Charades Generator
The list holds 396 charades words across 6 categories (120 of them rated hard). Pick a category and level, press New word, and start the timer, which defaults to 60 seconds.
How to use
- Choose categories and a difficulty (or Mixed), then set the timer and the number of teams.
- The actor presses New word, reads it in private (turn on Hide the word to keep it covered until Show), then starts the timer.
- When the team guesses it, press Got it to give the team a point and draw the next word. Press Skip to pass. Next team resets the timer for the other side.
How it works
Words come from a built-in list of 396 entries written for this tool, grouped into 6 categories: movies and stories, animals, actions, everyday objects, jobs, and sports and hobbies. Each category is split into easy, medium and hard.
Each press draws a random word that has not been used yet, using your browser's secure random source, so nothing repeats until the whole pool is used. The counter shows how many are left, and the pool reshuffles when it runs out. Changing categories or difficulty starts a fresh pool.
The timer measures real elapsed time rather than counting ticks, so it stays accurate when the tab is in the background. At zero it plays a short chime (you can mute it), flashes the tab title and reveals the word.
Charades rules in brief
- No talking, no sounds and no pointing at objects in the room. Only acting and gestures.
- The actor first signals what kind of word it is: movie or story (cranking an old film camera), a book, a song, a show or a phrase.
- Then they show the number of words (fingers held up) and which word they mean (finger tapped on the arm).
- Teammates may shout guesses at any time. The word is scored when someone says it exactly.
- The first team to score the most points before the rounds end wins. Play an equal number of turns for each team.
Choosing a difficulty
| Level | Example | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | swimming, penguin, chair | Children, first-time players |
| Medium | juggling, hedgehog, microscope | Mixed family groups |
| Hard | threading a needle, auctioneer, Hamlet | Adults, party rounds with a short timer |
FAQ
Are the movie titles real films?
The Movies and stories category uses classic fairy tales and public-domain books and plays, such as Cinderella, Dracula and Hamlet. They are all widely known and work well for acting out.
How do I keep the word secret on one phone?
Keep Hide the word ticked. The word stays covered until the actor presses Show, and the actor can hide it again before handing the phone back.
Does the timer have to be 60 seconds?
No. Choose 30, 60, 90 or 120 seconds, or turn the timer off and score by hand. A shorter timer suits hard words and big groups.
Can I play with more than two teams?
Yes. The scoreboard supports one to four teams. Tap a team name to make it active, then press Got it to score for that team.
Will I see the same word twice?
Not until every word in your current selection has appeared. Then the pool reshuffles and a notice appears. Selecting fewer categories shrinks the pool, so repeats come sooner.