How to play Guessy Kids
The rules are simple enough that a three year old picks them up halfway through the first round. This page walks through the whole thing and adds a few ideas for making it even better.
Quick facts
One player holds the phone to their forehead while everyone else acts out or describes the picture on screen. Tilt the phone down for a correct guess and up to pass. A round lasts 30 seconds by default.
- Players
- 2 or more
- Round length
- 30 seconds, up to 90 with Premium
- Age
- 3 and up
- You need
- one phone
Getting set up
Sit facing each other so everyone has a clear view of the screen. The person guessing should be at the front of the group, with everyone else opposite them.
Open the app and tap a category on the home screen. The selected category gets a highlighted border, and the button at the bottom starts the round.
- Turn the sound on, correct answers and passes each have their own cue
- Turn the brightness up so the picture reads well in daylight
- If a small child is holding the phone, a case is a good idea
A round, step by step
- 01
Countdown
A five second countdown gives you time to lift the phone to your forehead with the screen pointing outward.
- 02
The first picture appears
A single large illustration fills the screen. You cannot see it, everyone else can, and they can start acting immediately.
- 03
Start guessing
Say your guesses out loud. There is no limit on attempts while the clock is running.
- 04
Tilt down
When you get it, tilt the phone down. A green screen and a sound confirm the point, then the next picture loads.
- 05
Tilt up
If the group is stuck, tilt the phone up to pass. With Premium you can make a pass cost five seconds.
- 06
Time is up
The round ends with a recap of how many words you got and which ones they were. You can start a new game from there.
After each tilt the phone has to return to a level position before the next one registers, which stops a single sweep from skipping two cards.
Three play styles, same cards
You can mix styles in a single evening. Plenty of families settle on a split where the preschooler mimes, the older sibling describes and the adult does sound effects, so everyone plays at their own level.
Miming
The classic. No talking, movement only. This is the best style for parties and larger groups.
Sound effects
Made for the Animals category. Little kids love it, and it is the easiest way in for the youngest players.
Describing
Explain the word without saying it. For school age children this is the version that builds language skills fastest.
Tips by age
Ages 3 to 4
Stick to Animals and Fruits. Allow sound effects, and let an adult hold the phone while the child does the acting.
Ages 5 to 6
Bring in Colors, Objects and Activities. At this age children enjoy holding the phone themselves and seeing their own score.
Ages 7 to 10
Emotions and Jobs are where the real challenge is. Try silent miming and stretch rounds to 60 seconds.
House rules worth stealing
- Team play: two teams take equal turns and add up their totals at the end
- Sounds only: no hands allowed for an entire round, voices do all the work
- Role reversal: the child holds the phone and the grown ups guess, which never fails
- Language round: switch the app to English and accept answers in either language
- Gentle mode: turn off the time penalty and let the youngest player take as long as they need
If something is not working
Tilts are not registering
Hold the phone upright in front of your forehead and make a decisive movement. The device needs to come back to level before the next tilt counts.
No sound
Check the silent switch or volume on your phone, then the Sounds toggle in the app settings.
It moves too fast
With Premium, set rounds to 60 or 90 seconds and turn off the time penalty for passes.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you run out of cards mid round?
The app tells you the cards are finished and closes the round with your score so far. Combining several categories in one game, which Premium allows, keeps this from happening.
Can the word be shown alongside the picture?
Yes. Turn on text display in settings and the word appears under the illustration, which is genuinely useful for children learning to read.
Do you need a table or much space?
No table needed, though a little room to move helps the person acting. It works sitting down in a car too, where describing is the best style.
How long does a whole game take?
A round is half a minute and a typical family session runs five or six rounds, so about ten minutes in total. Short enough to fit in before dinner.
Try it tonight
The Animals category and its 96 puzzles are playable the moment you download, no purchase required.