Scattergories Lists

From LoveToKnow BoardGames

If you play Scattergories often, you will quickly tire of the provided categories so why not create your own Scattergories lists instead?

What Is Scattergories

For those of you unfamiliar with Scattergories, it is a fast-paced and easy to learn game that is a lot of fun for the entire family. Unlike many games on the market, Scattergories can be considered an educational game right out of the box. Even though only meant for up to 6 players, you can easily adapt it for more if needed, making it a great party game. With the addition of new Scattergories lists, family game night can take on a much broader category range aside from the game's usual selection.

Scattergories Game Basics

The premise of the game is a very simple one on the outside, but once you actually start playing you will soon realize how difficult it really is.

When you open your box of Scattergories you will find:

1 20-sided letter dice
Timer
Pencils
Scattergories folders
Scattergories cards
Score pads

Each player or team takes a folder and begins with card #1. They also take a scoring pad and pencil. Roll the letter die and start the timer. This is the time when the game really gets started. No longer is it going to appear simple or easy because it becomes fast and furious trying to come up with different answers for a myriad of categories.

The general rules of the game actually make Scattergories a sometimes difficult game to play. In the rules you are not allowed to repeat the same word twice on the same list. Scoring in Scattergories is really simple too because you earn one point per unique answer, which means that if another player has the same answer as you do in the same category neither of you gets a point. At the end of the game (usually the last card), the person with the most points wins the games.

By the time you play a full game of Scattergories you know what to expect and you may wind up becoming somewhat bored by the same Scattergories ists. When categories like "US Cities", "Food at a Diner" and "European Destinations" no longer thrill you, it's time to pump some life back in the game by making your own Scattergories lists.

Reviving Your Game with Homemade Scattergories Lists

Since you are looking to spice up your game, it helps to print them up. It's pretty easy, and there are really only two ways to do it. The first is to simply open one of many word processing programs and simply space out "List 1", "List 2" and "List 3" across the top then hitting enter several times inserting the number 1, typing in a category under "List 1" then spacing to enter another category under "List 2" and so on until you have a complete card of 12 categories for each list.

If the word processing method sounds like a hassle, then have no fear because there is a much easier way to make Scattergories lists. Download the free random list spreadsheet generator from Board Game Geek. The one black mark here is that you will need Microsoft Excel in order to use it. The spreadsheet is really easy to use and even includes the rules of the game itself. If you don’t wish to use the random feature, you can make use of the template to make your own custom lists.

Creating your Scattergories lists may seem like an uphill battle at first, so here are a few categories to help you along the way: