magicWhat is a charades generator?
A charades generator hands the actor a random word, title or phrase to perform silently while their team guesses before time runs out. Magic Random's generator holds more than 500 prompts across 18 categories, each tagged Easy, Medium or Hard, and shows the two classic hints with every card: the category and the number of words.
It runs the whole round too: a timer, a Hide button for passing the phone, two-team scoring, and a shuffled deck so prompts don't repeat. Pick Kids for a children's party, Adults for a harder night, or Christmas for the holidays.
How to use the charades generator
- Pick a preset or build a deckClassic, Kids, Adults, Movies, Funny, Christmas or Songs & books, or tap categories on and off and set the difficulty.
- Draw a cardThe actor reads the prompt, category and word count. Press Hide before passing the phone.
- Start the timer and actNo talking, no pointing at objects, no mouthing words. Use the standard hand signals for category, word count and syllables.
- Score and passWhen the team guesses, press Got it (if scoring) or Next idea. Play to a target score or a set number of rounds.
What people use it for
- Family gatheringsMixed difficulty so grandparents and kids can both play. Easy animals and actions for the youngest.
- Christmas and Halloween partiesSeasonal decks: reindeer, tangled lights, the Grinch; witch, headless horseman, bobbing for apples.
- Classroom and youth groupsEmotions and Actions for drama warm-ups; Books and Characters for literacy lessons.
- Office team buildingIdioms and Funny for the meeting room, with two-team scoring.
- Big groupsReverse charades: the whole team acts, one person guesses. Louder, faster, no one left out.
- Video callsThe actor keeps the prompt on their phone and performs on camera; everyone else guesses in chat.
Sample ideas by category
| Category | Easy | Hard |
|---|---|---|
| Movies | Frozen, Finding Nemo, Toy Story | Inception, The Shining, Groundhog Day |
| Actions | brushing teeth, flying a kite | parallel parking, stepping on a Lego |
| Characters | Santa Claus, Spider-Man | Gollum, Willy Wonka, Mr. Bean |
| Songs | Happy Birthday, Baby Shark | Bohemian Rhapsody, Hotel California |
| Idioms | piece of cake, cold feet | elephant in the room, burn the midnight oil |
Prefer drawing to acting? Use the Pictionary word generator, which shares the same categories. Need to split the party into teams first? Try the random group generator.
Frequently asked questions
How does the charades generator work?
Choose a preset (Classic, Kids, Adults, Movies, Funny, Christmas, Songs & books) or your own categories and difficulty, then press Draw a card. The prompt appears with its category and word count, which are the standard charades hints. Hide it while you pass the phone, start the timer, and press Got it or Next idea when the team guesses.
What charades categories are included?
Movies, TV shows, songs, books, famous characters, actions, animals, emotions, sports, jobs, objects, food, places, Christmas, Halloween, idioms, funny scenes and hard abstract ideas. Tap any combination on or off.
Is there a charades generator for kids?
Yes. The Kids preset uses Easy difficulty with animals, actions, characters, movies and emotions: elephant, brushing teeth, Elsa, Finding Nemo, sleepy. Everything on the site is family-friendly.
Is there a charades generator for adults?
Yes. The Adults preset mixes Hard movies and TV, idioms, awkward situations and funny scenes: The Godfather, kick the bucket, stuck in an elevator, a vampire at the dentist. It's harder and sillier, not crude.
Can I get movie charades only?
Yes. Pick the Movies preset, or combine Movies with TV shows for a screen-only round. Titles range from Frozen and Toy Story (Easy) to Inception and Pulp Fiction (Hard).
What are the standard charades hand signals?
Hold up fingers for the number of words, then for which word you're acting. Tap your forearm for syllables. Pull your earlobe for 'sounds like'. Pinch fingers for a small word (a, the, of). Roll your hands for 'keep guessing'. Mime a camera crank for movie, a square for TV, open hands for book, and sing silently for song.
How long is a charades turn?
Usually 60 seconds; 90 or 120 for kids or hard prompts, 30 for a fast round. Choose the length and press Start; the countdown shows under the prompt.
What is reverse charades?
The whole team acts out the prompt while one person guesses. The generator works the same way: the guesser looks away, the team reads the card and acts together. It's louder and better for big groups.
Can I keep score for teams?
Yes. Tick Keep score for two teams. Got it adds a point to the acting team, deals the next card and passes the turn.
Do the prompts repeat?
Not until the deck runs out. All prompts in your chosen categories are shuffled into one deck, so a long party doesn't see the same idea twice.
Is the charades generator free?
Yes, with no app, no account and no limits. It runs in your browser on any phone.
Last updated 2026-10-27. This tool runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent to our servers unless the page says so.