- BGG rank
- BGG #5,467
- BGG rating
- 6.4
TAGS
- 2–4 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,782
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Category Game
1994
Rules assistance for Category Game
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- 14+
- Complexity 1.4/5
Rules assistant for Category Game
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Category Game is a board game released in 1994 for 2–8 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Spartaco Albertarelli.
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About the game
Category Game is a party game about finding words: a 5x5 plastic grid with 5 "word category" cards (placed over the columns) and 5 letter tiles (placed at the left border of the rows)is filled with 25 marbles (whose value is 1, 2 or 3 points). Any marble is placed in a cell in the grid, whose position is corresponding to a category column and a letter row: you can take the marble finding a word in the category of the column, beginning with the letter in the row. For instance, if the category is "Games", and letter is "C", you can also say... "Category Game"! Players are arranged in teams, then the starting player has 15 seconds to try to get as many marbles as he can, saying words matching the category on the column, and beginning with the letter on the row. The uncomplete grid is then passed to the next player, who has 15 seconds to take some of the remaining marbles, and so on. When the grid is empty, or when everyone passes (i.e. when you only have on the grid marbles corresponding to a difficult or impossible letter/category match), points are scored. Category cards and letter tiles are then changed, marbles are randomly put again on the grid, and a new round begins. Category Game is a very nice reworking of a traditional pencil and paper game: I appreciate the fast pace induced by the 15 seconds sandtimer, the partnership play, the good assortment of category cards, and... the arguing! In effect, some of the cards are an undoubtful source for arguments (or - when the going get tough - for "marbles wars"... be careful!): "Into the sea", for instance... What if someone says "Cars" or "Chairs"? Shouldn't cars or chairs get into the sea?
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Editrice Giochi
Questions and answers
Category Game supports 2–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Category Game is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Category Game for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Category Game has a complexity rating of 1.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Category Game belongs to these categories: Word Game, Party Game, and Action / Dexterity. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Category Game and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Category Game are: Spartaco Albertarelli. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Category Game as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.