One-Word Story
The group builds a story together one word at a time, with each player adding exactly one word in turn.
- Time
- 5 to 10 minutes
- People
- 4 to 15
- Where
- In person or Virtual
- You need
- Nothing
How to play
- Sit in a circle, or on a video call post a speaking order in the chat so nobody talks over each other.
- Give the story a title or opening, such as The Day the Office Plants Escaped.
- The first player says one word, the next adds one word, and so on around the circle.
- Keep a fast rhythm; any word is fine as long as it keeps the sentence going.
- After about three minutes, or when the story reaches a natural end, the next player says The End.
- Ask someone to retell the story in their own words for a final laugh.
Tips
- Encourage speed over cleverness, since hesitation is what makes the game stall.
- If someone freezes, the group can offer a word, or the player can simply say and to keep things moving.
Variations
- One-sentence story: each person adds a full sentence instead of a single word.
- Genre switch: the host calls out a new genre, such as mystery or space adventure, halfway through.