How to keep score in Scattergories

In Scattergories, you score a point for every answer that fits the category, starts with the letter rolled, and that nobody else wrote. After the last round, add up your points, and the highest total wins.

At a glance

• Players: 2 to 6, or teams

• Who wins: Highest total after the last round

• Each round: 12 categories, one letter, up to 3 minutes

• Rounds: 3 or 4, depending on your box

What each answer scores

When time is up, go through the list one category at a time, and everyone reads their answer aloud.

The first word must start with the letter, and a, an and the don't count as first letters. You can't use the same answer twice in one round.

Alliteration (in some editions)

Some editions score double for an answer that repeats the letter at the start of another word. For the letter B, Big Ben scores 2.

The current classic box leaves this rule out, so agree before you play.

Challenges

If you think an answer doesn't fit, challenge it. Everyone votes, including the player who wrote it, and the majority decides. If the vote is tied, the challenged player's vote doesn't count.

Rounds, the timer and ties

Each round, roll the letter die, turn the timer and fill in one column. The classic timer runs for 3 minutes. If a letter comes up a second time, roll again.

How many rounds depends on your box: the original game plays three, and the current classic edition plays four. You can keep the same category list for every round, or change it.

The highest total wins. If two players tie, play one more round to decide it.

Variants

• Two answers: write up to two answers for each category. Each one nobody else wrote scores 1, so a category can score 2.

• Teams: play in teams with one answer sheet each. The scoring stays the same.

A scoring example

One round with the letter B and three players. To keep it short, there are four categories here, our own rather than the game's.

Ben wins the round with 3. Shared answers like Banana and Berlin score nothing for anyone. With the alliteration rule, his Bread bin would score 2, for 4.

Keep score in Tallynight

Scattergories is set up for you: rounds, highest score wins. Start the turn timer, and when the answers are read, type everyone's points for the round on one keypad.

The timer starts at 2 minutes. Set it to 3 for the classic box's timer, and keep it as a favourite.

• A turn timer for each round

• Everyone's round on one keypad

• The table keeps the totals and who's in front

• Tap End game after the last round

• Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.

• Print a Scattergories score sheet if you'd rather keep score on paper.

Questions

How do you score Scattergories?

Score 1 point for each answer that fits the category, starts with the rolled letter and that no other player wrote. After the last round, the highest total wins.

Do you get extra points for alliteration in Scattergories?

In some editions, yes: an answer that repeats the letter at the start of another word scores double, so Big Ben for B is worth 2. The current classic box leaves it out.

What happens if two players have the same answer in Scattergories?

Neither scores. Only answers nobody else wrote are worth a point.

How many rounds are in Scattergories?

Three in the original game, and four in the current classic edition. Agree before you start.

How long is the Scattergories timer?

Up to 3 minutes a round. The current classic box comes with a 3-minute sand timer.

Does 'the' count in Scattergories?

You can use it, but it doesn't count as the first letter. For H, The Hobbit works, but for T it doesn't.

Game names belong to their owners. Tallynight isn't connected with any game publisher.