Charades needs nothing but a bit of floor space and players willing to look a little silly. The idea is simple: get your team to guess a word without speaking, making sounds or pointing at real objects. A turn lasts one or two minutes, and anyone from five to ninety can join in.
The hard part is not understanding the word but knowing where to start. That is why every result on this wheel comes with an opening move: the pose or detail that puts your team on the right track in the first few seconds. Animals suit younger players, jobs ask you to build a little scene, and everyday actions are the funniest to exaggerate.
How to use it
- Split into two teams and set a time limit per word: one minute for adults, two for children.
- The actor spins the wheel without letting their team see the screen, reads the word and the tip, then faces the group.
- They act in total silence while their team calls out guesses; a word guessed in time scores a point.
- Teams take turns. After ten rounds, the team with the most points wins.
All the options
- Kangaroo
- Fold your arms against your chest and hop forward with your feet together. To avoid being taken for a rabbit, mime a pouch on your tummy and lift a baby out of it.
- Elephant
- Hold your nose with one hand, thread the other arm through the loop and swing it: that is the trunk. Add a slow, heavy walk.
- Penguin
- Keep your arms stiff by your sides with your hands flat and turned out, then waddle in tiny steps. Finish by pretending to slide on the ice, without actually throwing yourself down.
- Snake
- Press your palms together in front of you and wave your arms from side to side as you creep forward. Flick your tongue in and out: that detail usually gives it away.
- Giraffe
- Raise one arm straight above your head, bend the hand into a small head and nibble an imaginary leaf. Walk on tiptoe to look even taller.
- Crab
- Turn both hands into pincers and move only sideways. Crouching down makes the shape even easier to spot.
- Monkey
- Scratch your side and the top of your head with knees bent and arms dangling. Peel an imaginary banana if nobody has got it yet.
- Chicken
- Tuck your elbows in like wings, flap them and jerk your neck forward. Peck at the floor, then act surprised to find an egg behind you.
- Frog
- Crouch with your hands on the floor between your feet and make small jumps. Puff out your cheeks and catch an invisible fly with your tongue.
- Sloth
- Hang from an imaginary branch above your head and move in extreme slow motion. Yawn very slowly: the slowness is the main clue.
- Octopus
- Wave your arms and fingers in every direction, as if they were floating in water. Hold up eight fingers to show how many arms you have.
- Cat
- Lick the back of your hand and wipe it behind your ear, as if washing. Stretch with an arched back to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules of charades?
The actor may not speak, make sounds or point at objects in the room. Traditional signals are usually allowed: holding up fingers for the number of words, or tugging an earlobe to mean “sounds like”.
What are easy charades ideas for kids?
Animals and actions they know well: a chicken, a snake, brushing your teeth. With under-sixes, allow the animal noise, since it is often what gets the team there.
How many people do you need to play charades?
Three is the minimum (one acting, two guessing), but the game really works from six players in two teams. With more than twelve, make three teams so everyone gets to act often.
How long should a charades turn last?
One minute suits adults and keeps the pace high; give children two minutes. If a word goes unguessed, the other team can steal it with a single guess.