🗂️ Categories

6–9, 10+
5, 15, 30 min
🌙 Works in the dark

To play Categories in the car, someone picks a topic, like fruits, animals with stripes or things that are cold. Players take turns going round the car, each naming one thing that fits. No repeating what someone else said. A player who can't think of one passes. The round ends when everyone has passed, and the next player picks the next category. This page deals a category and reads it aloud.

Peabody reads a category, like "animals that live in water".
Go round the car: each player names one thing in it.
No repeats. If you're stuck, pass. Keep going until everyone runs out.

🎮 Getting the game ready…

How to play Categories, the long way

Tap for a category and Peabody reads it. The player who tapped answers first, then the next player round the car.

Each answer has to fit and can't be a repeat. If someone is stuck, they can pass; once everyone has passed in a row, the round is over. Count how many things the car named together: can you beat it next round?

Make it harder for bigger kids with a letter: "animals that start with B". Make it easier for small ones by letting a grown-up help with a hint.

When the car has played a few rounds, say how many things you named together and try to beat it with the next category. That keeps it one team. A category that's too hard for the youngest can be swapped: tap for a new one, no questions asked. It's a good game for the dark, for slow traffic and for the last hour, when nobody wants to look out of the window any more.

By age

🧸 3–5: Easy categories (animals, colours, foods) with a grown-up whispering hints.

🎒 6–9: Six to nine can do every card in the deck. Let them choose some categories too.

🎧 10+: Add a letter, or a speed rule: answer before the next mile marker.

When it goes wrong

Arguing about whether an answer fits: the player explains, and the car votes.
One child always gets stuck: let them pick the category, so they've had time to think.
It gets boring: switch to a sillier deck card, or to Would You Rather.

Questions families ask

Is there a winner?

Not in our version. The car counts how many things it named together, and tries to beat it.

What age can play Categories?

From about five, with easy topics and a little help.

All 30 cards in the deck

Show them all (for paper players, or to read out yourself)

Name animals that live in water.
Name fruits.
Name things that are cold.
Name things with wheels.
Name animals with stripes or spots.
Name things you find in a kitchen.
Name things that fly.
Name sports.
Name vegetables.
Name things that are round.
Name jobs people do.
Name things at a playground.
Name breakfast foods.
Name things that are yellow.
Name bugs and creepy crawlies.
Name things you wear.
Name musical instruments.
Name things in the sky.
Name farm animals.
Name things that make a noise.
Name things in a bathroom.
Name animals that start with B.
Name foods that start with P.
Name things that are soft.
Name things you take to the beach.
Name birds.
Name things that are hot.
Name things with buttons.
Name shapes.
Name things you can recycle.

Try next

v0.2.0 · Checked 31 October 2026 · Everything you tap stays on this phone. No sign-in, no location, nothing sent. For grown-ups