How to Play Name, Place, Animal, Thing
Name, Place, Animal, Thing (also known as Categories or Scattergories in some regions) is the classic category word game — now free to play online, with friends or solo against AI, and no download required.
The rules
- Each round, a random letter is drawn (for example, "M").
- Every player races to fill in each category — a Name, Animal, Place, and Thing all starting with that letter.
- The first player to finish can stop the round for everyone.
- Players review and vote on each other's answers to check they're valid.
- The game continues for multiple rounds; the player with the most points wins.
Scoring
- 10 points — a unique answer nobody else wrote for that category.
- 5 points — an answer shared with another player.
- 0 points — a blank or invalid answer.
Ways to play
Create a private room and share the link with friends, join a public room to play with others online, or race an AI opponent solo — Kafi (easy), Kosi (medium), or Kemi (hard) — in a quick 5-round game or the full 26-round A–Z challenge.
Frequently asked questions
How does scoring work?
A unique answer — one no other player wrote for that category — scores 10 points. An answer shared with another player scores 5 points. A blank or invalid answer scores 0.
Can I play with custom categories?
Yes. Any host can replace or add categories beyond the default four (Name, Animal, Place, Thing) when creating a room.
Do I need to download anything?
No. NameIt runs entirely in your browser on any device — no app install required to play with friends or solo against AI.
Can I play alone?
Yes. Play Solo lets you race one of three AI opponents — Kafi, Kosi, or Kemi — in a quick 5-round game or the full A–Z challenge.
What are Special Rounds?
Optional surprise twist rounds a host can enable that modify scoring or add new challenges, drawn randomly throughout a game.