Categories list generator
Press a button and get a fresh set of categories for your next game. Pick a random letter, copy the list, play it online or print it.
Your categories
- Name
- Girl's name
- Boy's name
- Place
- Country
- Capital city
- Animal
- Bird
Random letter
Letters that are rarely useful as a first letter are left out.
How to use the list generator
Choose how many categories you want and press “New list”. The generator picks them at random from the ideas below, so every list is different. Keep pressing until you like the mix, then copy it, play it online in a private room or print it as a score sheet.
It works for any categories game, including a Scattergories-style evening at home. Roll a random letter with the second button and everyone writes one word per category that starts with it.
What makes a good category
Mix easy and hard categories. Name, Animal and Food are quick, while “Something sticky” or “Something you find in a park” make people think and laugh. Avoid categories with a single obvious answer for every letter, because then everyone scores the same.
Open phrases such as “Something that is loud” create the best arguments and the best stories. Six categories make a fast round, ten make a long one.
Ideas by group
With children use color, animal, fruit, toy and cartoon character. For a family evening add food, town and movie. For colleagues and teams try job, brand and something in the office, which also works as a light icebreaker. In a language class use the categories in the language you are learning.
Random letters that work
Not every letter gives good answers in every category. The random letter button skips Q, U, V, X, Y and Z. In the online game you can switch letters on or off for each room yourself.
All category ideas
- Name
- Girl's name
- Boy's name
- Place
- Country
- Capital city
- Animal
- Bird
- Insect
- Sea creature
- Thing
- Food
- Dessert
- Candy
- Fruit
- Vegetable
- Drink
- Job
- Plant
- Color
- Brand
- Car brand
- Body part
- Sport
- Hobby
- Movie
- TV show
- Book title
- Song title
- Band or singer
- Musical instrument
- Board game
- Toy
- Cartoon character
- Superhero
- Fairy tale character
- Famous person
- School subject
- Holiday
- Clothing
- Shoe
- Furniture
- River or lake
- Mountain
- Island
- Football club
- Something in the house
- Something in the kitchen
- Something in the bathroom
- Something in a park
- Something in a toolbox
- Something round
- Something sticky
- Something cold
- Something loud
- Something yellow
- Something that flies
- Something you pack for a trip
- Vacation activity
- Supermarket item
FAQ
How many categories should a round have?
Six to eight is a good start. Twelve is the most that fits the online game and the printed sheet.
Can I use my own categories?
Yes. Type them into the online game or the printable sheet, or start from a generated list and change it.
What if nobody has a word for a category?
Then nobody scores for that category in that round. Skip it, or agree on a house rule that a creative answer is allowed.
Is this an official Scattergories list generator?
No. Scattergories is a trademark of Hasbro, and this website is not affiliated with it. The lists here work for any categories game.