What is Categories?
Categories — the letter game, also known as Scattergories or Stop — gives everyone the same letter and the same five categories, and a timer. Write one answer per category starting with that letter; when the timer ends, compare. Unique answers score, duplicates cancel. The phone draws the letter, deals the categories, runs the clock and keeps score, so the only paper is the one you write on.
Three category sets ship with it: Classic (animal, country, food, name, thing…), Kids (easier categories and an easy-letter wheel) and Party (films, songs, excuses, things you shout). Petit Bac is the French seven-category version with its own page.
Category sets for different nights
- Classic five: Animal · Country · Food · Boy’s name · Thing in the house
- Kids: Animal · Colour · Food · Toy · Cartoon character
- Party: Film · Song · Celebrity · Excuse for being late · Thing you shout
- Office: Company · Job title · Excuse for missing a meeting · App · Snack
- Travel: City · Country · Airline · Food you eat on holiday · Thing in a suitcase
- Bollywood: Actor · Film · Song · Character · Dance step
- Science class: Element · Animal · Scientist · Body part · Unit of measurement
- Speed round: 30-second timer, five letters in a row
Game setup
How to play Categories
- Everyone draws the categories on their paper.
- Tap Draw a letter, then Start writing.
- Fill every category with a word starting with that letter before time is up.
- Compare answers: tap the players whose answer was unique.
- Tap Add points & next letter.
What the screen does for you
Categories on AllPartyGames.com is the referee, not the whole game: it gives the host Draw a letter, Start / stop the timer, Award points, Finish game, while you bring paper and a pen for each player and this screen for the letter and timer. Tap the ? button inside the game for these rules at any time, or 📺 for TV mode on a big screen.
How many players?
Categories works with 2–12 players and a typical round takes about 15–40 min. Recommended age: 8+.
Best occasions
Variations
Tips
- Agree the challenge rule before you start: can “Apple pie” count for A under Food? Say yes or no now.
- Use 90 seconds for mixed ages, 60 for adults, 2 minutes for kids — the timer chips offer 30, 60, 90 and 120.
- Rotate who reads answers first; the first reader is the one others copy from when checking duplicates.
- Landscape mode gives the biggest text when the phone is passed around.
- Turn sound on: the countdown ticks and buzzers keep everyone honest.
Categories FAQ
How is Categories scored?
One point for each valid answer that nobody else wrote; duplicates score zero. On the compare screen you tap the players who scored each category, and the phone keeps the running total across rounds.
Is this the same as Scattergories?
It is the classic game Scattergories was based on — the letter, the categories, the timer, unique answers — with free category sets instead of a fixed card.
How is it different from Petit Bac?
Petit Bac is the French version with seven fixed categories (country, animal, food, job, film, object, famous person) and its own page; Categories lets you choose any set of five.
How do you score in Categories?
One point for every answer that is valid and that no other player wrote. If two players write the same answer, neither scores for it.
Which letters are used?
A to W without the impossible ones (no Q, X, Y or Z), and a letter is not repeated until every other letter has been used.
How many prompts does Categories have?
Hundreds, hand-written and shuffled so replays feel new. Every category is family-safe unless labelled otherwise.