What is a scategory?
A scategory is one of the 12 categories on a Scattergories list, like "Things that are red". The name plays on the game's title. A standard game uses one list of 12 categories per round and three rounds, each with a new letter.
Categories
Scattergories Online: Roll a Letter, Fill 12 Categories
36 category lists, a letter roll that skips the hard letters and a 3-minute timer. Type your answers on the sheet and the score adds itself up.
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Classic mix 1
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- Names for a pet goldfish
- Things that are red
- Animals you could ride
- Things you can stack
- Things in a kitchen
- Sports you could play in your backyard
- Things you put on toast
- Things you can bang like a drum
- Things you wear
- TV shows
- Things that fly
- Desserts you would share with nobody
Classic mix 1 · 3:00
Categories settings
Category list
Round timer
Letter die
Play
Quick answer
How do you play Scattergories online?
Pick a list of 12 categories, roll a letter and start the 3-minute timer. Everyone writes one answer per category that starts with that letter. When time runs out, read answers aloud: unique answers score a point, and answers someone else also wrote score nothing. Play three rounds with new letters, and the highest total wins.
How to play
How to play Scattergories
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Pick a list and roll
Pick a list of 12 categories and roll a letter.
- 2
Start the timer
Start the timer. Everyone writes one answer per category that starts with the letter.
- 3
First word counts
Any number of words is fine as long as the first word starts with the letter. Ignore A, An and The at the start.
- 4
Read answers aloud
When time is up, read answers aloud category by category.
- 5
Score unique answers
A unique answer scores 1 point. If two or more players give the same answer, nobody scores for it.
- 6
Alliteration bonus
Optional alliteration bonus: a proper noun scores 1 point for each word that starts with the letter.
- 7
Challenge answers
Anyone can challenge an answer. The group votes; on a tie, the challenged player's vote is dropped.
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Play three rounds
Play three rounds with a new letter each round. Highest total wins.
Category lists
36 Scattergories lists, 12 categories each
Tap a list to put it on the answer sheet above.
Classic7 lists
Kids7 lists
Holidays and seasons6 lists
Themed10 lists
Work2 lists
Adults and hard4 lists
Funny Scattergories categories
Funny Scattergories categories ask for silly answers, so the reading-out part gets the laughs. The Funny and weird list is all of them; here it is with a few picks from other lists.
- Things you shouldn't lick
- Bad names for a pet
- Things that make you sneeze
- Pizza toppings that would get you banned
- Things you'd find in a giant's pocket
- Excuses for not doing homework
- Bad superhero powers
- Things a robot would say
- Silly dance names
- Things you shouldn't microwave
- Ridiculous hats
- Things that smell bad
- Excuses for being late
- Things you shout
- Silly words
- Things a pirate has
- Things that are overrated
How long does a game of Scattergories take?
A game of Scattergories takes about 15 to 20 minutes for 4 players. Each round runs up to 3 minutes plus a few minutes of reading answers and scoring, and a game is three rounds. Use the 90-second timer for kids or a quick warm-up.
Best strategy for winning Scattergories
The best Scattergories strategy is to write answers nobody else will think of, because matching answers score zero.
- Go for the unusual answer, not the first one that comes to mind.
- Use alliteration on proper nouns for bonus points.
- Skip a hard category and come back to it.
- Never leave a line blank. A weak answer can still be unique.
- Use A, An or The freely. They do not count as the first word.
- Challenge answers that bend the category, but keep it friendly.
How to play Scattergories on a video call
To play Scattergories on a video call, one person shares this page with Room mode on, and everyone writes answers on paper or their own phone.
- The host picks a list and turns on Room mode.
- Share the screen so everyone sees the letter and the timer.
- Everyone writes their 12 answers on paper.
- At the bell, go category by category and read answers aloud.
The letter die
Which letters are on the Scattergories die?
The classic die leaves out Q, U, V, X, Y and Z. No letter repeats within a game until the pool runs out.
| Letter pool | Letters | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Classic, 20 letters | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T W | Most groups. Skips Q, U, V, X, Y and Z |
| Kids, 16 letters | A B C D E F G H L M N P R S T W | Younger players and quick rounds |
| Hard, 26 letters | A to Z | Experienced players. Allow a pass on impossible categories |
Variations
Ways to play Scattergories
Kids Scattergories
Toys, colours and animals with the 16-letter kids die and a 90-second timer.
- Animals you would see at the zoo
- Colors of crayons
- Toys you would want for your birthday
- Things in a lunchbox
- Characters from kids' shows
- Things that are yellow
- Things you do at recess
- Fruits you can peel
- Animals that live on a farm
- Things in a backpack
Christmas Scattergories
Two festive lists, from things in a stocking to holiday foods.
- Things on a Christmas tree
- Christmas songs
- Things in a stocking
- Gifts
- Reindeer names or words
- Things that are red or green at Christmas
- Christmas movies
- Holiday foods
- Things at the North Pole
- Winter clothes
Speed round
Short, easy categories for a 60-second warm-up.
- Animals
- Foods
- Things that are shiny
- Things you can climb
- Places
- Things in your house
- Things that squeak
- Sports
- Clothes
- Things that are big
Team meeting warm-up
Share your screen, everyone writes on paper, read answers aloud. A good start before the icebreaker questions.
- Things on a video call
- Snacks you keep at your desk
- Things that are on your to-do list
- Places to work from
- Things in a calendar
- Things you lose
- Things that need charging
- Weekend plans
- Buzzwords
- Things that make the team laugh
Rules and sources
Watch the rules, then check the source
Plays from YouTube only when you tap it.
A 20-sided letter die is rolled to determine the first letter used. The timer is set for up to three minutes.
Players score zero points for an answer that duplicates another answer in that round, and one point for an answer no other player has given.
Questions
Scattergories questions
What are the basic rules of Scattergories?
Roll a letter, start a timer of up to 3 minutes, and write one answer for each of the 12 categories that starts with that letter. Unique answers score 1 point, answers another player also wrote score nothing, and the highest total after three rounds wins.
What letters are not used in Scattergories?
The classic Scattergories 20-sided die leaves out Q, U, V, X, Y and Z, because few everyday words start with them. For kids, use only the 16 most common starting letters. For a harder game, add all 26 letters and allow a pass when a category has no possible answer.
What are good categories for Scattergories?
Good Scattergories categories are broad enough to have answers for most letters but specific enough to spark unusual picks: Things in a kitchen, Things that are red, Excuses for being late, Things you shouldn't microwave and Famous duos. Mix easy lists with a few funny ones.
How many categories are there in a Scattergories game?
Each list has 12 categories, and a game uses a new list or letter each round. This page has 36 lists, so 432 categories in total, with no category repeated.
What online game is similar to Scattergories?
Categories, also called Stop or Name Place Animal Thing, is the classic version of the same idea. This page plays it with a letter roll, a timer and an answer sheet.
Is there an app for Scattergories?
The board game has official apps. This page runs in any phone browser with nothing to install, and works on a TV or a video call with Room mode.
Do my answers get saved?
Your answers stay in this browser on this device only, so a page refresh does not lose them. Nothing is sent anywhere.
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