One of the best parts of playing a guessing game is when you’re paired with someone you just vibe with. When you’re on the same wavelength, sometimes all you need is one word to get the other person to know exactly what you’re talking about. With the card game Monikers, you can put your friendships to the test in a guessing game that will spice up any party.

Who’s that Celebrity?

Monikers is essentially a curated card game version of the classic game Celebrities. Players will split into two teams, with each team taking a stack of cards. These cards are comprised of a range of different things from celebrities, pop culture characters, historical figures, and even internet memes. If you’re the clue-giver that round, it’s up to you to get your fellow teammates to guess what’s on the card.

How good you are at giving clues in this card game does depend on how well you know the person or phrase on the card. However, if you’re scratching your head wondering who the heck Louis IV was, then you’re in luck. You’re allowed to skip a card that’s too difficult or that you don’t know and put it at the bottom of the deck to be drawn later.

Round One: Taboo

The first round of Monikers is similar to the game Taboo in that you are allowed to use any words, sounds, or gestures you like in order to get your teammates to guess the clue. The one thing you can’t say, though, is the name of the card. This is the easiest round for both the clue-givers and the guessers, as you have pretty much free rein in your description. This is great for using clues that are specific to your friends or family, such as “the one guy that Aunt Helen is obsessed with from the show Dynasty!”

Round Two: Code Names

After both teams have both taken their turns with the first round, the game gets a little harder. The second round of Monikers is similar to the card game Code Names in that you may only give one word as a clue. Again, this word can’t be one of the words in the card, but other than that you can use anything you like to get people to guess.

This round keeps you on your toes by forcing you to get inside the heads of your teammates. What’s the one word that they’ll associate with David Bowie?  You’ll burst out laughing at watching the wacky associations your friends try to make in order to guess correctly.

Round Three: Charades

The third round of Monikers gets rid of words entirely. This round is similar to Charades in that you have to act out what the word or phrase is without using any words. This round can bring out some of the more humorous parts of the game as you may find yourself acting out something completely embarrassing! Still, if you’re desperate to earn points, you’ll do what it takes for the good of the team.

Monikers Expansions

Monikers has many expansions that can either be used to add to the main set or as standalone versions of the game. Monikers: Classics combines several small box standalone expansions including Monikers: Shmonikers, Monikers: Something Something, and Monikers: The Shut Up & Sit Down Nonsense Box.

Monikers: More Monikers includes a whopping 440 new cards, which is equal to the size of the original game and about four times the size of most Monikers expansions. Whichever expansion you choose, you’ll be sure to keep the fun going for countless rounds as you explore new ways to get your friends and family to guess the wildest clues.

Monikers: Let the Fun Begin!

Monikers is playable by anywhere from 4-16 players, making it the perfect party game for any sized party. It’s suitable for ages 17 and up, mostly due to the adult humor of some of the cards. However, you can easily take out offensive cards to make it more kid-friendly. Playing time lasts about 30-60 minutes, although you can keep the fun going however long you want with the hundreds of cards in the deck. Put your pop culture knowledge to the test and buy Monikers today!