The host picks a category pack, how many rounds to play (5 by default), and how long players get to answer each round (30 seconds by default), then shares the room code. Anyone can join from the Scattegories landing page — no signup, no app.
Every round draws a random letter and pulls a fresh set of categories from the chosen pack, so no two rounds look the same even within one game.
You'll see a random letter and a list of categories — for each one, type a word or phrase that starts with that letter and fits the category, before the timer runs out. Everyone answers independently and at the same time; you can't see anyone else's answers until the round ends.
Once everyone's submitted (or the host force-ends the round), the game moves straight into a review phase rather than scoring things silently in the background.
Every player's answers for every category go on screen together. The game automatically zeroes out anything that's blank, doesn't actually start with the round's letter, or is a near-duplicate of another player's answer in that same category (matched at roughly 82% text similarity, so "Puppy" and "Puppies" would both get flagged as duplicates).
For everything that survives that automatic check, any OTHER player (not you) can dispute an answer they think shouldn't count — you can't dispute your own. Once everyone's locked in their review, scoring happens.
Each surviving answer is worth (number of players in the room minus the number of disputes it received), multiplied by 2, with a floor of 0. So in a 4-player game, an answer nobody disputes is worth 8 points; each successful-feeling dispute against it knocks 2 points off. This is why a more original answer is worth more — the whole scoring model rewards not overlapping with what everyone else wrote.
After all rounds are played, whoever has the highest total score across every round wins.
Quick tips
Frequently asked
What happens if two players write the exact same answer?
Any answer that's a close match (roughly 82% similar in text) to another player's answer in the same category is automatically zeroed out for both players before scoring even starts.
Can you dispute your own answer?
No — disputes can only be raised by other players against your answer, never by you against your own.
How is each answer's point value actually calculated?
An answer scores (total players in the room minus how many disputes it received), times 2, with a minimum of 0 — so an undisputed answer in a 4-player game is worth 8 points.
Do you need the physical Scattegories board game to play this version?
No — this is a fully digital, free multiplayer version with its own randomized letters, categories, and scoring, playable straight from the browser with no equipment.
Ready to play? It's free — no signup.