The best games like the classic Categories/Guggenheim⎇ game 2025

Looking for some new tricks to the traditional Categories/Guggenheim/Scattergories game? We have listed the best Categories/Guggenheim/Scattergories-veriants⎇ 2025 for you.

What is Categories/Guggenheim/Scattergories?

Categories, Guggenheim & Scattergories are word, knowledge or trivia games. All you need is a sheet of paper and a pen. The number of participants is unlimited - these quiz games can even be played by whole school classes. The participants agree on a certain number of categories (e.g. city, country, river, celebrity, musical instrument, disease, plant). For each round, a word must be found for each of these categories, which must begin with a letter defined before the start of the round. The round can be ended after a certain time (e.g. 2 minutes), as soon as the first person has filled all categories or according to various other criteria.

Determining the Winner

How exactly the words found are scored can vary greatly. Almost all game modes have in common that filled words receive points. Usually, only words that occur once are additionally rewarded - words that occur twice or more are so-called "doublets" and gain lower scores. Sometimes players receive additional bonus points for categories for which they are the only ones with an answer.

The winner is the one who has the most points in a round.

Categories is played worldwide

Regionally there are many different names for it (City-Name-Land, Stadt-Land-Fluss, Scattergories, Guggenheim or Categories). The word game originated in the late 19th century among private tutors. From there it took its course and is now played all over the world.

List of the best Categories like games 2025

This list was last updated on March 19, 2025. We compared 54 board games for this list and selected the top 15. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. TAGS

    All details for the board game TAGS and similar games

    Players can label, categorize, sort, or tag anything. Cities can be big or small; movies can be funny or boring; people can be geeks or politicians. In TAGS, you have only 15 seconds to find at least one suitable answer. Race against the clock, gather the most marbles, and compete to be the winner in this fast-paced game for 2 to 4 players, which can also be played in teams of up to 12 players.

    More details for TAGS
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  2. Scattergories

    All details for the board game Scattergories and similar games

    Scattergories, first published in 1988 by Milton Bradley, is a classic party game that tests players' creativity and quick thinking under time pressure. The game is ideal for groups and is based on the traditional parlour game known as Categories or Guggenheim.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Scattergories
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Speedy Words

    All details for the board game Speedy Words and similar games

    A captivating card game that elevates the classic Categories game. Each round, a player reveals a card that features a category and three letters, with only one letter matching the category's color. The first player to shout a relevant word starting with the correct letter wins the card, and when only one card remains, the player with the most cards wins.

    More details for Speedy Words
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 10 - 15 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Tark Mees Taskus

    All details for the board game Tark Mees Taskus and similar games

    "Smart Guy: Who's the best?" is a simple card game. Each card features a letter on one side and a theme on the other (such as mammals, cities, jobs, games, etc.). Players take turns flipping the top card and must quickly name something that fits the theme and starts with the given letter to earn points. If no one can come up with an answer, the card is set aside for the next round. The player with the most points at the end wins.

    More details for Tark Mees Taskus
    • 1 - 10 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  5. Category Game

    All details for the board game Category Game and similar games

    Players find words in a fast-paced party game using a 5x5 plastic grid with category cards over columns and letter tiles along rows. Each marble placed corresponds to a category and a starting letter, prompting players to shout out words that match. The game includes teamwork and lively debates, especially over contentious category cards that can spark disagreements.

    More details for Category Game
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  6. Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Das Kartenspiel – Classic Edition

    All details for the board game Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Das Kartenspiel – Classic Edition and similar games

    Players draw 8 letter cards in a variant of the classic Scattergories. A question category is read aloud, and players must quickly find a corresponding term that starts with one of their letter cards. The first player to discard all their cards wins the round, and the first to win three rounds wins the game.

    More details for Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Das Kartenspiel – Classic Edition
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Classic Edition

    All details for the board game Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Classic Edition and similar games

    Each player receives a page from a large logbook. A round begins when a time limit is set, typically two minutes. Players use a unique letter bar to choose a letter and must fill out their logbooks quickly, finding 13 terms per round.

    More details for Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Classic Edition
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Classic Edition

    • YouTube Review for the game "Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Classic Edition" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  8. Stad - Land - Rivier

    All details for the board game Stad - Land - Rivier and similar games

    Players engage in a fast-paced, constantly changing city-country-river game using a flower-shaped die randomizer. They take turns rolling the die and must quickly write down words that fit into six designated categories, corresponding to the letter rolled. Points are awarded for unique answers, encouraging creativity and speed.

    More details for Stad - Land - Rivier
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. A to Z

    All details for the board game A to Z and similar games

    Each player receives a plastic board with 25 fields labeled A to Z (X and Y share a field). Players take turns moving their pieces on the board and drawing cards that prompt them to think of words within specific categories. The goal is to cover all 25 fields on their board, with a loud timer adding pressure during gameplay.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 2.

    More details for A to Z
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  10. Schnapp, Land, Fluss!

    All details for the board game Schnapp, Land, Fluss! and similar games

    This action dexterity game features a deck of 33 category cards and 55 letter cards. At the start of a round, twelve letter cards (in blue and red) and one category card are revealed. Players quickly come up with a concept that fits the category and hit a letter card corresponding to the initial letter of their concept to earn points.

    More details for Schnapp, Land, Fluss!
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Facts in Five

    All details for the board game Facts in Five and similar games

    Five cards are drawn, each containing a "class" and a list of "categories." Players select a category for each class and draw five letter tiles. They then have five minutes to come up with an example starting with each letter for every class category. There are variations to increase difficulty or allow children to play against adults with easier questions.

    More details for Facts in Five
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Tell Me: The Grand Quiz Game

    All details for the board game Tell Me: The Grand Quiz Game and similar games

    Players draw cards one by one and read the instructions on them. They must provide a word that fits the criteria given, such as a country, something that ends with a specific letter, or a band starting with a certain letter. The first player to reach the designated number of correct answers wins the game.

    More details for Tell Me: The Grand Quiz Game
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. Stadt - Land - Fluss

    All details for the board game Stadt - Land - Fluss and similar games

    Players draw a card featuring a theme and then a letter. Once the letter is drawn, the timer starts. Each player must come up with words that fit the chosen theme and start with the correct letter.

    More details for Stadt - Land - Fluss
    • 2 - 10 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  14. Finger On The Trigger!

    All details for the board game Finger On The Trigger! and similar games

    A fast-thinking electronic name game. Be the first to hit the button and say a name that matches the card and letter. The quickest player keeps the card, and the player with the most cards wins! It includes an electronic unit with light and sound and 30 cards.

    More details for Finger On The Trigger!
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 6+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  15. Take It Serious: Stadt Land Unseriös

    All details for the board game Take It Serious: Stadt Land Unseriös and similar games

    Players engage in a variant of the classic game with 72 different and innovative categories for great entertainment, following the rules of Scattergories. The objective is to collect as many points as possible each round to win after 12 rounds. However, there may be two winners at the end: one for the highest score and another who best predicted their target score before the game began.

    More details for Take It Serious: Stadt Land Unseriös
    • 2 - 20 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old

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