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
Scattergories
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
Speedy Words
More details for Speedy WordsA 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.
- 2 - 8 Players
- 10 - 15 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
Tark Mees Taskus
More details for Tark Mees Taskus"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.
- 1 - 10 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Category Game
More details for Category GamePlayers 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.
- 2 - 8 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Das Kartenspiel – Classic Edition
More details for Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Das Kartenspiel – Classic EditionPlayers 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.
- 3 - 6 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Immediately playable
Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Classic Edition
More details for Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Classic EditionEach 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.
- 2 - 10 Players
- 12+ years old
- Immediately playable
Video reviews for Stadt Land Vollpfosten: Classic Edition
Stad - Land - Rivier
More details for Stad - Land - RivierPlayers 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.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
A to Z
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
Schnapp, Land, Fluss!
More details for Schnapp, Land, Fluss!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.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Immediately playable
Facts in Five
More details for Facts in FiveFive 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.
- 1 - 5 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Tell Me: The Grand Quiz Game
More details for Tell Me: The Grand Quiz GamePlayers 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.
- 2 - 8 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
Stadt - Land - Fluss
More details for Stadt - Land - FlussPlayers 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.
- 2 - 10 Players
- 15 Minutes
- 7+ years old
- Immediately playable
Finger On The Trigger!
More details for Finger On The Trigger!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.
- 2 - 6 Players
- 6+ years old
- Immediately playable
Take It Serious: Stadt Land Unseriös
More details for Take It Serious: Stadt Land UnseriösPlayers 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.
- 2 - 20 Players
- 30 - 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: