🚨PanicWords: the letter and categories word race
A category word race in the pen-and-paper style, played on phones.
Each round gets a letter and a list of categories – a food, a city, an animal, a film. Everyone races to type an answer for every category that begins with the letter. The first player to finish hits PANIC and everyone else has five seconds to finish.
- 👥2–12 players
- ⏱️10–20 minutes
- ⏲️Fast rounds
- 📱Everyone on their own phone
You might know it as: Scattergories-style game · Categories game · Name Place Animal Thing · Alphabet categories game
▶ Play PanicWords freeNo download, no sign-up
How to play PanicWords
- Get the letter and categoriesEveryone sees the same letter and the same categories.
- Type fastFill in an answer for each category that begins with the letter. Answers save automatically as you type.
- Hit PANICDone? Press PANIC. Everyone else gets five seconds to finish.
- Review the answersThe host can reject answers that do not fit the category.
- ScoreUnique answers score 10 points, answers shared with another player score 5.
Rules and options
- A letter such as “M” might give Mango, Mumbai, Monkey and Moana for food, city, animal and film.
- The host chooses the number of categories, the time limit and the number of rounds.
- Answers that are blank, do not start with the letter or are rejected by the host score nothing.
Tips
- Do not hit PANIC too early – a half-empty sheet costs you more than the time.
- Go for unusual answers – unique ones score double.
- Skip a tricky category and come back to it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play with two people?
Yes, from two players up.
What happens when time runs out?
Answers are locked in and the review starts.
Can we argue about answers?
The host has the final say and can reject any answer.
Are there local categories?
Yes, region packs add local places, foods and films.