MICROGAME OF THE MONTH

Two parlour games by Bez

A FACT AND A HALF

Sharing unbelievable truths and believable lies. 20-60ish minutes | 4+ players

OVERVIEW

Take turns to share a ‘fact’. Others ask questions, then guess if it’s true or not. Correct guesses win a point. Fooling half the crowd wins a point.

CHOOSE AN ACTIVE PLAYER

It really doesn’t matter who goes first.

The active player shares a ‘fact’ about themself:

Tell everyone something you’ve done/experienced. It could be true or not.

If you need inspiration, try thinking of (or fabricating) one of these things:

◗ Something you ate today.

◗ The last time you went out.

◗ A happy moment you experienced. ◗ A competition you won, or an award you got. ◗ Something weird you can do.

◗ A time you were disgusted. ◗ Something that scares you.

◗ A place you’ve been.

◗ The last thing you drew/made.

◗ A recent game you played.

ANYONE ELSE CAN ASK QUESTIONS

The first question from each other player MUST be answered (either telling the truth or adding to the lie).

EVERYONE VOTES

Count, ‘3, 2, 1, VOTE!’ Everyone simultaneously votes whether it was a truth (thumbs up) or a lie (thumbs down). The active player also points their thumb to show the answer.

Get points for guessing correctly, or fooling half the crowd.

Anyone who voted correctly gets 1 point!.The active player gets 1pt if they managed to fool at least half the crowd.

Keep track of points using pencil and paper, random tokens, or any other method.

EVERYONE GETS A GO.

When everyone has shared a story, the game is over. Whoever had the most points wins! Or keep going until you want to stop.

THE MOST LIKE [A PINEAPPLE]

Silly debates that don’t matter 20-60ish minutes | 3+ players

OVERVIEW

Make some creative arguments. Then everyone votes for their favourite. Voters get 1pt for voting with the majority. The favourite also gets 1pt.

COMPONENTS NEEDED:

Some ability to indicate a vote. In person, pointing would work. If playing on camera, writing names on paper is ideal. Typing a name would also work.

CHOOSE THE DEBATERS

With 3-5 players, everyone will debate every turn. With 6+ players, choose a different three debaters each turn going round the group.

CHOOSE THE TOPIC

Think of any object. If you need inspiration, pick randomly from below. Everyone must argue that they are the most like a(n):

BRUSH, CUP, ICE CUBE, BOOK, JOEY, WOLF, STREET, SPACESHIP, ICECREAM, PENCIL-CASE, EUROVISIONWINNER, HOUSE-FULL-OF-1000-CATS, IMP, LIGHT BULB, GIANT EAR, COMPUTER PROGRAM, BOX, GIRAFFE, RAINBOW-LASER-SHOOTING-ALIEN, BOTTLE-OFMOUTHWASH, RIVER, BAG, LETTER-B, NAPKIN, ATOM, WAVE, BRISK-WALK, PAIR-OF-SPECTACLES, SATELLITE, FAMOUS-LANDMARK, LOG, ROPE, BEETLE, UNICORN, WALL, LONG-SKIRT, FORK, FOSSIL, COLOUR-WHEEL, FIGMENT-OF-YOUR-IMAGINATION, LIME, HAND, INSTRUCTION, METEORITE, HAIR-CLIP, HILL, ROBOT-LION

To keep the game fun, arguments should be short (30s-1 minute works well). If some people are being slow, try using a timer.

EVERYONE VOTES!

Count ‘3, 2, 1, vote!’ Everyone votes for a debater (not themself) at the same time.

SCORING

◗ Work out who got the most votes. They score a point! Yay for good arguments!

◗ Everyone who voted for them also gets a point! Yay for being in the majority! ◗ If there is a tie, everyone involved in each majority gets a point. You can get two points in a turn!

◗ Track points however you wish. ◗ Alternatively, play with a small forfeit for anyone who doesn’t score a point each round.

◗ Play until you want to stop.

◗ For a ‘fair game,’ everyone should debate the same number of times. But it really doesn’t matter. Have fun!