8 Best Games Like Scattergories For Fast-Paced Wordplay 

Whenever we mention classic, timeless games, Scattergories makes it to the top of the lists. Regardless of how, if you’ve played it hundreds of times like we did, the spark just isn’t there anymore. Hence, for everyone who loves wordplay and giving clever answers under pressure, today we will explore 8 of the best games like Scattergories, and they will become your new favorites. 

1. Really Loud Librarians 

Ages 8+ | 2+ players | Playtime of 20 minutes;

If you like the fast-thinking gameplay of Scattergories, you’ll find the same element in Really Loud Librarians, too. The idea of the game is shouting out loud words from a specific category that start with the letter from the race track, on which you’ll move forward every time you guess something correctly. Really Loud Librarians can be played even by younger kids, since it doesn’t require spelling or writing words down, like in Scattergories. You simply have to shout, only keeping in mind the first letter. 

2. Just One 

Ages 8+ | 3 to 7 players | Playtime of 20 minutes;

Just One is another card game appropriate for kids that works great with every group of people. Each round consists of 5 phases, which include selecting the mystery word, and then all players giving clues to the active player, to help them guess that secret word. Just One, exactly like Scattergories, encourages originality, which means that duplicate answers aren’t allowed. However, Scattergories is quite more competitive, considering that in Just One, players work together to help the guesser find out the mystery word. 

3. So Clover 

Ages 10+ | 3 to 6 players | Playtime of 30 minutes;

While in Scattergories, you try to guess words that fit categories and letters, in So Clover, you must give clues to help the teammates guess word combinations. There are two phases of gameplay: Choosing Clues and Resolution. After you write the 4 clues for the word combinations and move to the Resolution phase, there’s one Spectator who verifies the keywords. And the game ends after every player has been a Spectator once! What we find quite similar in both So Clover and Scattergories is that, due to randomized letters or words, the replayability is high.  

4. Tapple

Ages 8+ | 2 to 8 players | Playtime of 5 to 15 minutes;

Tapple is just like playing Scattergories, but on speed. Differently from Scattergories, Tapple comes with a letter wheel, too! Anyone can start the round by tapping the timer button in the center of the wheel, announcing a category, and then having only 10 seconds to name a word, starting in one of the available letters. What we love in Tapple is that each card has two sides: the darker one, which has simpler categories, and the lighter one, with more advanced play. 

5. Letter Jam

Ages 10+ | 2 to 6 players | Playtime of 45 minutes;

Firstly, Letter Jam is a cooperative game, and doesn’t have a strong competition element like Scattergories does. Also, it’s much slower. Instead of quickly guessing and yelling words, in Letter Jam, you guess the hidden letters in your own words by using clues from the other players. All rounds consist of giving clues, recording clues, guessing, rotating letters, and using clue tokens. You all win if everyone can reconstruct their word into a valid one, or even better, into the original word! 

6. Caution Signs

Ages 8+ | 3 to 9 players | Playtime of 20 to 30 minutes;

Imagine you’re playing Scattergories, but drawings are included. That’s called Caution Signs! In this game, you (as a sketcher) are given 2 cards. Most likely an adjective and a noun. Then, all of you have 20 seconds to sketch them, and pass the sketches and the cards face-down to the guesser. The latter must match up the cards and sketches, which decides the score as well. Both Caution Signs and Scattergories value creativity over correctness, and both thrive on rapid-fire thinking. 

7. Monikers

Ages 17+ | 2 to 12+ players | Playtime of 30 to 45 minutes;

Monikers, besides being very similar to Scattergories in terms of word-guessing, it is in the group of games like Cards Against Humanity, too! Each game round is played in three phases, and that includes saying a one-word clue, saying any word just like in Taboo, or acting words out. Just like in Scattergories, in Monikers as well, words have different categories, but in the latter, you have to guess the actual word written on the card, while in Scattergories, you have to come up with words!

8. Telestrations 

Ages 12+ | 4 to 8 players | Playtime of 10 to 15 minutes;

Telestrations (including Telestrations: After Dark) is another all-time go-to game that never fails to lighten up parties. Sure, the main element is the guessing, just like in Scattergories, but here, you’re required to draw too, as artistically or funny as you can. Basically, the idea in Telestrations is that you’re given a word, and you have to draw it, pass the sketchbook to the next player, who must guess your word, then draw, and pass again. This continues until your sketchbook comes back to you.  Finally, you reveal the sketchbook and see how the word evolved! 

Final Thoughts

Well, when you move on from a game you’ve played and loved that much, just like Scattergories, it feels like cheating. Sometimes, trying something new, in our case, a new fun game, means more laughter and unforgettable moments. And this is your sign to try out the new games, that of course, don’t replace the all-time classic Scattergories, but bring a similar gameplay and good vibes.