Word game
Fishbowl
Also called Salad Bowl, Celebrity, The Name Game
Everyone writes names into a bowl; teams guess them three times — by description, then one word, then charades.
- people
- 6–24
- time
- 40 min
- energy
- Medium
- materials
- Household items
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Before you start
Give each player 3–5 slips. Everyone writes one famous person, character or thing per slip, folds it and drops it in the bowl. Split into two teams sitting alternately.
- 1Round 1: in 60 seconds, describe as many slips as you can to your team without saying the word.
- 2Round 2: the same slips go back in — now you may say only one word per slip.
- 3Round 3: the same slips again, this time acted out in silence.
- 4Teams alternate turns; a round ends when the bowl is empty. One point per slip guessed, total across all rounds.
Cards for this game36
Edit them now. Host mode deals them one at a time, big enough for the room.
36 cards
- Birthday
- Umbrella
- Airport
- Pizza
- Elephant
- Teacher
- Rainbow
- Camera
- Beach
- Library
- Grocery
- Mirror
- Bicycle
- Pillow
- Candle
- Wedding
- Doctor
- Spaghetti
- Firefighter
- Passport
- Treasure
- Backpack
- Karaoke
- Elevator
- Traffic jam
- Fireworks
- Notebook
- Volcano
- Pineapple
- Photographer
- Meeting
- Deadline
- Souvenir
- Blueprint
- Telescope
- Lighthouse
What to say3
- 1“Same names all game — so pay attention, round three is charades!”
- 2“Sixty seconds, describe as many as you can. Go!”
- 3“Round two! Just ONE word. Choose wisely!”
Host tips3
- Read the slips quietly before round one. Remove inside jokes only one person gets and anything that could embarrass someone in the room.
- The game takes longer than people expect. If you have 20 minutes, use 3 slips each and play two rounds.
- A turn ends mid-slip when the timer goes. The slip goes back in the bowl, not to the next player — otherwise people stall on purpose.
Variants2
Fourth round
Add a round where the clue-giver hides under a blanket or sheet and can only use sounds.
Family edition
Only names of people in the room, relatives or shared memories. Brilliant at reunions.
Good for
Occasions
ChristmasReunionBirthdayRetreatFarewell partyTeam building
Venues
Indoor, smallIndoor, largeOfficeChurch hallOnline