How to Play Who Am I?

1. On your turn, ask the whole table one question that can be answered "yes" or "no".
2. The table answers together and truthfully. If the players disagree, the answer is "it depends" and you may ask again.
3. After a "yes" you ask another question. After a "no" the turn passes to the left.
4. A direct guess — "Am I a penguin?" — counts as a question. A wrong guess ends your turn.
5. When you guess your name, take the slip off and keep playing as an answerer until everyone has finished.

What you need

• Paper and pen

Nice to have:

• Sticky notes or tape
• Starter names from the host view

1. Each player secretly writes one name — a kind of person, an animal or a character everyone at the table knows — on a slip of paper and passes it face down to the player on their left.
2. Without looking, each player holds the slip to their forehead, or sticks it there, so that everyone else can read it.
3. Take a silent moment for everyone to read every other name. Then choose who asks first.

The game ends when every player has named their slip, or after an agreed time — fifteen minutes suits most tables. Anyone still guessing may then ask each neighbour for one clue before the reveal.

Players

3–12 players

Best with

4–8

Play time

10–25 min

Prep

2 min prep

Materials

Paper and pen

Energy

Lively

Noise

Moderate

Movement

Seated

Seated option

Works seated

Where

Dinner table, Living room, Small space, Large room

Times are editorial estimates, not test results.

Reading: Each player reads the short names on the other slips. A non-reader can play if a neighbour quietly reads those names to them.

Who Am I? needs at least 3 players and works for up to about 12. It is at its best with 4–8 players.

With more than twelve players the wait between turns is too long. Let everyone mingle at once instead: players walk around, ask each person they meet one question and move on. The first three to work out their names win.

• Ask for names the youngest player would know. A name only half the table recognises spoils two people's game.
• Suggest a first question to anyone who is stuck — "Am I a person?" narrows things quickly.
• If one player is far behind, let the table offer a free clue after every third "no".
• When children are writing, check the slips before they go on — spelling and legibility matter here.

Names every age at the table will recognise, ready to copy onto slips.

People

• a lighthouse keeper
• a firefighter
• a pastry chef
• an astronaut
• a librarian
• a lion tamer

Animals

• a penguin
• a giraffe
• an octopus
• a hedgehog
• a flamingo
• a kangaroo

Characters and things

• a snowman
• a pirate captain
• a wizard
• a robot
• a scarecrow

We recommend Who Am I? in these collections:

• Party Games for Kids: 8 Games Children and Adults Play Together
• Eid Gathering Games: 8 Family Games for a House Full of Guests

Traditional parlor game, also sold in boxed versions under various names; this explanation, the example and the starter names are original to Gather & Play.

Editorially checked for clarity and consistency. We do not claim group playtesting for this page. Editorial policy.