What is Duck Duck Goose?
Everyone sits in a circle. One player walks around the outside tapping heads — "duck… duck… duck…" — until they tap someone and shout "GOOSE!". The goose jumps up and chases the picker around the circle; if the picker reaches the empty spot first, the goose becomes the new picker.
This helper keeps little ones organised: it randomly chooses who walks first, offers a Surprise Player button that picks the goose for you, and runs an optional 10-second chase timer with a whistle. Add names so the picker rotates fairly.
Game setup
How to play Duck Duck Goose
- Everyone sits in a circle facing in.
- Tap Start round — the screen names the picker.
- The picker walks the circle tapping heads: "duck… duck… GOOSE!"
- The goose jumps up and chases the picker around the circle.
- If the picker sits in the empty spot first, the goose becomes the picker.
What the screen does for you
Duck Duck Goose on AllPartyGames.com is the referee, not the whole game: it gives the host Start round, GOOSE! (chase timer), Surprise player, Next round, End. Tap the ? button inside the game for these rules at any time, or 📺 for TV mode on a big screen.
How many players?
Duck Duck Goose works with 5–20 players and a typical round takes about 5–10 min. Recommended age: 3+.
Best occasions
Tips
- Turn the sound on before you start; music and buzzers are a big part of the fun.
- Fullscreen on a TV or laptop turns the game into a proper party screen (TV mode).
- Use the player names so eliminations and the champion are tracked for you.
- Younger kids? Pick the Kids mode — slower, friendlier, no sudden surprises.
Duck Duck Goose FAQ
What age is Duck Duck Goose for?
It is a classic for ages 3 to 7, but adults enjoy it at family gatherings too — the chase is the fun part.
What does the Surprise Player button do?
It picks the goose randomly from the names you added, so shy players get chosen and nobody is picked every time.
Do I need any equipment for Duck Duck Goose?
Only what the physical game needs (chairs, a ball, a room to move in) and one phone, tablet or laptop. The screen does the hosting: music, timers, commands and scoring.
Does the music come from the site?
Yes — the party music is generated live in your browser, so nothing is downloaded and there are no copyright problems when you play it at an event.
Can I run it from a TV?
Yes. Open the game on a laptop or phone connected to the TV and press Fullscreen. Everything scales up for the big screen.