Time's Up!

TIME'S UP! is a PARTY WORD-GUESSING GAME first released in 1999 by PETER SARRETT + refined into the current definitive edition in 2008 (Repos Production / R&R Games). Considered by many the GREATEST PARTY GAME OF ALL TIME + a staple of adult game nights worldwide. GAMEPLAY: 4-16 players in TEAMS OF 2+ (usually 2 teams of 2-4). A deck of ~40 CARDS with famous people, characters, or names is shuffled. Play proceeds in 3 ROUNDS, using the SAME 40 CARDS each round: ROUND 1 (UNLIMITED WORDS): Active player has 30 seconds to describe as many names as possible; unlimited words allowed but CANNOT SAY the name itself or say synonyms. Teammates guess; pass or skip = card returns to deck. Pass card to next team when timer expires. Continue until all 40 cards are done; each team keeps cards they successfully guessed. Score = 1 point per card. RESHUFFLE all 40 cards for Round 2. ROUND 2 (ONE WORD): Same 40 cards; describer can only say ONE WORD. Since teams already saw all cards in Round 1, they now have shared context to work with subtle single-word hints. RESHUFFLE for Round 3. ROUND 3 (CHARADES): Same 40 cards; describer must act out silently (no words, no sounds). Shared memory + charades = HILARIOUS. FINAL SCORE: Sum of all 3 rounds. Highest score wins. GAME LENGTH: 45-60 MIN. BEST AT 6-10 PLAYERS (in 2 teams). DESIGN INNOVATION: The 3-ROUND ESCALATION mechanic — same cards, progressively harder rules — is a MASTERFUL DESIGN that turns memory into a party dynamic. Teams that lose Round 1 often WIN Round 3 due to memorable clues. VARIANTS + EXPANSIONS: TIME'S UP! TITLE RECALL (2008) — the DEFINITIVE modern edition, uses cards with 2 clues per card (choose easier for Round 1 warmup). TIME'S UP! DELUXE (2009) — larger edition with 400+ names. TIME'S UP! ACADEMY (2012) — themed around movies + culture. TIME'S UP! FAMILY (2016) — kid-friendly names. RECEPTION: Widely regarded as the DEFINITIVE PARTY GAME by hobbyists + casual players. TRICOULEUR ranking + AS D'OR nominee. Consistently BGG top-10 party. Perfect for large gatherings + game nights.

1 point per card correctly guessed each round; sum all 3 rounds.

Win condition · Highest cumulative score across all 3 rounds.

Central card deck + timer; teams sit facing each other.

• Time's Up! Title Recall box ($25)

  ~440 names in 2 mini-decks

• 30-second timer (sand or digital)

  Round timer

• Card deck (~40 selected per game)

  Names to describe

• Score tracker

  Per round + total

• Time's Up! Family + Deluxe + Academy variants

  Alternate card sets

• Round 1: describe distinctly for team recall in Round 2/3

  Use memorable hooks.

• Round 2: use the SAME single word your team best associates with the name from Round 1

  Memory alignment.

• Round 3: exaggerate physical gestures

  Charades big + clear.

• Skip strategically in Round 1 if stumped

  Save time for easier cards.

Round

1 pass through all 40 cards with a specific rule set.

Pass/skip

Give up on a card; returns to deck.

Title Recall

Definitive 2008 edition.

One word

Round 2 restriction.

Charades

Round 3 silent acting.

• Board game convention play (Spiel Essen, GenCon)

  annual · Global · since 1999

• Casual party game nights (widespread)

  ongoing · Global · since 1999

• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇬🇧United Kingdom
• 🇩🇪Germany
• 🇫🇷France
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇧🇪Belgium
• 🇳🇱Netherlands
• 🇨🇦Canada
• 🇦🇺Australia
• 🇯🇵Japan

• Repos Production (publisher)

  Founded 2001 · Belgium

• R&R Games (US publisher)

  Founded 1996 · USA

• Repos Production — Time's Up! Title Recall— Repos
• BoardGameGeek — Time's Up! Title Recall— BGG