Customer Reviews

The Game of SCATTERGORIES

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is a great game... there are 12 categories on a sheet, and you roll a many sided die to see which letter you will use during a round. Here's the trick, you have three minutes to come up with a word that starts with the letter from the die that is something that other players will accept as fitting into each of the 12 categories. Then, you score points by having words that no one else has.

If you like word games you'll like this one. If you like games that can last as long as one 3-minute round, or as long as you want, then you'll also like this game.

I found that once you run out of categories supplied with the game you can make up your own categories and continue the fun.

A great party game, or for the family to share some evening or lazy afternoon.

A great buy!

Alan Holyoak

I recently bought this game, and played it with my family on Thanksgiving. Everyone found it fun, from age 8 to 54! I had to leave early, and people were actually asking if I had left "Scattergories"! It takes your vocabulary, some words you come up with you don't even know you know! Since I'm home-schooled, My mom and I play it all the time as extra-curriculum, it's ~VERY~ educational. I would recommend ~EVERYONE~ buy this game.

Each player is given a card with a list of twelve categories on it. The 20 sided die is rolled, and the game is on. Now you must complete your list of categories with whatever letter came up with the roll of the die. And, just to make it more challenging, if you come up with the same answer as another player, you both must cross the answer off your list.

It may seem easy now, but believe me, it's hard when the time comes. You have 3 minutes to fill in 12 categories, so it's not the time. I find my mind often draws a blank when first presented with the lists, but if I go through it filling in the easy answers first, I can often fill in some of the harder ones later.

Officially, the game is for 2 to 6 players, so the title of my review should have been great small group game. But small messes up my alliteration. Seriously, I did play this once in a large group, and we just played with several teams instead of the traditional individual players.

This is a fun way to increase vocabulary under pressure. I've enjoyed it every time I've played it, and I'm sure you will as well.

When I was in college, this was the game we played in the dorms when we got snowed in. We'd all pool together our food and sodas and gather in the commons areas to play individually and as teams. It was always great fun, and if you are in college now or have a college aged kid, this would be perfect to take to school. Not only is it fun, but like most of the other reviewers have said, it builds vocabulary and is never the same twice.

This has been a favorite of my extended family and friends for MANY years. We are all big Games Night enthusiasts and no holiday gathering would be complete without armloads of games from which to choose, but one game that always seems to be a preference is Scattergories. It's a simple game without a lot of rules to memorize, it's fast-paced, it's constantly changing, and players seem to have a pretty even chance for victory because of the broadness of the categories. Each player gets a pencil and a folded board to write against and several sheets of paper with blanks for playing twelve different rounds per game. Each player is also given a set of 6 cards that have a total of 12 different rounds' worth of categories. On each "round" card there are lists of items such as birds, European cities, actresses, University nicknames, etc. Everyone has the same list of items for any given round. A large chunky die with the letters of the alphabet on it is rolled to see which letter will be used for each round. The object is to come up with as many items from the round's list that begin with the letter that has been rolled within the 3 minutes allotted by the game's timer device. The Catch: you only get to count the ones that nobody else has so you are definitely encouraged to go way out in left field, but, The Catch: if you go too wacky the others may challenge you and a majority vote will get your answer thrown out. For example: Category - things that are cold, Letter - W. You might say, "my ex-wife, Wanda." Your opponents might let that fly or they might have liked ol' Wanda and shoot you down in flames. If you are clever and you can use the letter twice for the same answer you get double the points. For example: Category - Actresses, Letter - M. Mae West would get you one point for Mae but Marilyn Monroe would get you two points, one each for Marilyn and Monroe. House rules can help to clarify or limit the number of disputes that come up by deciding in advance just how literal you want the answers to be. We've played this game with all adults and found it to be exciting and interesting and funny enough to keep us entertained. We've played it with middle school and high school kids and thoroughly enjoyed it. We've even had some grade schoolers sit in and they did not win any rounds but they often came up with ideas that none of the adults had and they enjoyed stumping us. Usually when younger kids want to play we put them on a team with some older person. The answers are often clever and often funny. It's alot of fun and doesn't take forever to play. It's tried and true and still crazy after all these years. Check it out.

There are a few people in our extended family who simply don't enjoy playing board games or even party games of any type. However, these same people have loved playing Scattergories. It is simple in concept but challenging to the intellect. Also, it just ends up being hilarious to hear the answers that people come up with. This is the game our family has enjoyed playing more than any other game.

A must have for your game collection!

This is a great game for the family because it can be played by a wide varity of ages. It is never the same twice, it is always different. It is fun and educational for the young players and keeps the older players mentally sharp. Working against the clock can be a hard thing but can also help you to learn to manage your stress level and help you to work under pressure. If I could find a fault with this game it would be that after playing it for ten years or so it would be nice to be able to purchase additional lists to work with. Would I buy it again? You bet. Would I give it as a gift? Been there,done that. Do I think it is a good gift for the younger set? By all means, if you want to give a gift that will help the child learn and yet have fun.

This is a board game for anyone. Kids will like playing it at slumber parties, but they will also enjoy playing it with their grandparents. (so will the grandparents) College students would probably even enjoy playing it with their younger siblings AND their grandparents. Part of the enjoyment and educational value is hearing what words other people come up with for the various categories, and the more kinds of people playing, the more varied the words used. Its also a good choice for a family game because in my experience it's less likely to deteriorate into all-out warfare between siblings than scrabble (no, yzebec is not a word!)

This game is fabulous. I play it with my parents, friends, even the kids I babysit for. It is challenging and also tons of fun. Also, the part I really like is that you can play it for as much time as you have. Stop whenever you like! Scattergories has expanded my vocabulary and has also provided my friends and me with lots of inside jokes. Worth the money!

I am not a big board game fan, but I have always enjoyed playing this game. I have found it very challenging because if you put down something that is too obvious, others will also have that answer. This game forces you to be thoughtful and creative and that is what makes it as enjoyable as it is.