Boardgames

Say Anything

Answer playful questions, pick your favorite response, and bet on what the judge will choose in this fast-moving party game.

30
minutes

3 - 8
player(s)

Light

Say Anything board game cover

About this board game

Say Anything is a light-hearted party game for 3–8 players that takes about 30 minutes to play. It invites everyone to answer entertaining, open-ended questions, then see which response earns the favorite vote.

At the start of a round, one player draws a question card and reads the question aloud. Prompts might ask what the most important invention of the last century is, which website would be hardest to live without, or what would be the best activity for a first date.

  1. Everyone else writes an answer and places it face-up on the table as quickly as possible.
  2. The player who asked the question secretly chooses a favorite response using the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000.
  3. Each other player uses two betting tokens to predict which answer was chosen, placing both tokens on one answer or splitting them between two.

No duplicate answers are allowed, so players must think creatively, respond quickly, or come up with something witty. The questions are designed to prompt conversation, reveal what friends think, and create plenty of ridiculous statements.

Say Anything is a pure party game for groups looking for social interaction and lots of laughs. Its questions can lead to genuine opinions, surprising choices, and playful debates, making each round a fresh chance to discover how everyone sees the topic.

The game was designed by Dominic Crapuchettes and Satish Pillalamarri. It was first work-shopped at Protospiel 2004 and later refined through additional designer gatherings and weekly game nights at the Looney Labs.

Board Game Rules for
Say Anything

Download official rules (EN)

Say Anything is a light-hearted game about what you and your friends think. It gives you the chance to settle questions that have been hotly debated for centuries. For instance, “Who is the most overrated band of all time?” or “Which celebrity would be the most fun to hang out with for a day?” So dig deep into your heart or just come up with something witty – this is your chance to Say Anything!

What do your friends REALLY think?


  • Each player gets a Dry Erase Pen, an Answer Board, and 2 Player Tokens of the same color as their Answer Board.
  • You’ll also need some napkins to wipe off your answers in between questions.
  • Choose a Score Keeper. This player will write down the scores after each round. The Score Keeper gets the Score Board.
  • The shortest player goes first. This player gets the state-of-the-art SELECT-O-MATIC 5000.

1. Asking a Question & Writing Answers

If you have the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000, then it is your turn. Draw a Question Card. Choose any question from the card and read it out loud.

Everyone else writes an answer on their Answer Board and places it face-up on the table.

2. Choosing Your Favorite Answer

Once all of the Answer Boards are face-up on the table, you will use the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 to secretly choose your favorite answer. When you are done, place the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 face-down on the table.

3. Guessing Which Answer Was Picked

Everyone else uses their 2 Player Tokens to guess which answer you picked. Players can either:

  • Place both Player Tokens on the same answer, OR
  • Split their Player Tokens between 2 different answers. Players do not have to choose their own answer.

Scoring the Round

Once everyone else has placed their 2 Player Tokens, turn the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 face-up.

  • You get 1 point for each Player Token that was placed on the answer you chose, up to a maximum of 3 points.
  • The other players get 1 point for each Player Token they placed on the chosen answer.
  • The player who wrote the chosen answer gets 1 bonus point.

NOTE: The maximum that any player can score in a round is 3 points.

NOTE: Make sure players don’t take back their Player Tokens until the round has been scored.

Preparing for the Next Round

Everyone takes back their 2 Player Tokens and their Answer Board. Erase your answer with a napkin, not with your finger (that leaves an oily residue).

Pass the Question Cards and the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 to the left. Play the next round.


The length of the game depends on the number of players:

  • 3 – 4 players: The game is over once everyone has asked 3 questions.
  • 5 – 6 players: The game is over once everyone has asked 2 questions.
  • 7 – 8 players: The game is over once everyone has asked 1 question.

Who Wins?

At the end of the game, the Score Keeper totals each player’s score. The player with the most points is the winner. But remember – Say Anything isn’t really about winning, it’s more about having fun!

Tie-Breaker

In the case of a tie, the last place player chooses a song that everyone knows. Each of the players who tied for first place must sing a line from the song and do a short dance. The last place player picks their favorite performance and that player is the winner.


It’s my turn. Can I try to influence other players?

No! If it’s your turn, you cannot influence what other players write. You also cannot hint at which answer is your favorite or help the other players guess which answer you picked. However, feel free to share all your thoughts after your favorite answer is officially revealed!

It’s not my turn. Can I lobby for my answer?

Yes! If it’s not your turn, you can lobby for your answer in an attempt to get the player with the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 to choose it as their favorite. In fact, that’s part of the fun!

What if 2 players write the same answer?

Only the first answer placed on the table counts. The other player must write a new answer. The player with the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 resolves any debate about which answer came first.

What if 2 answers are similar?

The player with the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 decides if similar answers are actually the same thing. For example, she may decide that “receiving a salary” is the same as “earning a paycheck”. If similar answers are judged to be the same, see the question above.

