Charades

1 Game Overview

Charades is the timeless acting guessing game that needs nothing but people and imagination. One player acts out a word or phrase using only gestures and body movement. No speaking, no sounds, no props. Their team must guess correctly before time runs out.

Charades is one of the oldest parlor games still played today. Its genius is in how much communication is possible with no words at all. A shared vocabulary of gestures makes the game universally playable across language barriers and generations.

Players: 4 or more (best with 6 to 12) | Time: 30 to 60 minutes | Ages: 8 and up

2 Setup

1. Divide into two or more teams of at least 2 players each.
2. Prepare clue words or phrases. Options: write them on slips of paper in a bowl, use a charades app, or have the opposing team write clues for the acting team.
3. Set the acting time limit. Standard is 60 to 90 seconds. Some groups use 2 minutes.
4. Decide on categories in advance (movies, TV shows, songs, books, famous people, phrases, etc.).

3 Official Gesture Dictionary

These are the universally recognized charades signals. Learning these makes the game run smoothly and eliminates confusion:

Category Signals (Always First)

Word and Syllable Signals

Pro tip: Always signal the category first, then the number of words. This immediately orients your team before you start acting.

4 How to Play

1. The acting player draws a clue without letting their team see it.
2. The timer starts (60 to 90 seconds is standard).
3. The actor signals the category and begins acting.
4. Teammates call out guesses freely. No penalty for wrong guesses.
5. The actor can confirm correct guesses (point, thumbs up, nod) or redirect with gestures.
6. If the team guesses correctly before time runs out, they score a point.
7. If time runs out without a correct guess, the clue is discarded and the next team plays.
8. Rotate who is acting clockwise around the team.
9. Teams alternate turns until all clues are used or a score target is reached.

5 Scoring

• Point per correct guess: Each correctly guessed clue within the time limit earns the team 1 point. Most common method.
• Time-based scoring: The team earns points based on how quickly they guess. Faster correct guesses earn more points.
• Fixed round number: Each team gets a fixed number of turns (e.g., 5 turns per team, 3 rounds). Highest total points wins.
• First to N points: Set a target score (e.g., 15 points). First team there wins.

6 Strategy Tips

For the Actor

• Always start with category and word count. Without this context, guessers are lost.
• Act the whole thing first, then break it down. A full-scene performance sometimes triggers an immediate correct guess.
• Use the "sounds like" signal strategically. A rhyme can unlock a stuck team instantly.
• Exaggerate everything. Subtle gestures read as nothing. Big, clear, committed movements work best.
• If your team is stuck, change approach entirely. Try a different word in the phrase, a different syllable, or a sounds-like.

For the Guessers

• Keep guessing rapidly. Call out synonyms when you are close.
• Watch the actor's reaction. Enthusiasm means you are getting warmer.
• If you know the category and word count, you can often narrow the list quickly.

7 Variants

Celebrity Charades

Clues are limited to famous people only: actors, athletes, politicians, musicians, fictional characters. Great for groups who enjoy pop culture.

One-Word Charades

Every clue is a single word. Forces actors to convey meaning without the scaffolding of a full sentence or title structure. Significantly harder.

Reverse Charades

One person guesses while the entire rest of the team acts together. Flips the format entirely. Hilarious for larger groups.

Online / Video Call Charades

Works remarkably well over video call. Use a shared word generator site displayed only to the actor. Guessers watch via camera. The slight video delay occasionally causes confusion but the core game translates well to remote play.

8 Wrong House Rules

• Making sounds: No sounds are allowed in official charades. Not even humming, clicking, or vocalized breathing meant as clues. Strictly silent.
• Mouthing words: Silently mouthing words is a common cheat. Not allowed. The rule is no verbal communication, including lip-reading hints.
• Using props: The actor may not pick up or point at objects in the room. Only body gestures count.
• Skipping the category signal: Many players skip the category setup and jump straight to acting. This loses valuable context for the guessers.

9 History of Charades

Charades originated as a literary riddle game in 18th-century France. The word "charade" comes from the French word for entertainment or show. In its earliest form, charades were written riddles where each syllable of a word was described in verse and readers had to solve the word.

The acting version emerged in Victorian England as parlor entertainment. By the mid-19th century, "acting charades" was a staple of upper-class social gatherings, where elaborate dramatic performances were staged by guests in drawing rooms. The acted form is referenced in Jane Austen's Emma (1815) and throughout Victorian literature.

By the 20th century, the acting version had largely replaced the literary form and spread globally. It became a television game show format, a children's party game, and an improv comedy staple. Today charades apps and digital word generators have modernized the game while keeping its fundamentally human nature intact.

Shop Charades games on Amazon

10 Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make sounds in Charades?

No. Charades is strictly silent. No sounds, humming, or mouthing of words allowed.

How long is a Charades turn?

Standard is 60 to 90 seconds per turn. Many groups use 2 minutes for harder phrases. Agree before starting.

What gesture means "movie" in Charades?

Crank an old-fashioned film projector with your hand, making a circular motion near your eye.

What gesture means "sounds like" in Charades?

Cup your hand behind your ear and lean forward, as if straining to hear.

How do you signal the number of words in Charades?

Hold up that many fingers on one hand before you start acting.

Can you point at things in the room during Charades?

No. Only body gestures count. You may not use objects or people in the room as props or clues.

How do you signal syllables in Charades?

Hold up the number of syllables using fingers, then tap your forearm that many times.

What is Reverse Charades?

The entire team acts together while one person guesses. Great for large groups.

How do you win at Charades?

The team with the most correct guesses at the end of the agreed number of rounds wins.