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Charades categories

Charades works with almost any theme, but some categories play better than others. Below are the eleven used on this site, with examples from each and a link to the full list where there is one. There are 1,776 ideas across them.

For a mixed group, choose two or three categories that everyone knows: animals and actions for children, films and songs for adults. Announce the category before each turn so guessers know where to start.

ActionsEasy

Watering plants

 

Movies15 of 274

This set has 274 ideas. Start with "Frozen", "The Lion King", "Toy Story" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 274 in this set, shown below

  • FrozenEasy
  • The Lion KingEasy
  • Toy StoryEasy
  • Finding NemoEasy
  • CarsEasy
  • ShrekEasy
  • UpEasy
  • MoanaEasy
  • AladdinEasy
  • CinderellaEasy
  • The Little MermaidEasy
  • Beauty and the BeastEasy
  • MadagascarEasy
  • Kung Fu PandaEasy
  • Despicable MeEasy
See the full list →

TV shows15 of 153

This set has 153 ideas. Start with "SpongeBob SquarePants", "Sesame Street", "Peppa Pig" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 153 in this set, shown below

  • SpongeBob SquarePantsEasy
  • Sesame StreetEasy
  • Peppa PigEasy
  • Paw PatrolEasy
  • BlueyEasy
  • Barney & FriendsEasy
  • TeletubbiesEasy
  • Dora the ExplorerEasy
  • Scooby-DooEasy
  • Tom and JerryEasy
  • Mickey Mouse ClubhouseEasy
  • Looney TunesEasy
  • Bob the BuilderEasy
  • RugratsEasy
  • The SmurfsEasy
See the full list →

Books15 of 76

This set has 76 ideas. Start with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", "The Cat in the Hat", "Green Eggs and Ham" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 76 in this set, shown below

  • The Very Hungry CaterpillarEasy
  • The Cat in the HatEasy
  • Green Eggs and HamEasy
  • Winnie-the-PoohEasy
  • Dog ManEasy
  • Pete the CatEasy
  • MatildaEasy
  • HolesEasy
  • WonderEasy
  • HatchetEasy
  • Romeo and JulietEasy
  • FrankensteinEasy
  • DraculaEasy
  • Where the Wild Things AreMedium
  • Goodnight MoonMedium

Songs15 of 147

This set has 147 ideas. Start with "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "Baby Shark", "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 147 in this set, shown below

  • Twinkle, Twinkle, Little StarEasy
  • Baby SharkEasy
  • Old MacDonald Had a FarmEasy
  • The Wheels on the BusEasy
  • If You're Happy and You Know ItEasy
  • Head, Shoulders, Knees and ToesEasy
  • Itsy Bitsy SpiderEasy
  • Row, Row, Row Your BoatEasy
  • Mary Had a Little LambEasy
  • Humpty DumptyEasy
  • The Hokey PokeyEasy
  • I'm a Little TeapotEasy
  • Five Little MonkeysEasy
  • Let It GoEasy
  • Happy Birthday to YouEasy

Animals15 of 162

This set has 162 ideas. Start with "Dog", "Cat", "Elephant" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 162 in this set, shown below

  • DogEasy
  • CatEasy
  • ElephantEasy
  • MonkeyEasy
  • LionEasy
  • TigerEasy
  • SnakeEasy
  • BirdEasy
  • FishEasy
  • FrogEasy
  • RabbitEasy
  • HorseEasy
  • CowEasy
  • PigEasy
  • SheepEasy
See the full list →

Actions15 of 224

This set has 224 ideas. Start with "Brushing teeth", "Jumping rope", "Riding a bike" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 224 in this set, shown below

  • Brushing teethEasy
  • Jumping ropeEasy
  • Riding a bikeEasy
  • SleepingEasy
  • Eating spaghettiEasy
  • Blowing bubblesEasy
  • Flying a kiteEasy
  • Building a sandcastleEasy
  • Climbing a treeEasy
  • Taking a bathEasy
  • Reading a bookEasy
  • FishingEasy
  • Walking a dogEasy
  • Watering plantsEasy
  • Eating ice creamEasy
See the full list →

Jobs15 of 101

This set has 101 ideas. Start with "Doctor", "Nurse", "Teacher" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 101 in this set, shown below