Can I change my answer?

Only if someone else is still thinking of an answer to write.

Do I have to write an answer?

If you’re the last person and can’t think of anything to write, you don’t have to write an answer. You still get to guess which answer was picked.



Our Designer Games are fresh & exciting!

No waiting for your turn. We think waiting for your turn is the most boring part of other games. So our games don’t have turns! Everyone is constantly involved in the action.

Party-Tested, Party-Approved. At North Star Games, we play our games with 500 – 1,000 people before they are published. By the time you get your game, it has already been a hit at hundreds of parties.

Like what you hear?

Go to www.NorthStarGames.com and click on “What’s Coming Out Next?”


Overview

Say Anything is a light-hearted game about what you and your friends think. It gives you the chance to settle questions that have been hotly debated for centuries. For instance, “Who is the most overrated band of all time?” or “Which celebrity would be the most fun to hang out with for a day?” So dig deep into your heart or just come up with something witty – this is your chance to Say Anything!

What do your friends REALLY think?


Setup

  • Each player gets a Dry Erase Pen, an Answer Board, and 2 Player Tokens of the same color as their Answer Board.
  • You’ll also need some napkins to wipe off your answers in between questions.
  • Choose a Score Keeper. This player will write down the scores after each round. The Score Keeper gets the Score Board.
  • The shortest player goes first. This player gets the state-of-the-art SELECT-O-MATIC 5000.

How to Play

1. Asking a Question & Writing Answers

If you have the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000, then it is your turn. Draw a Question Card. Choose any question from the card and read it out loud.

Everyone else writes an answer on their Answer Board and places it face-up on the table.

2. Choosing Your Favorite Answer

Once all of the Answer Boards are face-up on the table, you will use the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 to secretly choose your favorite answer. When you are done, place the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 face-down on the table.

3. Guessing Which Answer Was Picked

Everyone else uses their 2 Player Tokens to guess which answer you picked. Players can either:

  • Place both Player Tokens on the same answer, OR
  • Split their Player Tokens between 2 different answers. Players do not have to choose their own answer.

Scoring & Preparing for the Next Round

Scoring the Round

Once everyone else has placed their 2 Player Tokens, turn the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 face-up.

  • You get 1 point for each Player Token that was placed on the answer you chose, up to a maximum of 3 points.
  • The other players get 1 point for each Player Token they placed on the chosen answer.
  • The player who wrote the chosen answer gets 1 bonus point.

NOTE: The maximum that any player can score in a round is 3 points.

NOTE: Make sure players don’t take back their Player Tokens until the round has been scored.

Preparing for the Next Round

Everyone takes back their 2 Player Tokens and their Answer Board. Erase your answer with a napkin, not with your finger (that leaves an oily residue).

Pass the Question Cards and the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 to the left. Play the next round.


End of the Game

The length of the game depends on the number of players:

  • 3 – 4 players: The game is over once everyone has asked 3 questions.
  • 5 – 6 players: The game is over once everyone has asked 2 questions.
  • 7 – 8 players: The game is over once everyone has asked 1 question.

Who Wins?

At the end of the game, the Score Keeper totals each player’s score. The player with the most points is the winner. But remember – Say Anything isn’t really about winning, it’s more about having fun!

Tie-Breaker

In the case of a tie, the last place player chooses a song that everyone knows. Each of the players who tied for first place must sing a line from the song and do a short dance. The last place player picks their favorite performance and that player is the winner.


Frequently Asked Questions

It’s my turn. Can I try to influence other players?

No! If it’s your turn, you cannot influence what other players write. You also cannot hint at which answer is your favorite or help the other players guess which answer you picked. However, feel free to share all your thoughts after your favorite answer is officially revealed!

It’s not my turn. Can I lobby for my answer?

Yes! If it’s not your turn, you can lobby for your answer in an attempt to get the player with the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 to choose it as their favorite. In fact, that’s part of the fun!

What if 2 players write the same answer?

Only the first answer placed on the table counts. The other player must write a new answer. The player with the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 resolves any debate about which answer came first.

What if 2 answers are similar?

The player with the SELECT-O-MATIC 5000 decides if similar answers are actually the same thing. For example, she may decide that “receiving a salary” is the same as “earning a paycheck”. If similar answers are judged to be the same, see the question above.

Can I change my answer?

Only if someone else is still thinking of an answer to write.

Do I have to write an answer?

If you’re the last person and can’t think of anything to write, you don’t have to write an answer. You still get to guess which answer was picked.


About North Star Games


Our Designer Games are fresh & exciting!

No waiting for your turn. We think waiting for your turn is the most boring part of other games. So our games don’t have turns! Everyone is constantly involved in the action.

Party-Tested, Party-Approved. At North Star Games, we play our games with 500 – 1,000 people before they are published. By the time you get your game, it has already been a hit at hundreds of parties.

Like what you hear?

Go to www.NorthStarGames.com and click on “What’s Coming Out Next?”