- BGG rank
- BGG #1,133
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Spyfall
- 3–8 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,297
- BGG rating
- 5.1
Charades
1550
Rules assistance for Charades
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.1/5
Rules assistant for Charades
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Charades is a board game released in 1550 for 2–20 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Communication Limits and Acting.
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About the game
A traditional parlor game for large or small groups, charades was once so popular as an after-dinner activity that it was known simply as "The Game." Its recorded history dates back to 16th century France, and the name has become a catchphrase for many different pantomime games. Many boxed versions with suggestions and timers are available, and several TV shows have been made using the basic idea of the game. In most versions, one player silently acts out a title (book, movie, show, etc.), phrase or person and their team must guess it. The words can be from a commercially made list or just creatively made up by the players. Many signals and conventions have become traditional (see link below). The experience is usually humorous, whether you are strenuously flapping away like a buzzard - alternating with pretending to push a buzzer and lying dead on the floor - for several minutes while your team guesses everything but buzzard ("bird!" "scavenger!" "bird of prey!!" "raptor?") or frantically struggling to think up clever clues. Many of the clues use the "sounds like" hint - pretending to sew for the word "so," for example. The excitement and frustration of piecing together the clues and guessing is also a great part of the fun, of course, and the relief is immense for both the actor and the guessing team when the guess is finally (or miraculously suddenly) correct. The game usually produces much laughter in the group playing it - solving the riddles is only part of the experience.
Mechanics
Publishers
- (Unknown)
- Selchow & Righter
- Tactic
- Trefl
- (Public Domain)
- Noris Spiele
- Brimtoy
- Lagoon Games
- Moose Games
- Go! Games
- Peliko Oy
- Alexander
- HABA
- Croner
- Outset Media
- Paladone
- Jedko Games
- John N. Hansen Co., Inc.
- Paletti
- Wild & Wolf
- BV Leisure Ltd
- Meadowbrook Press
- The White Company
Questions and answers
Charades supports 2–20 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 Charades 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 Charades for ages 8 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.
Charades has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Charades belongs to these categories: Movies / TV / Radio theme, Party Game, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Communication Limits and Acting. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Charades 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.