Random Letter Generator
Draw a random letter for each round of your categories word game, with no repeats and an optional round timer.
Which letter are we playing?
Letter
?
Letters already drawn
20 letters available
No letters drawn yet.
How to use the random letter generator
Press "Draw letter" and, after a short animation, the letter for the round appears. With "Don't repeat letters" turned on, each letter comes up once per game; the side panel shows the letters already drawn and how many are left. Press "New game" to start over.
If you choose a time per round (30, 60, 90, or 120 seconds), the countdown starts as soon as the letter appears and, when it hits zero, a sound plays and "Stop!" shows on screen.
How to play a categories word game
- Each player draws a table with category columns: name, animal, food, color, country or city, and object.
- A random letter is drawn and everyone writes a word starting with that letter in each category.
- The first player to fill the row shouts "Stop!" and everyone puts their pen down. With a timer, the round ends when time runs out.
- Compare answers. Games like Scattergories give 1 point for each answer nobody else wrote; many families use 10 points for a unique answer and 5 for a shared one.
- Draw another letter and play the next round. The highest total at the end wins.
Categories to keep it fresh
- Classics: name, animal, food, color, country or city, object.
- For teens and adults: brand, movie or TV show, song, job, famous person.
- For the classroom: verb, adjective, word in another language, chemical element, capital city.
- Themed: things in a kitchen, sports, body parts, things you take on vacation.
- Tip: type the categories into the decision wheel and spin it for a surprise category each round.
Why skip hard letters?
Letters like Q, U, V, X, Y, and Z have very few words for many categories, so a round with them often ends with empty boxes. That is why the option is on by default (the Scattergories letter die leaves out similar letters); turn it off if experienced players want a bigger challenge.
Every available letter has exactly the same chance. With the hard letters removed, 20 remain, so each one has a 1 in 20 chance in the first round; without repeats, the chance is shared among the letters that are left.
Frequently asked questions
Can letters repeat?
Only if you turn off "Don't repeat letters this game". With it on, each letter comes up once until you press "New game".
Which letters count as hard?
In English: Q, U, V, X, Y, and Z. You can include them at any time by turning the option off.
How much time should each round have?
With 6 or 7 categories, 60 to 90 seconds usually works well. For kids or tough categories, try 120 seconds.
Is it useful in class?
Yes. It is a fun way to review vocabulary, spelling, or categories from any subject; project the letter and the timer for the whole group.
How is the letter drawn?
With your browser's cryptographic generator, among the letters available at that moment. The animation only reveals a letter that was already chosen.