  • DoctorEasy
  • NurseEasy
  • TeacherEasy
  • FirefighterEasy
  • Police officerEasy
  • ChefEasy
  • FarmerEasy
  • PilotEasy
  • AstronautEasy
  • DentistEasy
  • Mail carrierEasy
  • Construction workerEasy
  • ArtistEasy
  • SingerEasy
  • DancerEasy

Sports15 of 94

This set has 94 ideas. Start with "Soccer", "Basketball", "Baseball" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 94 in this set, shown below

  • SoccerEasy
  • BasketballEasy
  • BaseballEasy
  • FootballEasy
  • TennisEasy
  • GolfEasy
  • SwimmingEasy
  • BowlingEasy
  • BoxingEasy
  • KarateEasy
  • SkiingEasy
  • SnowboardingEasy
  • Ice skatingEasy
  • SurfingEasy
  • SkateboardingEasy

Feelings15 of 57

This set has 57 ideas. Start with "Happy", "Sad", "Angry" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 57 in this set, shown below

  • HappyEasy
  • SadEasy
  • AngryEasy
  • ScaredEasy
  • SurprisedEasy
  • ExcitedEasy
  • TiredEasy
  • BoredEasy
  • SillyEasy
  • ShyEasy
  • ProudEasy
  • GrumpyEasy
  • HungryEasy
  • ThirstyEasy
  • Freezing coldEasy

Characters15 of 54

This set has 54 ideas. Start with "Pirate", "Cowboy", "Ninja" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 54 in this set, shown below

  • PirateEasy
  • CowboyEasy
  • NinjaEasy
  • SuperheroEasy
  • PrincessEasy
  • PrinceEasy
  • KingEasy
  • QueenEasy
  • KnightEasy
  • WizardEasy
  • WitchEasy
  • FairyEasy
  • MermaidEasy
  • RobotEasy
  • ZombieEasy

Phrases and idioms15 of 103

This set has 103 ideas. Start with "Break the ice", "Spill the beans", "Piece of cake" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: mixed-age groups, family night and first-time players · 103 in this set, shown below

  • Break the iceMedium
  • Spill the beansMedium
  • Piece of cakeMedium
  • Raining cats and dogsMedium
  • Let the cat out of the bagMedium
  • Hit the sackMedium
  • Cold feetMedium
  • Under the weatherMedium
  • Cost an arm and a legMedium
  • Butterflies in your stomachMedium
  • Head in the cloudsMedium
  • Walking on eggshellsMedium
  • Elephant in the roomMedium
  • Couch potatoMedium
  • Hold your horsesMedium
See the full list →

Holidays and occasions15 of 316

This set has 316 ideas. Start with "Noah's Ark", "Blowing out candles", "Christmas tree" — give each actor 60 seconds; it mixes quick single-word turns with longer scenes, so swap easy and hard cards to keep the pace even.

Best for: young children, classrooms and first rounds · 316 in this set, shown below

  • Noah's ArkEasy
  • Blowing out candlesEasy
  • Christmas treeEasy
  • FireworksEasy
  • Adam and EveEasy
  • Birthday cakeEasy
  • SnowmanEasy
  • Counting down to midnightEasy
  • David and GoliathEasy
  • Opening presentsEasy
  • Building a snowmanEasy
  • Throwing confettiEasy
  • Jonah and the WhaleEasy
  • Making a birthday wishEasy
  • Candy caneEasy
See the full list →

Questions

What are the classic charades categories?

Movies, TV shows, books and songs. Each has its own sign: a cranking film camera for movies, a box shape for TV, open palms for books, and singing for songs.

Which charades categories are easiest?

Animals and actions. Both can be shown in one gesture, so they suit young children and first-time players.

Which categories work best for adults?

Films, songs and phrases give adults the most to work with, and funny everyday situations ("parallel parking") get the biggest laughs.

Should you mix categories in one game?

Yes, as long as the actor announces the category first. In the generator, choose Everything for a mixed deck or pick one category per round.

Can I make up my own charades categories?

Of course. Themed nights work well: a decade of films, your family's in-jokes, or a holiday. The occasion pages have ready-made themed lists.