How to play Initial Thoughts
Initial Thoughts is a free online categories game. You get a random letter and a list of categories, and you have until the timer runs out to write down something for each category that starts with that letter. Play it on a laptop, a TV or a phone in the middle of the table. Everyone writes their answers on paper.
What you need
- Two or more players, or teams.
- A pen and paper each.
- One screen everyone can see. No sign-up and no download.
How a round works
- Set up. Pick how many categories you want (4 to 20), how long the round lasts, and which packs to draw from.
- Get a letter. The game rolls a random letter. Awkward letters (Q, U, V, X, Y and Z) are left out unless you switch them on.
- Press Go. The categories stay hidden until the timer starts, so nobody gets a head start.
- Write fast. Everyone writes one answer per category, and every answer must start with the letter. For example, with B and "Animals", you could write badger.
- Pens down. When time is up, take turns reading your answers aloud and score them.
Scoring
- 1 point for each valid answer that nobody else wrote.
- 0 points if two or more players wrote the same answer. Matching answers cancel each other out, so the obvious answer is often a trap.
- 0 points for blanks and for answers the table rejects. If there's a dispute, the group votes.
- Play three rounds, or as many as you like. Highest total wins.
Popular house rules
- Alliteration bonus
- An extra point for each word in the answer that starts with the letter, such as Big Brown Bear for 3 points.
- No repeats
- You can't use the same answer twice in one round, even if it fits two categories.
- Hard mode
- Switch on Q, U, V, X, Y and Z, and cut the timer to 60 seconds.
- Teams
- Teams of two or three share one sheet. It works well for big groups and mixed ages.
- Bring your own
- Type your own categories into the list, such as in-jokes, school topics or a theme for the night.
Tips for winning
- Skip the first answer that comes to mind. Everyone else probably thought of it too.
- Fill in the easy ones first and come back to the hard ones.
- Adjectives are your friend: salty snacks and small dogs both count.
- Be ready to argue your case. A good explanation can win the vote.
In the classroom
It works well as a starter, a plenary or a wet-play game. Put it on the board, choose the Kids or Wordplay pack, and add categories from your current topic. It builds vocabulary, spelling and quick recall. It runs in any browser, with no accounts and no adverts.