To play the game Things, each player writes down responses to a given prompt, then tries to guess who wrote which response.
Have you ever wanted a party game that sparks laughter and reveals hidden quirks about your friends? Then get ready, because this article will show you exactly how to play the game Things! It’s simple, silly, and guaranteed to get everyone talking and guessing.
The basic concept is that one person reads a topic, like “Things that make you cringe”. Everyone writes down an answer, and after they are collected, you try to match the answers to the people. Get ready to find out who has the weirdest hidden talents!
How to Play the Game Things: A Complete Guide
Ready for some laugh-out-loud fun? The game “Things” is all about thinking creatively and guessing what others are thinking! It’s a super simple game to learn, but it’s packed with hilarious moments and unexpected answers. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play “Things” like a pro. Get ready to write, guess, and most importantly, laugh!
Gathering Your Things: What You Need to Play
Before you start playing, you’ll need to gather a few things. Thankfully, it’s not much! Here’s what you’ll need:
- The “Things” Cards: These cards have different topics or prompts written on them. They’re the core of the game. You can buy a boxed set of the game, which contains a large deck of cards or you can even make your own if you are feeling creative!.
- Paper or Small Slips of Paper: Each player needs some paper or slips of paper to write their answers. Little notepads or just pieces of printer paper will work great!
- Pens or Pencils: You’ll need something to write with, of course. A pen or pencil for each player is perfect.
- A Way to Keep Score (Optional): You can keep score if you want to add a competitive edge to the game, but honestly, most of the fun comes from the shared experience of guessing the answers. If you decide to keep score, a piece of paper and a pen/pencil for jotting them down will do the trick!
- A Group of Players: “Things” is best played with at least 3 or more people. This allows for more variety in the answers and more challenging guesses. The more the merrier, though!
That’s all you need! Once you have these items, you’re ready to play “Things”.
Setting Up the Game: Getting Ready to Play
Setting up for a game of “Things” is very easy and it doesn’t take long, so you can dive into the fun very quickly. Here’s a quick rundown on how to set up the game:
- Gather Everyone Around: Make sure all your players are comfortably seated around a table or in a circle. This makes it easy for everyone to see and participate.
- Give Out Supplies: Hand out paper (or slips of paper) and a pen or pencil to each player.
- Place the Cards: Put the “Things” card deck in the middle of the playing area, where everyone can easily reach it.
- Explain the Rules (If Needed): If you have new players, take a few minutes to quickly explain the simple rules of the game, using this guide as a reference. It’s usually best to explain it as you go, for new players, so they can more easily understand while they are participating, but you can explain them beforehand too, if you wish!
- Choose the first Reader: Decide who will read the first card. You can choose this randomly, or just have the oldest or youngest person start, or just go around the circle.
That’s it! You’re now all set to begin playing “Things”. Simple, right?
Playing the Game: The Steps to Fun
Now that you’re all set up, here’s how the game actually unfolds:
The Reader’s Role
The game begins with one person being the “Reader.” This person picks the top card from the “Things” card deck and reads the prompt aloud for all players to hear. Prompts on the cards are statements which invite the players to give an answer. For example, some prompts could be things such as “Things You See at a Zoo”, or “Things You Would Find in a Kitchen”, or “Things that Make You Happy”, and so on. The reader is just responsible for reading the card, and is also participating as a normal player in the game, writing down their answer for the prompt.
The Writers’ Roles
After the prompt is read aloud by the reader, everyone, including the reader, thinks of an answer that relates to that prompt. Every player then writes down their answer onto their paper or slip of paper. They should try to make their answer the most relevant to the prompt as they can. The main goal, is to try to write down something that will be difficult for others to guess who wrote it. The more creative, and less obvious you are, the better! Once the writer has completed their answer, they should fold their answer once, or twice, in order to hide their written answer from the other players, and place their written answer, faced down, in the middle of the playing area. After all players have placed their answers in the middle, the guessing can start!
The Guesser’s Role
After everyone has submitted their answers, the reader collects all the folded slips of paper and reads them aloud, one at a time. The reader should try to mix up the order of the written answers, so that they don’t know which answer is associated with each player. Then, each player takes a turn guessing which player wrote which answer. The main goal of the guesser is to try and guess who wrote which answer, and they score a point for every correct guess. After a player guesses correctly, the person who wrote that answer will have to read their own answer aloud, for confirmation. Once this is done, you can move on to the next answer.
