Heads Up game

250 Heads Up words in 8 categories

Every category works on its own or mixed. Famous people, Movies and Songs are the classic decks. Actions is the one to pick when you play the acting version, and Brands is surprisingly hard to describe without saying the logo.

How to play Heads Up

Heads Up takes about thirty seconds to explain, which is why it works at any party. One person guesses, everyone else gives clues, and the timer keeps it fast.

1. Pick the guesserChoose categories on the card above and a round time. The guesser takes the phone and presses Start.
2. Phone on your foreheadDuring the 3, 2, 1 countdown, the guesser holds the phone to their forehead with the screen facing the group. From now on, only the others can see the word.
3. Describe, sing or act itThe group shouts clues. You may describe the word, act it out, hum the song or do an impression. You may not say the word itself or spell it.
4. Got it or passWhen the guesser says the word, a friend taps Got it and the next word appears. If it is impossible, tap Pass. There is no penalty for passing, but every second counts.
5. Count and rotateWhen time is up, the card shows the score and every word from the round. Hand the phone to the next player. Highest score after everyone has played wins.

Heads Up variants for every group

The phone version is only one way to play. These variants use the same words, so you can switch whenever the group needs something new.

• Who am I with sticky notes. Everyone writes a famous name on a sticky note and puts it on the forehead of the person to their left. Take turns asking yes or no questions about yourself until you guess who you are. Slower and great over dinner.
• Charades only. Nobody may speak. The group acts out every word in silence, which makes Movies and Actions twice as funny.
• Team battle. Split into two teams. Each team gets one round per player and adds up the points. Only your own team may give clues.
• Sing it. With the Songs category, clue givers may only hum or sing the tune, never say the lyrics or the title.
• One word clues. Each clue giver may only say one word per turn, going round the circle. Hard, and very loud.
• Drinking version. Every pass is a sip, and whoever scores lowest picks the next category. Water counts just as much, and nobody has to drink.

How to give better clues

Most rounds are lost by the clue givers, not the guesser. Three habits double the score.

• Category first. Shout "Movie!" or "Singer!" before anything else. It cuts the guesses down instantly.
• Use the people in the room. "The film we watched at Sara's birthday" beats a plot summary every time.
• One person talks. Five people shouting five different clues is noise. Take turns, or let whoever has the best clue go first.
• Rhymes and fill in the blank. "Hey ___" gets Hey Jude in two seconds. Saying a word that rhymes is allowed, saying the word is not.

Keep the night going