Running Charades

60 cards quick enough to act while the next runner waits, with team scores on one phone.

Running Charades

Hanging up a coat

1 of 60

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How it works

Running charades is charades as a race: a runner from each team fetches a word from the host, runs back and acts it, and the next runner goes when the team guesses. These 60 cards are quick to act.

Read the full guide

What is running charades?

Teams sit in far corners, the host stands between them. A runner from each team gets the same card, runs back and acts it; when the team shouts it, the next runner fetches the next card. The first team to finish the list wins.

Running it from one phone

Press Print cards for the host's list, or let the host show each card to both runners at once, press +1 for the team that guesses first, then Next card. Clear a path first: runners walk fast, they do not sprint.

Tips
  • Race on Easy and Medium: the five Hard cards, such as Parking in a tiny space, stall a runner.

Questions and answers

How many people do you need for running charades?

Six or more, in two or more teams of three or more, plus a host who does not play. The deck's scoreboard holds up to four teams, so a big room can split into four.

What are good words for running charades?

Ones a team names in seconds: A kangaroo boxing, A seal balancing a ball, Hanging up a coat, A helicopter landing on a roof. Every card here is a single quick act or a short scene.

How is it different from regular charades?

In ordinary charades one team acts while the others wait. In running charades every team plays at once, against the others and against the list, so nobody sits out and a round is over in minutes.

More tools

Browse Acting and Drawing

All 60 running charades cards

Around the house 10

  • Fixing a wobbly table Push the corner, fold a paper, wedge it under.
  • Hanging up a coat Shrug it off, hook it, smooth it.
  • Hunting for the TV remote Lift cushions, look under the couch.
  • Ironing a crease back in Press down, glide, lift, frown at the line.
  • Making a bed with someone still in it Tug the sheet, tuck round a lump, give up.
  • Plunging a sink Pump up and down with both hands.
  • Reaching a jar on the top shelf Tiptoe, stretch, knock it into your hands.
  • Stepping on a creaky stair at night Tiptoe, creak, freeze, listen.
  • Unlocking a door with a full key ring Try one key, then the next, then the next.
  • Watering a houseplant Tilt a small can, check the soil.

Sports and moves 10

  • Climbing a rope to ring a bell Hand over hand, feet clamped, slap the bell.
  • Doing a cartwheel Arms up, lean, sweep a hand toward the floor. Mime it standing.
  • Kicking a penalty Run up, strike, arms up.
  • Losing at limbo Lean back under a pole, wobble, fall.
  • Missing a free throw Bounce, bend, flick, wince as it bounces off.
  • Rowing a canoe Paddle one side, switch, paddle the other.
  • Serving in tennis Toss up, arch back, swing down hard.
  • Skipping stones on a lake Sidearm flick, count the bounces.
  • Throwing a bowling ball Step, swing low, watch it roll.
  • Warming up before a race Swing arms, shake legs, bounce on the spot.
Show all 60 running charades cards (40 more)

Animals 10

  • A cat chasing a laser dot Crouch, wiggle, pounce, miss.
  • A crab pinching a toe Scuttle sideways, snap your claws at a foot.
  • A flamingo falling asleep on one leg One leg, eyes close, wobble, wake.
  • A gorilla guarding its banana Knuckles down, beat your chest, hug the banana.
  • A kangaroo boxing Hop, then jab with both fists.
  • A mole popping out of a lawn Dig, pop up, blink in the light.
  • A seal balancing a ball Clap flippers, nose up, balance.
  • A snake charmed out of a basket Rise slowly, sway side to side.
  • A wet dog at the front door Shake from head to tail all over everyone.
  • A woodpecker on a metal pole Peck fast, stop, rub your beak.

Jobs 10

  • A conductor losing the baton Sweep both arms, the baton flies, look for it.
  • A crossing guard in the rain Hood up, step out with a stop sign, wave kids across.
  • A dentist counting teeth Say open wide, peer in, count on fingers.
  • A hairdresser with a hair dryer Brush and blow, brush and blow.
  • A lifeguard spotting a swimmer Shade your eyes, whistle, point, run.
  • A magician sawing a box in half Saw back and forth, open the box, bow.
  • A mail carrier and a barking dog Push letters in a slot, jump back.
  • A photographer shouting say cheese Crouch, wave people closer, big grin, click.
  • A pilot landing a plane Hands on the yoke, ease it down.
  • A plumber under a sink Lie back, reach up with a wrench.

Things that go 10

  • A fire truck racing to a fire Siren hand, steer hard, spray a hose.
  • A first try on a skateboard Push off with one foot, wobble, arms out.
  • A helicopter landing on a roof Spin one arm overhead, sink slowly, touch down.
  • A hot air balloon taking off Pull a burner cord, rise slowly, wave.
  • A motorbike Twist the handle, lean into a turn.
  • A parachute that opens late Pull the cord, again, then float down relieved.
  • A rowboat with one oar Row one side, go in a circle.
  • A submarine diving Pull down a periscope, then sink.
  • A tractor stuck in mud Rev, bounce, spin the wheel, climb down.
  • The front seat of a roller coaster Click up slowly, then arms up and scream silently.

Quick scenes 10

  • Carrying too many grocery bags Bags on every finger, waddle to the door.
  • Catching a bus as it pulls away Run, wave, stop, watch it go.
  • Following a map upside down Turn the map, turn yourself, turn the map.
  • Losing a sock in the dryer Pull out laundry, count, count again.
  • Opening a present you do not like Tear paper, look inside, big fake smile.
  • Parking in a tiny space Look back, turn the wheel, again, again.
  • Sneezing during a photo Smile, hold it, sneeze at the flash.
  • Stuck in a revolving door Push, go round, come out where you started.
  • Waiting for a slow printer Tap your foot, stare, pull the page out early.
  • Walking a very big dog Get pulled along, dig in your heels.

How this list was compiled: Every card is something a person can act in a few seconds without props or speech, because in running charades the next runner is already waiting: around the house, sports and moves, animals, jobs, things that go and a few quick scenes. The deck keeps to the site's family-safe rule: nothing sexual, no alcohol, no real people, no brand names and no film, show or song titles; the cartwheel is mimed standing. Difficulty is an editor's judgment: Easy is one thing a room names at once, Medium two or three beats, Hard a small scene with a turn. The line under each card is the editors' acting hint, not a rule. Running charades is a house format that the Wikipedia article does not describe, so the page gives one common way to play it. The rules of charades itself follow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charades, read 2026-09-23: rules can vary widely, the performance is silent, and a scoreboard gives a point for every correctly guessed answer. No card has the same text as a card in any other list on this site (counted on 2026-09-23 with a leading a, an or the dropped). Licence: own work