To play Guesstures, one person acts out a word or phrase while their team tries to guess it before the timer runs out. Each successful guess earns points.
Ever find yourself wanting a game night filled with silly charades and fast-paced fun? Then you absolutely need to learn how to play guesstures game! It’s a hilarious party game that puts your acting and guessing skills to the test.
The game involves quick thinking and even quicker gestures. It is designed for teams, so get your friends ready. The aim is to accumulate the highest score by correctly identifying the charades before time runs out.
How to Play Guesstures Game
Guesstures is a super fun party game that gets everyone moving and laughing! It’s all about acting out words or phrases without speaking, and having your team guess what you’re trying to show. Think of it as a fast-paced charades, where the clock is always ticking. Ready to learn how to play? Let’s jump right in!
What You’ll Need to Play
Before you start acting crazy, you need to gather a few things. Luckily, Guesstures doesn’t need a lot of fancy equipment. Here’s a simple list:
- Guesstures Cards: These cards have the words or phrases you’ll act out. You can buy a Guesstures game set, or you can even make your own! More on that later.
- A Timer: Something to keep track of time for each round. A sand timer is often included with the game, or you can use a kitchen timer or even your phone.
- A Game Board (Optional): Some Guesstures sets have a game board to move tokens around to track scores, but you don’t really need one to play. A piece of paper and a pencil to keep score works perfectly fine.
- Teams: You need at least two teams to play, so gather your friends and family!
Setting Up the Game
Okay, now that you have everything, it’s time to get the game ready to play.
- Divide into Teams: Split everyone into two or more teams. It’s good to have about the same number of players on each team, but not essential.
- Choose a Starter Team: Decide which team will go first. You can flip a coin, or have each team name a pet. The pet that is oldest goes first, or whatever works best for you.
- Gather the Cards: If you have a card deck, get them out and ready. If you are making your own, prepare your word lists and have them readily accessible.
- Set the Timer: Get the timer ready, so everyone can see it and know when time is almost out.
How to Play a Round
Now for the fun part – playing the game! Each round is quick and exciting. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
The Actor’s Turn
One person from the active team becomes the “actor” for the round. The actor’s job is to act out the word or phrase on a card. Only the actor looks at the card and must not show it to the other team players. Here are a few tips for actors:
- No Talking: The actor cannot speak, make noises, or mouth any words. Only actions are allowed!
- Be Creative: Use your whole body, arms, legs, face – everything! The more creative you are, the more fun it will be.
- Think Simple: Sometimes the most straightforward action works best. Don’t try to overthink it.
The Guesser’s Turn
While the actor is acting, their teammates have to guess what they are trying to show. Here’s what the team does:
- Pay Attention: Watch the actor closely and try to figure out what they are doing.
- Shout out guesses: Anyone on the guessing team can yell out what they think the answer is.
- Work Together: Teamwork is very important. Talk together, share ideas, and work together to find the answer.
The Timer is Running
All this happens while the timer is counting down. Usually a round is about 60 seconds long. You need to be fast! Here is what happens as time counts down:
- Guess Quickly: The guessing team must try to figure out the answer fast before the time runs out.
- Keep Acting: If your team has not guessed it before the time is up, the actor should keep acting it out until time ends.
- Out of Time: When the time is up, that round is over. Move onto the next step.
Scoring
If the team guesses correctly, they get a point. If they don’t, they get no points. The exact scoring method can be slightly different, depending on the set you are using.
Next Team
After the first team’s turn is done, the next team does the same thing. They choose one person to act and they try to get their team to guess the word. Then, the teams take turns until everyone has had a turn to act.
Winning the Game
The game goes on for a set number of rounds or until one team reaches a predetermined score. Here are a few ways you can win:
- Reach a Certain Score: The first team to get to, say, 20 points might be declared the winner.
- Most Points After Rounds: Play for a set number of rounds and then count up all the points. The team with the most points is the winner.
- Play Until Tired: Play until everyone has to take a break. Then, count the scores and find the winner.
Making Your Own Guesstures Cards
Don’t have a Guesstures game? No problem! It’s easy to make your own cards. All you need is some paper, scissors, and a marker.
Finding the Words
First, find words and phrases for your cards. Here are some ideas:
- Animals: Cat, dog, elephant, bird, lion, etc.
- Actions: Running, jumping, swimming, singing, sleeping, eating, etc.
- Objects: Chair, book, telephone, car, ball, etc.
- Places: School, park, beach, zoo, library, etc.
- People: Teacher, doctor, firefighter, police officer, chef, etc.
- Emotions: Happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, etc.
- Everyday Phrases: Brush your teeth, make a bed, ride a bike, play video games, listen to music, etc.
Try to mix up easy and hard words, so the game is exciting for everyone.
Making the Cards
Cut the paper into small pieces, like playing cards. Write one word or phrase on each card. Make sure the words are easy to read. Then put the cards in a pile, and you’re ready to play.
Tips for the Best Guesstures Game
Want to make your game even more fun? Here are some tricks to try:
- Set the Rules: Before you start, talk about the rules, especially if it’s your first time playing. Does it have to be silent acting or can there be some humming? Clear rules help avoid confusion.
- Vary the Words: Use a mix of easy and hard words, so it’s fair for everyone.
- Encourage Silliness: Don’t be afraid to be silly and dramatic! The more enthusiasm, the more fun everyone will have.
- Be a Good Sport: Remember that it’s all just a game. Laugh, cheer each other on, and have fun.
- Play Music: Playing some background music can make the game even more exciting.
- Change it Up: Try different ways to play, like making up a theme for the words. This keeps the game from getting boring.
Guesstures Variations for Extra Fun
Once you know the basic rules, you can add your own twist to the game. Here are some variations you can try:
Theme Night
Pick a theme like “movie characters,” “cartoon animals,” or “famous landmarks.” Then, make your cards based on that theme. This makes the game more focused and interesting.
Advanced Acting
Try playing with more difficult actions. For example, act out a whole story in 60 seconds or show the difference between emotions by changing your face. This adds a level of challenge for experienced players.
The Storyteller
Instead of acting out one word or phrase, the actor has to act out a short story. They can’t speak, but they can use different actions to tell a tale.
Reverse Guesstures
Instead of one person acting, have the whole team act out the word together. This adds a layer of collaboration and hilarity. Everyone gets to be silly at the same time.
Charades and Guesstures Mashup
Mix charades into the game. For example, have some cards that are acted out with words allowed (like in charades), and other cards that must be done silently. This gives variety and keeps players on their toes.
Team vs Team Tournament
Get multiple groups and have them play different games at the same time. Keep track of the team with the most wins, or the team with the highest overall scores.
Guesstures is all about being creative, acting silly, and working together with your friends and family. It is a simple game that can bring a lot of laughter and fun. Have a great time with your Guesstures games!
Guesstures from Hasbro
Final Thoughts
To play Guesstures, one person acts out a word or phrase while others guess. You must use only physical gestures, no talking allowed. A timer adds to the excitement, press it when finished guessing, move on to next player.
Quickly acting and guessing correctly wins. Keep track of the scores to see who’s the champion. This explains how to play guesstures game and have fun with friends and family.



