Charades online: act out words with friends on a video call
In charades you show a word without a sound and the others guess it. It is a separate mode (called Crocodile) in the Ushanka Hat game: play in one room, on one phone, or with friends in other cities on a video call.
The app is in Google Play's closed test right now. How to become a tester: How to install the app
What charades is and how the rules work
One player gets a word and shows it with gestures and facial expressions, no words and no sounds. Everyone else guesses out loud. Whoever guesses gets a point, and the player showing gets a point too.
In our version each word gets 60 seconds by default and every player shows 3 words. The one who guessed shows next by default. You may not say the word or words from the same root, and pointing at the thing does not count.
How to play charades online, step by step
1. Open the game in the browser (the “Play in the browser” button on this page) or in the Android app, and tap “Online room”. Enter your name: no account needed.
2. Choose “Play online (with a call)”: voice and video run right in the game, up to 6 phones. If you are sitting together, choose “We are in the same room”.
3. In the room settings, under “Game”, pick “Crocodile”. By default the “Time per word” is 60 seconds and there are 3 words per player; you can change both right there.
4. Send your friends the room code, the link or the QR code. When everyone has joined, the host starts the game.
5. Only the one showing sees the word. Step back so the camera sees you from the waist up, or all of you, and act it out. The others watch the video and guess out loud.
Playing in one room or on one phone
With “We are in the same room” everyone has their own phone and there is no call. Only the one showing sees the word, the others look at them instead of the screen.
If you want to manage with a single phone, tap “Crocodile” on the home screen and pass the phone around. The Android app needs no internet for this.
Word ideas and tips
Actions and objects work best: “brushing teeth”, “fishing”, “vacuum cleaner”, “photographer”. Film titles and abstract ideas are harder, so save them for a second round.
Agree in advance whether showing letters or counting syllables is allowed. Start with easy words and add your own later: the game has ready-made lists in English, German and Russian and lets you type your own words.
For more variety, build a “Custom” game and put Crocodile next to the normal Hat round and the “One word” round (up to 4 rounds).
Questions about charades online
Can we play charades on a video call?
Yes. In a room “online with a call” voice and video run right in the game, so your friends see the gestures on screen. Such a room takes up to 6 phones.
Do I need to install anything or sign up?
No. The game opens in the browser and you can play online as a guest without an account. There is also an Android app — find the link in the “Download” section of the game page.
How many players do I need?
Two or more. “In the same room” takes up to 16 players, online with a call up to 6 phones.
Is it free?
Yes, it is free to play. The game shows ads.
How is charades different from Hat?
In Hat you explain the word with words, in charades only with gestures and facial expressions. In the game they are two modes, and in “Custom” you can mix them.