How to Play Cranium

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Created by Richard Tait and Whit Alexander in 1998, Cranium is a fun board game to play in groups. In Cranium, you divide players into teams. In order to advance across the board, you have to complete a variety of activities. Cranium is a fairly easy game to play as long as you follow instructions carefully.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Beginning the Game

1
Get into teams. Cranium is a game that is played in teams. To play the game, you'll need at least four players so you have at least two teams. Divide people up into teams at the beginning of the game.^{[1]
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- As there is no limit on how many players per team, Cranium can be fun to play in big groups. You could play with 4 groups of 3 to 4 players, for example, if you're looking for a board game for a party night.
- However, you can play in small groups as well. As long as there are at least two teams, the game is still playable. Cranium is a versatile game, so you can adjust team size based on your personal game night needs.
2
Provide each team with the right supplies. After you've established teams, there are certain supplies you'll need to play Cranium. Make sure all the teams have the right supplies before the game begins.
- Choose a playing piece. Your copy of Cranium should come with a variety of pieces. Different versions of Cranium will have different kinds of game pieces. Allow each team to choose the piece he or her wants to play Cranium.
- You will also make sure every team member has a paper and a pen or pencil. Cranium should come with some paper and pencils in the box. If you run out, you can use any kind of scrap paper you have lying around your house. Just make sure all players have materials to write with as you'll need them for a variety of activities in Cranium.^{[2]
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- Cranium boxes usually come with a small bit of clay, used in certain activities. If the clay is missing or dried out, you could replace it with a bit of play-dough purchased at the supermarket. You could also simply not play cards that require clay.
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3
Determine who goes first. Ask everyone when their birthday is. The player whose birthday is closest gets to go first.^{[3]
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4
Start playing. To start playing, the team who goes first needs to draw a character card. Character cards have different activities written on them that a team must perform. If your team successfully completes the character card, the player whose birthday is closest can roll the dice and move the appropriate number of spaces. However, if that team does not successfully complete the activity their turn is passed to the team on the left.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using the Cranium Cards

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Play Creative Cat. Each space on a Cranium board corresponds to a certain type of card. The cards contain activities that must be completed before your team can move across the board. There should be a small hourglass timer that comes with cranium that allows players one minute to complete the activity. If you do not have your timer, you can use a watch or phone to keep track of time. One type of card is the creative cat.
- The creative cat card involves a creative activity. You may use the clay to make a sculpture and have another player guess what you're sculpting. You may also do a Pictionary-type drawing activity.^{[5]
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- Unless otherwise specified on the card, you can choose which team member performs the activity. When playing Creative Cat, it's a good idea to pick a more artistically inclined player. If someone is good at drawing or sculpting, allowing that person to engage in the activity will give your team a better chance at winning.
2
Try Data Head. Data Head cards are simple trivia cards. They have regular types of trivia in addition to true/false and multiple choice questions. To successfully complete this activity, you need to answer the questions correctly.^{[6]
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- Choose a player with a knack for trivia to complete this activity. If someone is good at something like bar trivia or Trivial Pursuit, they'll be your best bet for this activity.
- If you're chosen for a Data Head activity and you don't know the answer, go with your gut response. Many times, trivia answers are things we've learned at some point but do not consciously remember. If you have a gut feeling one answer is right, take a shot. You should be especially willing to take this risk if the answer is multiple choice or True/False. You'll have a 25-50% chance of being correct.
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Use the Word Worm card. Word Worm cards involve challenges with words. Words may be scrambled, for example, or you may have to guess the definition of a given word.^{[7]
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- Pick a player with a good vocabulary for this card. People who read a lot or who write for a living might be better at defining or unscrambling words.
- If anyone on your team has a background in etymology or linguistics, choose them for this activity. Oftentimes, the roots used in words offer a hint to their meaning. Someone who's studied words academically is more likely to pick up on these subtleties.
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Do a Star Performer card. Star Performer cards are slightly more elaborate. They come in three different categories.
- Humdinger cards involve humming the tune to a popular song. The other player has to guess what song you are humming.^{[8]
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  Research source} If you have a Humdinger, you should pick someone that is able to carry. Also choose someone who knows popular music. Someone who's a classically trained pianist could potentially be great at humming. However, if this person has spent his whole life playing Chopin he might not know the tune to a Bruce Springsteen song offhand.
- Copycat cards require you to act like a famous person.^{[9]
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  Research source} Pick a team member who's fun-loving, uninhibited, and somewhat dramatic. The more someone is willing to put themselves out there and perform, the better chance you have of guessing the answer. As with a humdinger card, make sure it's someone well acquainted with pop culture so they'll recognize the name on the card.
- Cameo cards are similar to charades in which you have to get the other player to guess a particular person, place, or thing by silently acting out clues.^{[10]
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  Research source} Yet again, someone who is willing to put themselves out there and perform is your best choice.
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Play a club cranium card. Some cards have a "club cranium" symbol on them. When a team draws such a card, all players have to join in. Whichever team successfully completes the activity first gets to move across the board.^{[11]
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- Try to focus on your own team during the activity. Listening in on other players can cause stress, distracting you from your own players.
- Remember to have fun. Getting too competitive during board games can take away some of the entertainment value.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Completing the Game

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Learn about Planet Cranium spaces. Some versions of Cranium have special spaces, known as Planet Cranium spaces. Planet Cranium spaces can both help and hurt your team as you move through the board.
- If you pass over a Planet Cranium Space as you move through the board, stop. This can be frustrating, as you'll end up not moving across the board as quickly. However, don't get discouraged. Take it in stride and wait for your next turn.
- Planet Cranium spaces can also help you. If your version of Cranium has Planet Cranium spaces, your dice will contain a purple space. If you roll purple, move to the next Planet Cranium space on the board. Sometimes, this can mean moving through the board much quicker and without needing to complete an activity.^{[12]
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Advance through the board game's track. The goal of Cranium is the move through the board faster than the other players. You move through the board by completing activities successfully. When one team finishes their turn, the team on the left plays.^{[13]
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- Keep in mind that Cranium is designed to be a fun group game for parties. The main goal of Cranium is to get everyone to lighten up and engage with their silly side. Therefore, try to have fun and not obsess over who's moving quickest through the board.
3
Win by completing four activities in Cranium Central. Once you make it through the outer later of the board, you'll move inward to a place known as Cranium Central. Here, you will have to complete four different activities successfully. Once you complete four activities, you win the game. If you fail at one activity, you'll have to try again on your next turn.^{[14]
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- Keep your strengths in mind when playing the final activities. Think back on the course of the game up until this point. Which team member seemed to do best on data head activities? Creative cat activities?
- Choose a player who has been successful in past activities. This will increase your chances of completing each activity the first time around.
- Often, there will be multiple teams in Cranium Central at once. As with the Club Cranium activities, try to remain calm and focus on your own team. Getting too competitive takes away from the fun of the game. It also lessens your chances of winning.
- When engaging in activity, focus only on yourself and your team in that moment. Tune out other distractions.

Community Q&A

Question

How long is the timer?

Community Answer

The timer in Cranium is one minute.
Question

How much time is on the timer?

Jeffery McCleer

Community Answer

The timer in Cranium has 1 minute. This is the average time for all Cranium games.
Question

How do I land on Cranium central?

Community Answer

You have to roll the dice after answering a question from the Cranium cards. Once you go around the board once, you start moving into the Cranium central. Stand on the name of the character you are playing and answer a question. If you get it right, you win.