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
- Firefighter
- Unroll an imaginary hose, grip it with both hands and aim at a high window. Climbing a tall ladder makes the scene obvious.
- Dentist
- Ask an invisible patient to open wide, check their teeth with a small mirror, then bring in a buzzing drill. Open your own mouth wide to help.
- Hairdresser
- Use two fingers as scissors to snip above an imaginary head, then blow-dry. Holding up a mirror for the client at the end is a strong clue.
- Postal worker
- Pull letters from a bag slung across your body and push them one by one through letterboxes. Mime a dog barking at you from behind the door if nobody guesses.
- Orchestra conductor
- Beat time with a baton while your left hand asks for softer or louder playing. Finish by turning round to bow to the audience behind you.
- Baker
- Knead dough with both hands, shape a loaf, then slide it into the oven on a long wooden peel. The peel is what sets the baker apart from a pastry chef.
- Photographer
- Hold an invisible camera to your eye, twist the lens to focus, then wave the group closer together. Press the shutter with one eye shut.
- Gardener
- Dig, drop in a seed, pat the soil down, then lift a watering can by its handle. Wipe your brow to show how hard you are working.
- Airline pilot
- Sit down, grip the controls with both hands and flick switches above your head. Tip your cap to the passengers before easing the controls forward.
- Waiter
- Balance a tray on one raised hand with a napkin over your forearm, and jot an order in a little notepad. Weave between imaginary tables.
- Astronaut
- Move in slow motion as if weightless, floating from one foot to the other. Lower a helmet onto your head and plant a flag.
- Traffic officer
- With a whistle in your mouth, hold up one hand to stop a line of cars and wave the other lane on. Turn a quarter at a time to direct each road.
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.