I'm Hosting a Party

You're Invited... Maybe #

A quiet and fun deduction game perfect for brainy groups. In "I'm Hosting a Party," only certain guests are allowed in, depending on a hidden rule. Players try to guess the rule by saying what they'd bring. A great cerebral warm-up or wind-down game.

How to Play #

One player is chosen as the host and secretly decides a rule about what guests must “bring” to be invited. A common rule is that items must start with the same letter as the guest’s name (e.g., Sarah can bring sandwiches). But you can make the rule anything, like items with double letters, only edible things, or only things you can wear.

Going around the circle, each player says, “I’m bringing a ___ to the party.” The host replies with either “Yes, you’re invited,” or “No, you can’t bring that.” No one else knows the rule, and the goal is for everyone to figure it out through observation and guesses.

The host continues responding until someone correctly identifies the rule.

Rules #

Host Setup: One player is the host and secretly chooses a rule.

Gameplay Flow: Players take turns saying what they’d bring; the host responds based on the rule.

No Revealing: The host must not reveal or hint at the rule directly.

Guessing Allowed: Players may guess the rule aloud when they think they’ve figured it out on their turn instead of "bringing and item".

Winning: The game ends when the rule is correctly guessed or everyone gives up.

Fair Rules: The host should choose a logical, consistent rule that players can reasonably deduce.

Materials #

Materials Required

None: Just players and imagination.

Setup #

Setup Instructions:

Choose a Host: One player becomes the host and selects a secret rule.
Explain the Format: Make sure all players understand the response format.
Start the Game: Players begin saying what they’d bring. Host responds accordingly.
Optional Variation: For “Returning an Item,” choose an item and send one player away during setup.