Description
Cranium is a fun team game where knowing a lot isn't enough. On your way to the centre of the board you'll sculpt figures from clay, draw, act out mime, sing, solve word puzzles and answer questions about all sorts of things. Because the challenges are so varied, everyone on the team has a chance to shine.
How to play Cranium
Split into teams of at least two players. The colour of the space your piece stands on decides which of the four boxes the team on your right draws a card from: blue Creative Cat (drawing and sculpting), red Data Head (questions about all sorts of things), yellow Word Worm (word games) or green Star Performer (mime, impressions and singing). On purple spaces and Planet Cranium spaces you choose the challenge yourselves. If you complete the task before the sand timer runs out, you roll the die and move. If you don't, it's the next team's turn.
On some cards all teams compete at the same time, and the first one with the right answer gets an extra roll. When you reach Cranium Central, the other teams pick one last challenge for you. The first team to complete it successfully wins.
Why you'll like it
- The challenges are very varied, from trivia and spelling backwards to clay sculptures and singing, so everyone on the team gets to shine.
- You play in teams: you guess together, laugh and cheer, even when it's not your team's turn, because you're the ones keeping time for them.
- By folding the board you choose the length of the game: a quick game of about 30 minutes, a medium one of 60 or a full game of 90 minutes.
- In the full game, success on a Planet Cranium space sends you onto the faster inner track to the centre.
Who is Cranium for
Cranium is for four or more players split into teams, ages 12 and up. A game takes 30 to 90 minutes, depending on how you fold the board. The rules are simple and quick to explain, and players like it best with eight. It really comes into its own at parties and family gatherings with lots of players.
What you might not like
In Cranium you'll have to sing, act out mime and draw in front of others. So it may not suit those who prefer calmer games where nobody has to step into the spotlight.
What's in the box
- game board
- 600 challenge cards
- tub of modelling clay (Cranium Clay)
- sand timer
- 2 playing pieces
- die
- notepad and pencil
- game rules
