Cranium Whoonu (pronounced 'who knew') will get everyone involved. Learning how to play Cranium Whoonu is quick and simple and game play is rather quick. This is a great game for teens as a get to know you game or for long time friends. Give Cranium Whoonu a try today and who knows, you just might learn something new. Cranium is an evolved form of Ludo. It's a board game, wherein a team of 2 or more players strive to reach the center of the cranium board, completing various skill-based activities. The game was created by two former Microsoft employees, Richard Tait and Whit Alexander. It is presently marketed and manufactured by Hasbro under the Cranium Inc. Plentifun explains the several rules.
Cranium at a Glance
Game Type Acting, Singing, Line Drawing, Paper and Pencil, Team Based | Play Time 60 mins | Skill/Complexity (1.5 - 5) Light |
Age 13+ | Publisher(s) Hasbro | Published 1998 |
Categories Party / Word / Family / Trivia | Players 4 - 16 (6 - 8 is best) | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
Our Rating 7.5/10 | Cost $14.99 |
About – Description
Cranium the board game was designed in 1998 by Whit Alexander and Richard Tait. The game is considered to be a trivia, and word game that’s perfect to play at parties.
It’s ideal for 4-16 players to play although it’s recommended for 8 players while the game is aimed at those who are over 13 years old.
The gameplay time is around 60 minutes.
Who’s it best suited for?
The game is perfect for parties and for those who have an interest in word, puzzle and trivia games. As the game has an age of 13 and over, it’s not a game that is suitable for families with younger kids.
Skill – Complexity
This is not considered to be a complex or a highly skillful game although it does require players to spell, unscramble words, draw, answer questions and perform.
It could be considered hard to play because it consists of a number of different types of play but there are specific skills required.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
Cranium the board game is not difficult to set up as it consists of a board, board movers, a color coded die and cards.
Players have to make their way around the board while drawing, sculpting, impersonating, solving puzzles and even humming.
The game consists of four different categories known as Creative Cat which involves sculpting and drawing, Data Head which involves answering questions, Star Performer which requires players to sing, act and impersonate and Word Worm where players have to unscramble words and define words.
The winner has to successfully complete tasks in all four areas.
This how to play video is very useful…….
Versions – Editions
The game has been released in many different countries across the world in a wide range of languages while a Marks and Spencer Edition was released in 2004.
There’s also a booster box to offer an extension of 800 cards to Cranium if it’s a game you will continue to play in the future and need to boost it up.
Likes & Dislikes
People tend to love the fact that Cranium the board game brings people together during parties to have some fun and laughter. The 60 minute playing time means that not too much of a commitment has to be made to playing it and that is always a bonus.
Some players found that the challenges varied in difficulty and that somewhat made the game inconsistent.
Final Thoughts
This is a game that brings together certain elements of many other famous games released throughout the years. It’s a game that works brilliantly at parties and has people taking part in hilarious acts and challenges them in interesting ways.
As it is suitable for up to 16 players, it is ideal for any kind of gathering where there are players over 13 years old.
Other Board Games You Might Like
Looking for a way to liven up your Zoom calls? Need a game to play during your next virtual happy hour? Sick of just staring at your friends’ faces during your video chat catch-ups? (Our daily routines have been the same for 12 months so everyone is more than caught-up.) Fear not, for you can play Scattergories on Zoom. If nothing else, it’ll awaken the nostalgic part of your brain.
If you and your friends crave inconsequential competition — my favorite kind — Scattergories is the low-stakes drama you seek. If you’re unfamiliar or need a refresher, Scattergories is a word game where you roll a giant die with letters on each side. Then, you fill out a list with random categories like actors, colors, or things you find in a zoo. Each answer needs to start with the designated letter. You get a point for each original answer. If someone else has the same word as you, neither of you gets the point. Prepare to argue about who counts as a celebrity and how creative you can get with the names of colors.
Some other rules to abide by:
- No adding an adjective before a word to make it work with the letter (e.g., Blue Toyota for “cars that start with B”).
- No repeating words (e.g., no using orange for “colors that start with O” and “fruit that starts with O”).
- Be nice and have fun. This is just a rule for living life.
You can also make up your own rules — I like to award bonus points for creativity. Or ignore rules you don’t want to abide by like repeating words. I’m not your Scattergories daddy.
Here are five ways you can play Scattergories over Zoom with your friends. Let the (low-stakes) games begin!
1. An Online Version Of Scattergories
There are a handful of different versions of Scattegories online. My personal favorite is this Scattergories list generator from Swellgarfo. (If you don’t like that layout, there’s an alternate design.) You’ll need to share your screen for this one if you want to play it on Zoom. From there, it’s pretty simple. Just make sure everyone has a piece of paper, a pencil, and the propensity to tell the truth about their answers.
If you need a crash course in Zoom Scattegories: Screen-sharing Edition, here’s how you can play:
Game Rules For Cranium
- Have one person go to Swellfargo’s Scattergories game or a site. They’ll then share their screen so you’re all looking at the same list. (You can access the “Share Screen” option by clicking on the green arrow at the bottom of your video or by clicking the Zoom icon in the top right corner of your Mac.)
- Click play when everyone’s ready. (Hit “restart” if you want a different letter.)
- After two minutes, everyone shares their answers. If you give an alliterative answer (e.g., “Marilyn Monroe” for “celebrities that start with M”) you get an extra point. If someone else has the same answer as you, you both cross that item off.
- Play as many rounds as you want. Whoever has the most points at the end wins the title of Lord of the Scattergories.
2. Scattergories You Can Play Without Sharing Your Screen
If you don’t want to share your screen, there’s also Scattergories online with a shareable link. It's admittedly not the prettiest site but it does work. One person will need to set up the Scattergories room — with this version, you can select which game categories you want to include from a list. Then, they’ll be able to choose letters you want to include in gameplay, ensuring you won’t have to come up with a list of words that start with X or Q. You can also specify how many people are playing, how many rounds you want to do, and how long each round ends. Finally, drop a link in the Zoom chat and you’re good to go.
3. Make Your Own Scattergories
If you really want a DIY version of the game, there’s an extremely 2010s-looking blog with lists of original Scattergories category cards. Pair that with a random letter generator and this Scattergories timer video with the OG Scattergories timer sounds, and you have yourself a trip back to your childhood.
4. The Scattergories App
There’s also a free Scattergories app from Hasbro. (It has in-app purchases and some limits on how many free games you can play in a day.) However, you can only play one-on-one against a friend who also has the app. Since the app reveals answers and tallies points for you, your Zoom call can be used exclusively for trash talk.
5. Scattergories, The Board Game
Chances are good that at least one person on your Zoom call owns a physical version of Scattergories. Adapt the rules a bit so that person is the Scattergories MC. They'll roll the letter die and select one of the lists from the game. When the timer starts, they'll read through each category one by one while everyone else writes down their answers. If they're feeling nice, they can read through the list again so people have a chance to answer items they may have skipped. From there, you score the game as per usual.
This version works best for groups where screen sharing may be difficult or you just want a version of Scattergories that lets you interact with your friends a little more while you're playing.
New Cranium Game Rules
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