Great Minds Think Alike: A Fun, Easy Paper and Pencil Game
Ever notice how your family can spend an entire evening talking about absolutely nothing while staring at their phones? Been there.
That’s exactly why I first broke out Great Minds Think Alike with my classroom crew (cuz fun paper and pencil games are LIFE for impromptu indoor recess days). My guines pigs for this particular game, lol.
And then I brought it home to rescue my family from the Great Social Media Zombie Apocalypse of last year’s Thanksgiving.
It was a hit with BOTH crowds.
Let me walk you through this mind-reading miracle that’s got both tweens and grandparents thinking they’ve developed ESP.
Wait, What’s Great Minds Think Alike All About?
It’s simple. The magic of “Great Minds Think Alike” is figuring out how similar—or completely off-base—your thought process is with the rest of your group.
Here’s the setup: You divide into teams, receive a series of random categories, and write down the first three things that pop into your head.
Here’s the twist: Points are based on how many of your answers match your teammates.
No pressure, right?
I absolutely LOVE games like this – especially when you need something easy to prep and fun to play. I use this bad boy as a main game for game nights. And I also use it for indoor recess fun for my 5th graders on rainy days. I mean, what’s not to love ? Everyone can literally play and sometimes the answers that people give are HILARIOUS! – Aquita, Fun Party Tips
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| What’s Up | Objective | How Old? | Cool Stuff | Not So Cool Stuff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Minds Think Alike | Write down three answers to fun categories and earn points when your family’s brains are thinking the same way. First team to reach the target score (you pick the number—it’s your game!) wins! | Perfect for anyone who can write and come up with answers. My 5th graders love it, and Grandma’s still a champ (though she thinks “TikTok” is a kind of clock). | No fancy supplies needed! Grab some paper, pens, and people who are ready for a good laugh. | Some players might take a little too long to write answers (looking at you, little bro), and things can get silly if someone says “macaroni” for “Fancy Dinner Foods.” |
Alert!: Time to Bust Some Family Boredom & Breakout Endless Fun
This lightning-fast printable game for all ages turns ordinary evenings into laugh out loud adventures. Just picture your family’s faces as they try to name 3 colors that begin with the letter “B”. Snag it now!
What You’ll Need to Play Great Minds Think Alike
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of gameplay, make sure you’ve got the essentials. These aren’t exotic or expensive, so no excuses.
- A printed game sheet (or someone calling out categories—your choice)
- Pens or pencils
- Paper for jotting down answers
- A timer (optional—but good if you’ve got that one person who takes forever)
- A group of competitive folks with a sense of humor
If Great Minds Think Alike got your crew buzzing, wait ‘til you try Telephone Pictionary (spoiler: hilarious), 27 Hilarious Family Minute to Win It Games (pure chaos), or 101 Epic Party Game Ideas (a goldmine of fun). Click now, because your party deserves more awesomeness!
Prepping for the Game
Here’s where you flex your host skills. Don’t worry, it’s super easy.
- Divide the group into teams. Two teams work best, but if you’ve got an unruly number of guests, feel free to break it into smaller groups.
- Game sheet or categories list? Either print out a prepared list of categories or make one yourself. (Pro tip: Keep it family-friendly unless everyone is on board with late-night party vibes.)
- Arm your players. Hand everyone a pen and paper. No sharing. We’re not in kindergarten anymore.
Rules of the Game
Rules. We all hate them, but you need ‘em to keep things from going off the rails.
- Read out a category. Examples: “An expensive kind of car,” “Something you eat at a county fair,” or “A movie title with the word ‘Love’ in it.”
- Write your answers. Each player jots down the first three answers that come to mind. No sneaky peeking at your neighbor’s paper.
- Reveal and compare. After everyone’s done, compare answers within each team.
- Score points. Here’s the fun part. The more people on your team who wrote the same answer, the higher the score:
- 3 people with the same word = 3 points
- 4 people with the same word = 4 points
- 5 or more? You guessed it, 5 points
First team to rack up enough points wins.
How many points? That’s up to you. (20? 50? Whatever keeps the energy alive.)
Reverse points for chaos. Flip the rules! Reward teams zero points for matches and the most points for creative, unique, and ridiculous answers no one else thought of. Personally? I’ve had some of the most fun games playing this way.
Game-Friendly Categories to Get Started
Looking to kick off the fun quickly? Here’s a collection of categories to make “Great Minds Think Alike” even more engaging.
These work for all kinds of groups and occasions.
Mix and adapt as needed!
Classic Categories
- An expensive kind of car
- Something you eat at a county fair
- A movie title with the word “Love” in it
- A famous landmark
- Items found in a kitchen
Quirky & Fun Options
- A celebrity with a unique baby name
- Foods people pretend to like
- Something you’d find in the back of a fridge
- An animal nobody wants as a pet
- A job no one dreams of having
Seasonal or Themed
- A summer vacation destination
- A gift people never want to receive
- Something scary you might see on Halloween
- Items on a festive holiday table
- A New Year’s resolution no one sticks to
Easy for Kids
- Cartoon characters
- Types of candy
- Favorite school activities
- Superheroes
- Zoo animals
Perfect for Adults
- Popular cocktails
- Songs from the 90s
- TV show villains
- Things you wish you could unsee
- Guilty pleasure foods
Feel free to tweak these based on your group’s vibe. The more ridiculous the categories, the more laughs they’ll generate!
Pro Tips to Maximize the Fun
Look, the game is pretty straightforward, but if you wanna take it from fun to unforgettable, here are a few extras to keep in mind:
1. Keep the Pace Up
There’s always that one person who overthinks everything. Don’t let the energy nose dive; bust out a timer and give players 10-15 seconds per category.
2. Spice Up the Categories
Sure, “Something you might see in the sky” is easy enough. But why not throw in quirky options like “A celebrity with weird baby names” or “Foods you secretly hate but eat to be polite”?
3. Tiebreaker Madness
If there’s a tie, spice it up with a sudden-death round. Drop a curveball category and see which team nails it first.
4. Adapt for Kids or Adults
Hosting a multigenerational gathering? Make categories kid-friendly like “Disney characters” while saving “Cocktail names” for the adults-only crew.
5. Prizes or Bragging Rights?
You don’t need prizes, but hey, a trophy made of kitchen foil or even a ridiculous title like “Mastermind Champion” can make the night even better.
If you want, you can warm up with easy categories. Start with stuff like “Colors of the Rainbow” to get everyone comfortable before diving into the tricky ones like: “Elements of the Periodic Table”
Why This Game is Perfect Any Time You Need a Game
You don’t need an entire production to make “Great Minds Think Alike” a hit.
It has the perfect trifecta of party game elements: easy to learn, minimal setup, and guaranteed to bring out tons of laughs.
Plus, it works for any crowd.
Family dinner? Yup.
Game night with the gang? Absolutely.
Even coworkers at a team-building event could get in on the fun (after a refreshing beverage or two). It’s flexible like that.
Ever had a game night where the only thing organized was the chaos? Same.
This Facebook group is like that one drawer full of random stuff in your kitchen; it’s a bit of everything and somehow EXACTLY what you need. Dive into the treasure trove of laughs, printable games and tips for moms who wish “winging it with style” was a recognized party planning strategy.
Wrap-Up: Overthinking? Skip It. Just Play.
“Great Minds Think Alike” isn’t rocket science (thank goodness!).
It’s about bringing people together to laugh, argue over ridiculous answers, and bask in those “How did you even think of that?!” moments.
Give it a shot.
You’ll thank me later.