How to Play Scattergories on Zoom
The trick to playing Scattergories on a video call is that the call and the game are two separate things. Zoom is for the talking and the arguing. The game runs in everyone’s own browser, so each player sees their own list and their own timer — which is exactly what the paper version gives you and what screen sharing takes away.
No download, no signup, and nothing to print. It works the same way on Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Discord or FaceTime.
What you need
- A video call anyone can join — Zoom, Teams, Meet, Discord or FaceTime
- One phone, tablet or laptop per player
- Two to twelve players; four to eight is the sweet spot
Five steps
- Start the video call. Get everyone on first. The call is only for talking.
- One person creates the room. Open the game and create a room. You get a four-letter code.
- Paste the code into the chat. Everyone else opens the same page and joins with it. Nobody makes an account.
- Play the round. A random letter appears with twelve categories and a timer. Everyone writes one answer per category, starting with that letter, on their own screen.
- Score together. When time is up, every answer appears side by side. Duplicates cancel, unique answers score.
Do not share your screen
It is the most common mistake, and it quietly ruins the game. Scattergories only works because nobody can see anyone else’s answers until the timer stops. A shared screen shows the whole call one answer sheet, and the round becomes a discussion instead of a race. Share the room code, not your screen.
Playing with a big group
Above about eight players, more answers collide and cancel — which sounds like a problem and is actually the best part. Rounds get shorter and the surviving answers get stranger. For a large team call, run three rounds rather than a full game and keep it inside fifteen minutes.
If you are doing this with colleagues, the same setup works for a meeting icebreaker or a Fun Friday. People searching for this sometimes type it scattegories or scategories — same game, same link.
Frequently asked questions
Can you play Scattergories over Zoom?
Yes. Everyone opens the game in their own browser and plays on their own phone or laptop, with the Zoom call running alongside for the talking. Nobody needs to share their screen, because each player sees their own list and their own timer.
Do I need to share my screen?
No, and you should not. Screen sharing shows everyone the same answer sheet, which breaks the game — the whole point is that players write their answers privately. Share the four-letter room code in the Zoom chat instead.
How many people can play on a video call?
Two to twelve works well. Above about eight, expect more duplicate answers, which makes the round faster and usually funnier.
Does everyone need an account?
No. There is no signup and nothing to install. Players open the link, type a name, and play.
How do you check answers on a video call?
The game shows every answer side by side when the timer ends, so duplicates cancel automatically. You only need the call for arguing about whether "Xylophone" counts as a kitchen item.
Ready to play?
Free, no download, no signup. 2–12 players.
Start a Scattergories game →