Time’s Up! Family Edition

About this board game

Time’s Up! Family Edition is a charades-based party game for 3–99 players, with a play time of about 60 minutes. It works best with teams of two and challenges players to get teammates to guess common items from everyday life.

Before play begins, each player looks through several cards and chooses some of them. Those selected cards are shuffled into a single deck, which is used throughout all three rounds. In every round, teammates take turns giving clues for 30 seconds, trying to get through as many cards as possible.

The rules become more restrictive as the game progresses:

• Round 1: Almost any kind of clue is allowed, but the cluegiver cannot pass on a card.
• Round 2: Each clue may use no more than one word, while sounds and gestures remain unlimited. The cluegiver may pass, and teammates may give only one answer.
• Round 3: Words are no longer allowed. The cluegiver can pass as often as desired, while teammates again get only one guess.

Because the same deck returns in every round, a well-chosen physical clue in the opening round can become useful later. Remembering the cards and recognizing familiar gestures becomes especially important when speaking is limited or impossible.

With its everyday subjects, short turns, and escalating restrictions, Time’s Up! Family Edition builds a shared set of clues that grows more valuable as players move from open-ended explanations to sounds, gestures, and silent acting.