Group writing games are the rare party activity that works equally well around a kitchen table, in a classroom, or across a group chat. Each person adds a little, nobody controls the whole, and the result is always stranger and funnier than anything one writer would have produced alone. Here are five worth playing, starting with the one you can start on this site in under a minute.
Play this one online, free
1. Rigamarole
Rigamarole is an online collaborative storytelling game for 2 to 8 writers (up to 20 with Pro). One person creates a room and shares the code or link. Writers take turns adding to the story, but each writer can only see the last few lines of what came before, so every continuation is a leap in the dark. When the final round is written, the full story is revealed to everyone at once, and reading it aloud is the best part.
It works for friends in the same room or scattered across time zones, and nobody needs an account to join a game.
The original paper version, invented by the Surrealists in the 1920s. Take a sheet of paper. The first person writes a sentence, folds the paper so only the last few words show, and passes it on. The next writer continues from those words alone. Keep passing until you run out of paper or patience, then unfold and read the glorious mess aloud. The name comes from the first recorded result: "The exquisite corpse shall drink the new wine."
3. One Word at a Time
Sit in a circle and tell a story where each person contributes exactly one word. Simple to explain, surprisingly hard to steer. The fun comes from watching a sensible sentence get wrecked by one unexpected word, and from the group instinct to rescue it anyway. Works well as a warm-up for younger writers or as an icebreaker.
4. Fortunately, Unfortunately
The first writer starts a sentence with "Fortunately..." The next must continue with "Unfortunately..." and keep alternating. The hero wins the lottery; unfortunately the ticket is a forgery; fortunately the forger is a close friend. This one teaches plotting instinctively, because every sentence has to reverse the one before it.
5. Consequences
Another folding-paper classic with a fixed shape: each player writes one line answering a prompt in order (a person's name, where they met, what they said, what happened next), folding it hidden before passing. The rigid structure makes it a good choice for kids and classrooms, and the reveals at the end rarely disappoint.
Questions people ask
What is a writing game?
A writing game is a group activity where players take turns adding words, sentences, or paragraphs to build a shared story. Rules like hidden context or strict turn limits keep it playful instead of precious, so anyone can join in, even people who say they cannot write.
Can you play writing games online with friends?
Yes. Rigamarole is a free online writing game built for exactly that. One person creates a room and shares a link or code, and up to 8 friends (20 with Pro) take turns writing a story together. Players only see the last few lines, so every continuation is a surprise. Nobody needs an account to join.
What writing games work for a party or classroom?
Exquisite Corpse, One Word at a Time, Fortunately Unfortunately, and Consequences all work well around a table with paper or out loud. Rigamarole works for groups in the same room or spread across time zones, since everyone plays from their own phone or laptop.
How many people do you need for a writing game?
Most writing games work with 2 or more players. Rigamarole is best with 2 to 8 writers, and shorter turns keep the energy up. For very large groups, split into smaller rooms and read the finished stories to each other.
Is Rigamarole free to play?
Yes. Creating and joining rooms is free for up to 8 writers and 15 rounds. An optional Pro membership adds larger rooms, longer stories, private rooms, and turn timers, but a free game is fully playable and needs no sign up.
Tips for a great game night
Keep turns short. A sentence or two keeps the energy up and the story wild.
Set a timer if your group likes to deliberate. Two minutes per turn is plenty.
Always read the final story aloud. The reading is half the fun.
Give the story a title or theme first if your group freezes at a blank page.
Ready to write one?
Create a room, send your friends the code, and see what happens when nobody can see the whole story.