Eventually there will be unique riddle booklets for each player along with other variations, but for now you can play the game using the randomizer here at the site. Want to give it a try? See who will claim the title of the Riddle Wizard!
Version 1. Random riddles, manual scorekeeping (good for remote Zoom-play or in-person)
(other versions coming later)
Materials needed.
Internet access for the riddle randomizer. All players need access to the randomizer either on a laptop or phone.
Paper and pencil for scorekeeping. Each player keeps their own score.
Goal. There are 2 ways to win the game: you can be the first player to reach 20 points OR you can be the last player left if the other player(s) have no more points with which to play.
Beginning the game.
Each player receives 10 points to start the game; they should write +10 on their scoresheet.
Decide who will be the first Riddler. You can do coin flip(s) or play rock-paper-scissors to find the winner.
Playing the game.
Get random riddles. The Riddler refreshes the randomizer. Both riddles should be new to the game; if one of the riddles has been played already, refresh until there are two new riddles to choose from.
Riddler's choice. The Riddler chooses one of the two riddles and reads it aloud. The Riddler also announces the number of points in play for this round, as displayed in the randomizer. Each round has 1, 2 or 3 points in play.
Guessing. Any player can make a guess by saying "I've got a guess!"
(If two players say "I've got a guess!" at the same time, the player with the lower number of points gets to go. If the players are tied, the Riddler chooses.)
Correct guess. If the guess is correct, the Guesser ADDS 1, 2, or 3 points to their total, based on the number of points in play for that round.
Note: Some riddles can have more than one correct guess, so if someone makes a guess different from the answer in the randomizer, then vote on it. If the majority agrees that the guess is correct, then it is correct! If there is a tied vote, the Riddler decides. (Please share your alternate answers with us!)
Incorrect guess. If the guess is NOT correct, the Guesser SUBTRACTS 1, 2, or 3 points from their total, and the guessing continues.
Guessing continues. Players can make multiple guesses if they want. When the player(s) give up, the round is over.
End of round. If there was no correct guess, the Riddler ADDS 1, 2, or 3 points to their total. In addition, if the player(s) were stumped and made no guesses at all, the Riddler ADDS an extra bonus point to their total.
Next round. Play goes clockwise, which means the player on the Riddler's left is the next Riddler.
Ending the game. There are two ways to end the game:
Zero points. If any player reaches zero points, that player is out of the game. If/when there is only one remaining player, that last remaining player is the Riddle Wizard!
20 points. When any player reaches 20 points, that player is the Riddle Wizard!
Please let us know how this game-play works for you! If you have questions or feedback, or if you have found some good game-play variants, let us know by using this Contact form. Thank you! And HAVE FUN!