Last Updated on July 15, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Fishbowl is a fun and fast-paced party game that combines elements of Charades, Taboo, and Password. It’s a team-based guessing game that gets more exciting with each round. The goal is to correctly guess as many words or phrases as possible before time runs out.

How to Play Fishbowl

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What You Need

• Slips of paper or index cards
• Pens or markers
• A bowl, hat, or container
• A timer (phone or stopwatch)

Setup

1. Split players into two teams.
2. Give each player 3–5 slips of paper and have them write one word or phrase on each. These can be anything: celebrities, objects, actions, inside jokes, etc.
3. Fold the slips and place them all into the “fishbowl.”

How to Play

The game is played in three rounds, using the same set of words each time:

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Round 1: Taboo-Style (Describe Without Saying the Word)

• A player from Team A draws a slip and describes the word without saying it directly or using rhyming or part of the word.
• Teammates guess as many as possible in 60 seconds.
• Place guessed words in a separate pile.
• Alternate teams each turn until all slips are used.

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Round 2: Charades (Act It Out)

• Put all slips back in the bowl.
• This time, players act out the word silently—no sounds or words allowed.
• Continue alternating turns until all words are guessed again.

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Round 3: One Word

• Again, return all slips to the bowl.
• Now, players can only say one word to describe the clue.
• No gestures or extra clues—just one word and guessing.

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Winning

Count how many correct guesses each team made over all three rounds. The team with the most points wins!

Fishbowl is perfect for groups who want lots of laughter, teamwork, and creativity.