10 Random Word Games, Plus Pictionary Word Ideas
By the Wheel Spin Hub team · ·
10 random word games for parties and class, plus easy, medium and hard Pictionary words from a free random word generator for Pictionary and charades.
Need Pictionary words or a quick word game? Use a random word generator for Pictionary: press generate, draw or act out the word, and keep score. One random word can start a drawing, a guessing game, a story or a spelling challenge. Here are 10 games you can play with the free random word generator, grouped by type, with tips for kids and adults.
Drawing and acting games: Pictionary and charades
- Pictionary: generate one word from the easy, medium or hard Pictionary list and draw it while your team guesses. For a version everyone can watch, use the Pictionary word wheel.
- Charades: act out a random verb with no talking. The charades wheel picks a category if you want themes.
- Blind drawing: draw a random noun without looking at the paper, then compare the results.
Talking and guessing games
- Taboo-style: describe the word without saying it or three related words your team chooses.
- Twenty questions: one player sees the word, everyone else asks yes or no questions.
- One-word story: generate five words and build a story round the circle, using one word per turn.
Writing and classroom games
- Story starter: generate three nouns and write a story that includes all of them in ten minutes.
- Parts of speech sort: generate a mix of nouns, verbs and adjectives and ask the class to sort them.
- Alphabet chain: pick a random word, then the next word must start with its last letter. The random letter generator helps when you get stuck.
- Describe the object: generate a noun and write five adjectives that describe it. The random object wheel works for this too.
Tips for running word games
| Group | Best word list |
|---|---|
| Young kids | Pictionary: easy |
| Family game night | Pictionary: medium |
| Teens and adults | Pictionary: hard |
| English lessons | Nouns, verbs or adjectives |
For team games, split everyone with the random team generator first, and set a one-minute timer per turn.
Frequently asked questions
What is a random word generator used for?
It's used for Pictionary and charades, writing prompts, vocabulary practice and creative warm-ups, anywhere you need a word nobody chose in advance.
What are good Pictionary words for kids?
Simple objects and animals work best: sun, cat, house, pizza, snowman and rainbow. The easy Pictionary list is made for this.
Can I use my own words?
Yes. Type your own list into the spin wheel on the home page and spin it like a word generator.
Where can I get Pictionary words for adults?
Switch the random word generator to the hard Pictionary list for tougher words and phrases that adults and teens will enjoy.
Pick a game, choose a word list and press generate. With ten games to rotate through, you won't run out of fun any time soon.
About the author
Written by the people who build and run Wheel Spin Hub, the free spin-the-wheel picker. We use the wheels and tools we write about, and we update guides when the site changes. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.