Also known as the Name Game or Fishbowl
This game works best with smaller groups - around 8-12 people, so if you have a big group, it's best to split up and play multiple games.
Each person should write down the names of 10 people - either famous people or people everyone in the group knows. Get people to cut their pieces of paper up so there's one name per piece of paper. Go around and collect them in a basket or hat. You should have quite a few names in the basket.
Split into 2 or 3 teams (each team having around three or four members).
Round One.
Pick a team to start - one member of that team gets the basket of names, picks out a name, and has to try and describe that person to the other members of his team. Once they guess correctly, pull out another name from the hat and so on. The team has one minute to go through as many names as they can. If they get stuck on a name, they can pass and move onto the next name. Names that are guessed successfully, put in a separate pile, those that are 'passed' put back in the basket. When the minute is up, add up the total number of names guessed, and add that to the team's score. Move onto the next team who do the same as above. This continues until all the names have been used up or 'guessed'.
Round Two.
Similar to Round 1 but you can only use one word to describe the person to your group. The group will be aware of all the names in the basket (from round 1) so it is easier than it sounds. Score a point per name guessed as above.
Round Three
Same as previous rounds but this time, you have to 'act' out the person without speaking.
Add up the scores at the end to see who wins!
Equipment needed
Pens
Paper
Basket or hat
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Comments
Great game, especially if you pick a mixture of famous people and not-so famous people (eg. the youth pastor, etc)- David (7 Sep 2006)
Good game, but if you find it too easy try playing backwards.
- Clive Bull (22 Jan 2008)
I prefer playing in smaller groups of about 3-5, and you have to guess another person in the room, to make it harder its the opposite of what you say for example the person setting the game will say "Marcus its not but Anna it might be, Bob its not but Stuart it might be" This then means its either Marcus or Bob, if the person then does an impression of Bob, the person is Marcus and vice versa. Adds flavour and variety to the game.
- Gremlin (22 Jan 2008)
For example
I prefer playing in smaller groups of about 3-5, and you have to guess another person in the room, to make it harder its the opposite of what you say for example the person setting the game will say "Marcus its not but Anna it might be, Bob its not but Stuart it might be" This then means its either Marcus or Bob, if the person then does an impression of Bob, the person is Marcus and vice versa
- Clive Bull (22 Jan 2008)
my youth group LOVED this game. except i caught one of the groups cheating by using code words for part two and code gestures for part three!
- Lisa (29 Jan 2008)
Lisa - that often happens when we play this game - groups invent phrases or actions to associate with a person - in some ways it adds to the fun though as some of the actions are hilarious
- james (30 Jan 2008)
great game!!!our youth loved it and want to play it everytime...
- wendell (28 Aug 2008)
Great game kids thoroughly enjoyed it. It far exceeded my expectations. Had to fight with staff so they would stay out of it.
- Raymond (24 Nov 2008)
We played this game tonight and my YOUTH group had a blast! It was sooo funny to see the impressions and hear some of the descriptions the youth came up with! I used biblical names, objects and happenings as well and they did very well guessing most of them quickly. Some like the Ascension stumped them but when it was put back in the basket the next team usually picked right up and went with it! The interaction and competiveness of the group rose high!
- Natalie (11 Dec 2008)
This game is fantastic - much better than I was expecting. My Youth Group loved it - great for team building and or as an icebreaker
- Simo (13 Dec 2008)
Played this with the Jr. High group. I didn't think they would do very well, at least with round 2. They did awesome though. They all actually said, during the game, that they really liked the game. We didn't make it to round 3, but I'm sure it would be fun.
- Donny (2 Apr 2009)
This was awesome, some of the group had so many talents and some poeple stood up, even the ones who r usually no involved! This was great to see there hidden talents in round three :) Everyone in the group enjoyed this game so much :) Thanks
- Kirsti-Faith (10 Oct 2009)
RULE #1
You may not say Any persons name while describing the name on the paper.
ie. not "Joseph's wife", You can't say Joseph.
Rather, "the mother of the man who died on the cross."
You can't say "Disney" to get to "Mickey Mouse".
Much more fun to watch their brains work.
- KSS (12 Nov 2009)
Great game Youth will come to know famous people and increase knowledge and youth enjoyed this game thanks
- Sanjay Waghmare (19 Jul 2010)
wow this is a great game it really helps people get off thier shells and brings out the best in U
- sphesihle mthembu (1 Sep 2010)
This is a game we play with our youth ALL the time! It's better if you don't let them skip in the first round. We make them run out the time and then let the other team steal it if they can. If not it goes back in the basket. That way all the names have been guessed in the first round making the second round easier.
ALSO... we always do the third round acting in out UNDER A SHEET OR BLANKET. This is crazy fun. Makes it harder but I'm always amazed at what the kids come up with!
- Meaghan K (3 Nov 2010)
This game is really great - went down really well with our youth group.
- Matt (21 Sep 2012)
Great game for youth groups!
- Jeremy (17 Oct 2013)
Had a great time with this. My third round was they had to "act out" the name. The kids started standing up (all at once) getting excited!
- Michael Philliber (14 Apr 2014)
We call this one the three-round game. We usually have each person come up with 5 phrases of 1-5 words, (that way everyone participates in each round) I find this makes the first round much more challenging, especially when you have smart alecks like myself putting things in like "All the Pansies in Zimbabwe." We've also played adding a fourth round of pictionary, or substituted that for charades, charades at the end is often very easy, although with the five word phrases, not always. This one is a long game, even with a smaller group it will take 30 minutes.
- Jim (26 May 2016)
This game is so good - highly recommended!
- Jo (9 Jan 2020)
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