Scattergories is a fast-paced game where players have to name things inside of a category. It is a great game because it is extremely simple and the rules are very easy to understand. It doesn’t require any special cards or equipment, so it can be played anywhere like classrooms, sleepovers, and road trips. The game is nice because it doesn’t become overly competitive and pushes you to be creative.
What is Scattergories?
Scattergories is a party word game where you score points by listing words in a specific category that start with the same letter. This game was originally published in 1988 by Milton Bradley. Since it was originally created, there have been a lot of variations of the game, including many that don’t require the original game pieces published. The main concept is to come up with lists of words that start with the same letter, and from there you can add your own variations such as taking turns, setting times, scoring points, eliminations, and more. For decades, variations of scattergories have brought smiles to parties and family game nights.
How to Play Scattergories
To play Scattergories, you will need paper, pencils, and a list of categories. There are also different variants that do not require paper and pencils. If you have trouble coming up with your own categories, you can choose from the ones below!
Start by giving each person a piece of paper, a pencil, and a list of categories. First, pick a letter of the alphabet (you can roll a special letter die if you have one, or just choose a random letter). Then, set a timer for 2 or 3 minutes and during that time, everyone writes down one word for each category that starts with the chosen letter. For example, if the letter is “B,” you might write “banana” for food, “bear” for animal, and “Batman” for movie. When time is up, go around and read your answers out loud. If no one else wrote the same word as you, you get a point. If someone else has the same word, you both get zero points. After a few rounds, the player with the most points wins.
Alternatively, if you don’t have paper or a timer, you can just play elimination style. This way, you have people taking turns saying things in a certain category that start with a certain letter. When someone can’t come up with something that hasn’t been said before, then they are eliminated.
Best Categories for Scattergories
Food & Drink Categories
Everyone loves food, so it’s easy to think of things in these categories! Check out the following scattergories categories that have to do with food and drinks!
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Desserts
- Restaurants
- Breakfast foods
- Candy
- Cheeses
- Beverages
- Pizza toppings
- Dairy products
- Types of meat
- Foods you eat with your hands
- Baked goods
Animal Categories for Scattergories
The category of animals is probably the most classic category in scattergories. There are a ton of animals in the world, so there are so many to choose from!
- Mammals
- Birds
- Reptiles
- Carnivores
- Herbivores
- Insects
- Sea animals
- Farm animals
- Zoo animals
- Animals with tails
Entertainment
If your group loves pop culture and entertainment, then consider one of the following categories.
- Movies
- TV shows
- Video games
- Board games
- Cartoon characters
- Superheroes
- Movie Villains
- Celebrities
- Disney characters
- Musical instruments
- Song Names
- Types of dances
- Famous duos
- Apps
- YouTubers
- Slang words
- Podcasts
- Rock Bands
- Books
School & Learning
If you’re playing scattergories in a classroom with with classmates, then these categories could be great for you! Regardless of what grade or age, anyone can have fun with these categories.
- School subjects
- Classroom objects
- Types of books
- Things in a backpack
- Things in a locker
- College majors
- Math terms
- Science tools
- Historical figures
- Careers
- Languages
- School clubs
- Things you study
- Types of writing
Travel & Places
If you’re the type of person that loves traveling or spends a lot of time looking at maps, these might be the perfect scattergories categories for you!
- Countries
- Cities
- European cities
- U.S. cities
- U.S. states
- Landmarks
- Vacation spots
- Amusement parks
- Mountains
- Islands
- Airports
- Street names
- National parks
- Tourist attractions
People
With 8 billion people in the world, the options for these scattergories categories are endless! Choose a subcategory of people from the list below, and come up with their lists of names!
- First names
- Last names
- Professional athletes
- Football Players
- Basketball Players
- Baseball Players
- Soccer Players
- Famous Actors
- Friends’ names
- Famous authors
- Historical figures
- Royalty
- Inventors
- Mythological characters
Random Category Ideas for Scattergories
Sometimes the best categories for scattergories are the ones that are completely random! You can say things like “objects in this room right now” or “people we know,” which makes the gameplay very specific to your group of people.
- Things that are round
- Things you keep in your car
- Car models
- Things you wear
- Hobbies
- Flowers
- Plants
- Things smaller than an apple
- Things bigger than a bus
- Words with double letters
- Toys
- Bad habits
- Things you shout
- Things that are sticky
- Things that smell good
- Things that fly
- Things that can break
Conclusion
Scattergories is a super fun game that you can play with friends, or as an icebreaker with strangers. It’s a great way to get your creative juices flowing. You don’t have to use one of the categories above, they are simply used to inspire you as you look for categories for your game. There are many variations of the game, including a card game version and a version you play on paper. You can totally change the rules to accommodate your environment or group site to keep things entertaining!
If you’re a better visual learner, watch this video on how to play scattegories: