Charades: Topic Ideas, Word Lists, and How to Play

Kristy Callan enjoys coming up with fun ideas for the holidays ranging from charades lists to party games.

Charades is a fun party game that people of all ages can enjoy. However, coming up with charades ideas can be hard, so I've compiled a list of possible ideas for you!

When choosing an idea for your own game of charades, ensure that every single person will be able to guess it—or at least know what it was when the answer is revealed at the end.

Enjoy!

Rules

Variant 1

The rules of charades are simple. There are many variations on how to play; here is one of two that I'll cover here:

1. You must think of a movie, book, celebrity or something from another category chosen with your friends before the beginning of the game.
2. Place these charades ideas written on slips of paper into a hat, a basket, or just laid out on a table (make sure nobody can see what's written on them). Then, have someone draw a slip and show it to the "actor," who then has to act out whatever charades idea you draw.
3. Using gestures and your extraordinary acting abilities, you/the actor must then make your friends correctly guess what you are thinking of. You can do this in one of two ways. The first is to give your friends the gist of what you are doing. For example, if you were thinking of "Harry Potter," you may wave an imaginary wand around.

Variant 2

The second method is breaking it down word by word, and acting out individual words. For example, if you were thinking of "Harry Potter," you might hold up two fingers, showing that you are acting out the second word, and then mime forming clay (being a "potter").

• Remember, no matter what, you are not allowed to talk. Whether or not you can make noises that are not words depends on what rules you choose to play by. This should be decided by the group before you start to play.
• Also, you cannot use props. For example, if you were acting out "Harry Potter," running to the bookcase and grabbing your Harry Potter book or running to the attic and grabbing a Harry Potter figurine to show your audience is not allowed.

Bonus Variant

To add a twist to the game, why not try having a team of two people both acting?

Movies

TV Shows

Books

Celebrity and Fictional Characters

Musicals

Actions

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Try Guesstures, Too!

Guesstures is a fun variation of charades that adds a bit of urgency to the game. It is well worth considering purchasing if you have enough time before your party or event by making your charades game stand out and be memorable. Check out the video below to see it in action.

Celebrities Play a Giant Version of Guesstures

More Ideas

• Halloween Charades Ideas Words List
  Halloween is the perfect night for a party, and charades is a perfect party game. It is easy to understand how to play, suitable for all ages and can be played with any number of people. Why not give your game of charades a Halloween twist?
• Charades Words List Ideas for Adults
  Charades is a fun party game for all age groups, but when you're just playing with adults, it opens up more possibilities because of all the old movies and TV shows you can use. This list has attempted to compile the best TV shows, movies, and books.
• Hard Charades Ideas: Movies, TV Shows, Books, and More!
  After a challenge in charades? This article's got you covered, with heaps of incredibly difficult tv show, movie and book charades suggestions, and an impossible section down the bottom. Are you up for it?
• Charades For Kids Ideas Words List
  Over 90 charades ideas specifically selected for kids including movies, television shows, books, and animals, as well as some pre-game questions to make sure the game ends in smiles, not tears.

Comments

Raif on April 11, 2020:

Do video games

Paige on November 10, 2019:

This really helped playing and gave great ideas

Hannah on August 06, 2019:

Gahg

Tori on April 20, 2019:

Hi

Sorry

Luz on January 27, 2019:

My nieces came into town and we had a great time playing charades. Thanks for the great ideas.

Idk on December 31, 2018:

1 star

Idk on December 24, 2018:

Good

Laxmi Radhakrishnan komtwar on September 18, 2018:

Gharkul list

Madi_2k on August 17, 2018:

I love you

Kk on July 11, 2018:

Love it

samidha on July 01, 2018:

this was helpful

hayley leblanc on February 24, 2018:

nice one

Ayden on February 17, 2018:

Cool

Bob on December 26, 2017:

Cool

Annabelle on September 30, 2017:

It was fun

Me on August 17, 2017:

My friends suck at this game so it wasn't fun.

Victoria on June 17, 2017:

Nice I love these

Glenn on December 20, 2016:

Thank you for the list, should get the Family laughing on Boxing day!

Kate on September 08, 2016:

Cool game

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on October 12, 2015:

Great hub of ideas for future charades and perhaps gestures too.

Marie on July 13, 2015:

That looks like so much fun

Katelyn Hudgens on March 12, 2015:

Singh up on February 27, 2015:

Hi everyone I love charades

Lindsey on December 27, 2014:

It was fun for me

Kaitlyn on August 29, 2014:

This helps a lot.it has a lot of movie chooses. A lot if book characters. And a lot of celebs. I would use this any day if charades was the only game on the planet of earth

Poppy on December 31, 2013:

This was great fun for me and my family on New Year's Eve ❗️

Essence on December 21, 2013:

Every year all of my sisters and i play games with kids after Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. This year we had a ball, This website was the best.

Frank on May 07, 2013:

I am having a party June 1 you really helped

Molly on December 27, 2012:

cheers having a new years eve party soon needed ideas thanks a lot!!!!!!

Brianne Bieber :D on December 23, 2012:

Thanks :D Lots Of Help :)

Heather on July 23, 2012:

Great ideas for a rainy night on vacation with six teenagers!

Kristy Callan (author) from Australia on July 22, 2012:

Added around 50 new charades ideas. There's also plenty more in the other articles I've linked to at the bottom of the page.

mellisa on July 14, 2012:

nice but put more

Alyssa Bieber :) on July 12, 2012:

Thank you so much! Im having a party tomorrow and i needed idea for charades, You really helped me!

sophia on April 04, 2012:

love all the charades ideas!

Kristy Callan (author) from Australia on January 01, 2012:

Hi Megan!!!

How about:

Ace of Spades

The early bird catches the worm

Head over heels

Happily ever after

A stitch in time saves nine

Megan on January 01, 2012:

i need phrases for charades and i need ideas! any suggestions?

Jayde! :) on November 27, 2011:

I am having a birthday party and i really needed ideas so thank you so much! :)

Kristy Callan (author) from Australia on November 26, 2011:

Thanks for your comment, Maddy! I hope your little boy has a fun party!

Maddy on November 26, 2011:

this sight was totally helpful. It helped me plan for my little boys party!