Scattergories: Your Guide to Gameplay and Fun Facts

By Marye Audet

Scattergories is a game where players name objects within a set of categories. It isn't that easy, though. The objects must be named with a given letter and within a time limit. This game received the Mensa Best Mind Game Award in 1990. Scattergories is produced by Hasbro and was first published in 1988.

Game Contents

Six folders
Forty-eight category cards
One answer pad
Six pencils
Twenty -sided letter die
Six clip strips
Timer
Die rolling board
Instructions

You will also need two AAA batteries to power the timer.

Objective

The objective of Scattergories is to score points by being the only person to name objects within a set of categories. Each object named must start with the beginning letter that was randomly chosen by the die and listed within a time limit. Points are scored.

How to Play Scattergories

Each player takes a folder with a pad of paper and three category cards.
Each card contains numerous lists so the players must agree on a category list to use.
One player then rolls the die to determine the first letter used.
The timer is set for three minutes.
. In three minute time period, each player must attempt to write down a word that fits in each of the categories and begins with the letter indicated on the die. Any number of words in the answer is allowed as long as the first word starts with the correct letter.
Players must stop writing immediately when the timer goes off.
Players then take turns reading their answers. Points are awarded for each acceptable answer that has not been used by another player. Extra points are given for acceptable alliteration. For example, green grapes might net a player two points if the category is fruit and the letter is G, while green grapefruit would net only one point. Green grapes are a type of grape while green grapefruit is only a combination of a noun and an adjective.
Once the words are challenged, accepted or denied, and the points are awarded, the die is rolled again.
The game is played in three round sets.

Add-ons and Other Version

Can be expanded by Scattergories Refill
Scattergories Junior
Scattergories Bible Edition
Scattergories Platinum, an electronic edition

Trivia and Facts

This game was turned into a television game show hosted by Dick Clark in 1993.
It was the last television game show to be produced at the Burbank Studios.
If the same letter is rolled twice in a game, the die must be re-rolled to get a different letter.
The twenty-sided die is heavy enough that the company cautions that it could damage a tabletop. A die-rolling board is provided with the game.
Playing a play-off round resolves tie scores.
The same player cannot use the same word twice in a game, even if it refers to two separate things. Orange cannot be used as a fruit, and then as a color in the same game by the same player, for example.
Some teachers use Scattergories as a teaching aid especially in ESL classes.