Scoring Points
Scoring for the game is very easy. The player that guesses who wrote an answer, correctly, earns a point for that. Each correctly guessed player gets to read out their answer to everyone, and then the game moves on to the next answer.
The game doesn’t have to end after one round. You can play multiple rounds, where the readers, and thus the prompts, change. For example, you can go around the circle, and each person takes a turn reading the prompt. After you have played the desired number of rounds, the scores can be added up to find a winner. Although, many players just enjoy the fun of playing, and do not bother keeping score!
Winning the Game: It’s All About the Laughs
While you can keep score in “Things,” the real win comes from the shared laughter and funny moments created by the game. Sure, you might track points, and the person with the highest score could be deemed the “winner” at the end, but the goal of the game is to laugh together and have fun with your family and friends! The silly answers and the attempts to guess who wrote what often provide the most memorable moments. So, while scoring can be a fun addition, it’s not essential to enjoying the game.
Variations of the Game: Mixing Things Up
The core gameplay of “Things” is great, but there are always ways to add some variety. Here are some fun variations you can try:
Theme Nights
Before the game starts, pick a theme to focus the prompts around. This adds an extra layer of fun and creativity. For example, you could have a “Movie Night” theme where all prompts have to be related to movies, or a “Travel” theme where the prompts are related to travel and destinations! You can even make custom cards to match your theme, if you are feeling especially creative.
Write Silly Answers
Encourage everyone to come up with the most absurd, funny, and unique answers they can think of. This will make it harder to guess, and much more hilarious!
Team Play
Divide into teams of 2 or more. Team members can collaborate on their answers, and then discuss among themselves to decide who wrote which answer. This is great when you have larger groups of people playing.
Themed Prompts
You can always modify the game with specific themes to make it even more fun. You could write new prompts that align with a holiday such as Halloween or Christmas, or even a sporting event such as the Olympics!
No Point Variation
You could simply play the game to have fun, without keeping a score! This can help people relax a bit, and not try to be overly competitive, but simply have fun playing.
Tips and Tricks for “Things” Experts
Want to up your game? Here are some tips to help you play “Things” even better:
Be Creative
Don’t go for the obvious answer. The more unique and creative your response, the harder it will be for others to guess it’s yours. Try thinking outside the box.
Read Carefully
Pay very close attention to the prompt before writing your answer. Sometimes, people can go off-topic, which can make it harder for others to guess. Try to stick to the prompt as closely as possible, while still trying to be creative.
Listen Closely
When the answers are read aloud, listen very closely to them. You may hear a subtle word or phrase that is similar to what another player would say or write. This can help you guess who wrote what.
Mix It Up
Try not to write the same kind of answer every time. If you typically write funny answers, try writing something serious for a change. This will make it harder for people to identify your writing style.
Have Fun
Remember, “Things” is a game meant to be enjoyed with family and friends. Don’t get too caught up in the competition, and be sure to enjoy the fun and laughter that the game provides!
Why “Things” is a Great Game
“Things” is more than just a game; it’s an experience. Here are just a few reasons why it’s such a great game to play:
- Easy to Learn: The rules are simple, making it perfect for all ages.
- Encourages Creativity: It gets your brain working in fun and new ways.
- Lots of Laughs: You’re guaranteed some funny moments with this game.
- Social Interaction: It’s a fantastic game to play with friends and family.
- Adaptable: You can play it in many locations, at any time, with a wide variety of people!
- Replayable: Because of all the possible prompts and answers, you’ll get a unique experience every single time you play!
So, there you have it! You now have all the information you need to play “Things” like a pro. Grab your cards, paper, pens, and your favorite people, and get ready for an evening of fun, laughter, and some unexpected answers!
How to play The Game of Things
Final Thoughts
To play Things, you first must gather everyone. Then, one person thinks of a thing. The others try to guess what the person is thinking about by asking questions.
This continues until someone correctly guesses. It is important that you are creative with what you think of. That’s how to play the game Things. Have fun.
