
Some families like a bonus for speed: two points if the team guesses in under 20 seconds, one point otherwise. Others play first to ten. Whatever you pick, decide before the first card is drawn so nobody can change the rules mid-game when they’re losing.
What are good first words for beginners?
Start with actions and animals. They’re quick to act, and they build confidence before you move on to film titles.
| Category | Easy cards | How to act them |
|---|---|---|
| Actions | Brushing your teeth, Blowing up a balloon, Texting, Getting dressed | Do the action slowly and clearly |
| Animals | Dog, Rabbit, Owl, Shark, Snake | Show the body shape and the movement |
| Films | The Lion King, Titanic, Kung Fu Panda, Indiana Jones | Split the title and act the key words |
| Harder actions | Flipping a pancake, Scoring a soccer goal, Playing the guitar | Add a clear before and after |
The free Act It Out deck is full of simple everyday actions, and the Animals deck runs from Dog and Rabbit right up to tricky ones like Rock Hyrax. When your group is warmed up, switch to the Films deck for classic movie charades.
What tips help new players?
- Act big. Use your whole body, not just your hands. Small gestures get lost.
- Break titles into chunks. If “Kung Fu Panda” isn’t landing, act out “panda” first.
- Watch your team. When someone is close, point at them and wave them on.
- Move on fast. If one approach isn’t working after ten seconds, try a different angle.
- Keep it friendly. Charades works best when everyone laughs at the bad acting, including their own.
That’s really all there is to it. Pick some words, grab a timer and you’ll be playing within five minutes.
