Alias Game: Rules and 300 Words to Explain

Alias is the party game where you explain a word without saying it, while your team tries to guess as many words as possible before the timer runs out. It's close to Taboo and Catchphrase, but simpler: there's no list of banned words on the card, you just can't say the word itself.

Below are the rules, tips for explaining faster and 300 words in three levels. Don't have the box? Play Alias online: only the explainer sees the word, and the game keeps the timer and the score.

Alias rules

1. Split into teams of two or more. With an odd number of players, rotate one person between teams, or play every player for themselves.
2. One player from the first team is the explainer. They get a word and one minute on the clock.
3. The explainer describes the word, and their team shouts out guesses.
4. Guessed it? Next word. Stuck? Skip it.
5. When the time is up, the team scores a point for every word guessed and loses a point for every skip.
6. The turn passes to the next team, and the explainer role rotates inside each team.
7. The first team to reach the target score (for example, 30 points) wins.

The last word. When the timer runs out mid-word, any team can shout the answer. Whoever gets it first takes the point.

What you can't do

• Say the word itself, or any part of it.
• Use words with the same root: for "snowman" you can't say "snow".
• Translate it into another language.
• Point at the object or spell the word out.
• Use rhymes like "sounds like…" (in strict mode).

Everything else is fair: descriptions, opposites, examples, associations, "it's what you use to…".

How to explain faster

• Start with the category. "It's an animal", "it's a job", "it's in the kitchen".
• Use opposites. For "summer", say "the opposite of winter".
• Fill in the blank. For "honey", try "Winnie the Pooh loves…".
• Don't fight a word. If your team doesn't get it in 10 seconds, skip. Speed matters more than one stubborn word.
• Agree on a code. Teams that have played together a lot develop shortcuts. That's half the fun.

Easy words (100)

Good for kids, warm-up rounds and players speaking a second language.

• Apple, banana, cat, dog, sun, moon, car, house, tree, book
• Chair, table, bed, door, window, phone, ball, shoe, hat, cake
• Pizza, milk, water, bread, egg, fish, bird, horse, cow, pig
• Rain, snow, flower, grass, sea, river, mountain, star, cloud, fire
• Teacher, doctor, baby, king, clown, police, farmer, pilot, chef, nurse
• Spoon, fork, cup, plate, knife, bottle, key, clock, mirror, pillow
• Bicycle, bus, train, plane, boat, rocket, truck, taxi, tractor, helicopter
• Pencil, paper, school, ticket, money, gift, balloon, candle, guitar, drum
• Elephant, lion, monkey, rabbit, snake, frog, bear, penguin, giraffe, shark
• Sock, umbrella, glasses, ring, backpack, toothbrush, soap, towel, sandwich, ice cream

Medium words (100)

The standard level for a party.

• Birthday, wedding, holiday, vacation, picnic, camping, airport, passport, suitcase, hotel
• Dentist, firefighter, astronaut, lawyer, journalist, plumber, scientist, photographer, waiter, detective
• Microwave, fridge, vacuum cleaner, remote control, charger, headphones, keyboard, laptop, printer, camera
• Volcano, desert, island, jungle, waterfall, rainbow, thunderstorm, earthquake, glacier, tornado
• Pyramid, castle, lighthouse, bridge, museum, library, stadium, zoo, hospital, prison
• Dinosaur, octopus, butterfly, kangaroo, crocodile, owl, squirrel, dolphin, spider, camel
• Chocolate, popcorn, pancake, spaghetti, sushi, hamburger, lemonade, cheese, salad, coffee
• Football, tennis, swimming, chess, boxing, skiing, marathon, yoga, karate, bowling
• Superhero, wizard, pirate, vampire, mermaid, robot, alien, ghost, zombie, dragon
• Selfie, password, emoji, podcast, influencer, hashtag, video call, subscription, playlist, screenshot

Hard words (100)

For experienced players and groups who want a challenge.

• Democracy, inflation, gravity, evolution, nostalgia, conscience, freedom, ambition, coincidence, horoscope
• Procrastination, déjà vu, insomnia, jealousy, gossip, sarcasm, motivation, intuition, compromise, curiosity
• Archaeologist, surgeon, translator, architect, accountant, librarian, sommelier, diplomat, tattoo artist, sculptor
• Submarine, parachute, telescope, microscope, satellite, escalator, wind turbine, compass, thermometer, hourglass
• Eclipse, black hole, constellation, comet, avalanche, tsunami, drought, solstice, northern lights, quicksand
• Orchestra, ballet, opera, graffiti, sculpture, documentary, cartoon, sequel, soundtrack, standing ovation
• Jet lag, blind date, honeymoon, hangover, housewarming, babysitter, landlord, neighbor, roommate, soulmate
• Algorithm, cryptocurrency, firewall, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, spam, upgrade, bug, update, cloud storage
• Referee, penalty, trophy, Olympics, relay race, checkmate, high jump, scuba diving, rock climbing, figure skating
• Lottery, auction, bargain, mortgage, receipt, tip, refund, budget, savings, discount

Alias variations

• Charades round. Every fourth round, no talking allowed: act the word out.
• One-word round. The explainer can say only one word per guess.
• Themed rounds. Only food, only movies or only jobs.
• Online round. On a video call, the explainer talks and the others type guesses into the game chat.

More ideas: Who Am I? rules and 200 characters and online party games to play with friends.

Play Alias online →