What is Shiritori?
Shiritori (しりとり, "taking the end") is a hugely popular Japanese word game: players take turns saying a word that starts with the final sound of the previous word, and repeating a word or hesitating too long knocks you out. In Japanese, a word ending in ん (n) loses instantly because no word starts with it.
This page plays the English adaptation — last letter instead of last kana — with a timer, lives and a chain tracker. The rule set is kept separate from the interface so a proper kana mode can follow; we have not implemented Japanese rules yet rather than ship an inaccurate version.
Game setup
How to play Shiritori
- Read the starting word and the letter the next word must begin with.
- Type your word and tap Go before the timer ends.
- No repeats and no made-up words — the group can Challenge.
- Pass the phone; lose a life for a miss.
What the screen does for you
Shiritori on AllPartyGames.com is the referee, not the whole game: it gives the host Go, Pass, Challenge last word, End game. Tap the ? button inside the game for these rules at any time, or 📺 for TV mode on a big screen.
How many players?
Shiritori works with 2–10 players and a typical round takes about 5–15 min. Recommended age: 6+.
Best occasions
Tips
- Landscape mode gives the biggest text when the phone is passed around.
- Turn sound on: the countdown ticks and buzzers keep everyone honest.
- Mixed category keeps things fresh — play again for new prompts.
Shiritori FAQ
Is there a Japanese mode?
Not yet. The English version follows the same chain rule; a kana-based mode with the ん rule is on the roadmap.
How do you win Shiritori?
Be the last player who has not repeated a word, run out of time or given an invalid word.
How many prompts does Shiritori have?
Hundreds, hand-written and shuffled so replays feel new. Every category is family-safe unless labelled otherwise.
Can we play in teams?
Yes — enter team names instead of players and the game keeps a team scoreboard.
Does it work offline?
Once the page has loaded, the whole game runs in your browser; a brief connection drop will not stop it.