Charades
Players act out words or phrases without speaking while their team tries to guess what they are performing.
Charades is a timeless party game that combines creativity, physical expression, and quick thinking. Players take turns acting out words, phrases, or concepts without speaking or making sounds while teammates guess. This classic icebreaker encourages participants to step out of their comfort zones, laugh together, and develop non-verbal communication skills.
Objective
Encourage creative expression, non-verbal communication, and team bonding through performance.
- Prepared cards with words/phrases
- Timer
- Paper and pen for scoring
How to Play
Prepare Charades Cards
10 minWrite words, phrases, movie titles, book titles, or concepts on cards. Categorize them (movies, actions, famous people, etc.).
Divide into Teams
3 minSplit participants into two or more teams. Teams take turns having one member perform while others guess.
Explain Standard Signals
5 minTeach common charades signals: number of words (fingers), which word you're acting (fingers), sounds like (cup ear), book/movie category (specific gestures).
Play Rounds
30 minOne player draws a card and has 1-2 minutes to act it out while their team guesses. Award points for correct guesses. Rotate to the next team.
Declare Winner
2 minAfter all players have had turns, tally points and celebrate the winning team.
Pro Tips
Customize card difficulty to your audience. Mix easy and challenging items.
Demonstrate a round yourself first to show it's okay to be silly.
Variations
Try these variations to adapt the game for different contexts and group sizes.
Changes:
Changes:
- Work-specific charades cards
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