GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE—QUESTIONS, HOW TO PLAY, AND BENEFITS

JUL 2024
28
GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE—QUESTIONS, HOW TO PLAY, AND BENEFITS

Engage everyone with the like-minds game—a fun, easy-to-play activity!


Looking to rev up a party that’s rapidly going downhill?

Searching for a game more interesting than Pass the Parcel, but just as easy to set up and play?

Want to engage everyone in a classic, hands-on game, away from their phones?


We’ve got just the party/board game you’re looking for—Great Minds Think Alike!

From interesting questions to try, to how to play the game, consider this your go-to blog post for an epic thinks-alike game round.


Ready?

Let’s dive right in!

Fun & interesting Great Minds Think Alike questions

article-image-1


Let’s begin with fun and interesting questions or categories for your like-minded people game.

The most popular questions

  1. Expensive car/boat.

  2. Best {time of the day, like morning, or late—night} drink.

  3. An Italian place.

    1. Works if all players are from the same city.

    2. You can add a location or landmark, like "An Italian place in The Loop" (for Chicago), to spice it up.

  4. Legends who rock chrome domes.

  5. Celebrity with red hair.

  6. Sports without balls.

  7. Stalls at a county fair.

  8. Song titles with a person's name.

  9. State/Country names that begin with the letter {insert a letter}.

  10. TV Show from the {insert a decade, like the 1990’s}

    1. For those caught up on streaming, “Original movie/show from {insert a streaming service like Prime, Netflix or Hulu}

Innovative and uncommon questions and categories

  1. Best-known urban legend.

  2. Big people problems / Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) problems.

    1. Some variations: “Rich people problems”, “Dog owner problems”, “Straight A student problems”.

  3. Stuff you can pick up with chopsticks.

  4. Least favorite household chore.

  5. Lies you tell roommates.

  6. Odd food combinations.

  7. Worst favorite emoji/punctuation in texting.

  8. Peak {insert city, state, or country name}.

  9. Typical buddy cop jokes.

  10. Most unique rom-com (romantic comedy) scene.

  11. Worst excuse to bail on a date (Seriously, does anything beat the classic “Granma just died.”?)

  12. Most effective way to “coffee-badge” at work. 

    1. Disclaimer: We don’t encourage violating workplace rules or doing anything that could risk your employment.

  13. Out-of-fashion but endearing phrases (Think “Hotdog!” or “Jiminy Cricket!”)

  14. Things that are hard to stop doing once you’ve started…

How to play Great Minds Think Alike

article-image-2


Let’s begin with how a basic like-minds game works. Then, we’ll check out how to make it more interesting.

The basic gameplay

The idea is for the entire group to individually answer a question and then compare how many answers match. The more matching answers, the more points.


Here’s a step-by-step breakdown for a competitive/head-to-head game of great minds think alike.


  • Things you need: index cards, notebooks or sheets of paper, and pens for everyone.

  • Write down game questions on index cards and mix them in a bowl or put them on a table, face down.

  • Divide your group into two or more teams.

  • Select a referee and timekeeper from each team.

  • Flip a coin to see which team starts.

  • Anyone from the first team selects an index card and shows the question to their team.

  • Then, everyone on the team writes down their answer within one minute. This must be done in silence and without any collaboration.

    • Time is maintained by the other team’s timekeeper.

  • Now, the other team’s referee compares responses and decides which of them match.

  • Two matching responses each two points, three matching responses earn three points, and so on.

  • Then the second team plays (with time-keeping and refereeing done by the first team).

  • After an equal number of rounds, the team with the most points wins!

Making the game more interesting

One way to liven up Great Minds Think Alike is by asking each player to write down 3 responses and mark one of them.

If a marked answer is repeated, that team is awarded a bonus point.

For example, say three players have one common response, and one of them has marked that option.

Then that team gets 3 ordinary points and a bonus point, adding up to 4 points in total.

Frequently asked questions

article-image-3

Can Great Minds Think Alike make learning certain topics enjoyable?

You bet!

Our favorite think-alike game can certainly be used to gamify learning.


Here’s one way of doing it, from the National Informal Stem Education Network (NISE) - 


  • Create a deck of cards, each featuring a topic or question on a chosen subject.

  • Choose a "guesser".

  • The guesser picks a random card and shows it to the others without looking at it himself/herself.

  • The others then each write a clue on what the card says.

    • This is done individually, without the others communicating or collaborating.

  • Clues are compared and identical ones removed.

  • The guesser has to guess what the card says from the remaining (unique) clues.


Check NISE’s pdf for comprehensive playing instructions.

Are there any think-alike board games or card games?

Sure, there are plenty!

Two that come to mind are Think ‘N Sync from Gamewright and Like Minds from Pressman.

Can Great Minds Think Alike be played remotely?

Why not?

Just hop onto a Zoom call with the entire team. Text everyone the clue and ask them to enter their answer, without coordinating with one another.

Does playing Great Minds Think Alike have any practical benefits?

Absolutely! 

As a top team-building venue in Chicago, we always try to think about how various games can boost skills.

Here are some of the practical benefits Great Minds Think Alike offers beyond just having fun.


  • Builds stronger relationships: Players are encouraged to think and learn more about their friends, deepening friendships. 

    • From a team-building perspective, we’d say it sort of builds emotional intelligence.

  • Enhances creativity: Coming up with unique and matching answers stimulates creative thinking.

  • Encourages quick thinking: With a time limit to answer questions, players develop the ability to think and react quickly.

Ready to shake up the next gathering?

article-image-4


With its mix of interesting questions and easy setup, Great Minds Think Alike transforms any event into a memorable experience. 

Whether you're looking for a fun icebreaker or a lively competition, this game has got you covered.

So, whenever you’re at a gathering next, and there’s a dearth of things to do, step up and organize a round of Great Minds Think Alike.

You’ll be remembered for jazzing up the get-together!


Want more games to choose from? Check out our ultimate list of pen-and-paper games!



  BLOGS
GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE—QUESTIONS, HOW TO PLAY, AND BENEFITS

Engage everyone with the like-minds game—a fun, easy-to-play activity!


Looking to rev up a party that’s rapidly going downhill?

Searching for a game more interesting than Pass the Parcel, but just as easy to set up and play?

Want to engage everyone in a classic, hands-on game, away from their phones?


We’ve got just the party/board game you’re looking for—Great Minds Think Alike!

From interesting questions to try, to how to play the game, consider this your go-to blog post for an epic thinks-alike game round.


Ready?

Let’s dive right in!

Fun & interesting Great Minds Think Alike questions

article-image-1


Let’s begin with fun and interesting questions or categories for your like-minded people game.

The most popular questions

  1. Expensive car/boat.

  2. Best {time of the day, like morning, or late—night} drink.

  3. An Italian place.

    1. Works if all players are from the same city.

    2. You can add a location or landmark, like "An Italian place in The Loop" (for Chicago), to spice it up.

  4. Legends who rock chrome domes.

  5. Celebrity with red hair.

  6. Sports without balls.

  7. Stalls at a county fair.

  8. Song titles with a person's name.

  9. State/Country names that begin with the letter {insert a letter}.

  10. TV Show from the {insert a decade, like the 1990’s}

    1. For those caught up on streaming, “Original movie/show from {insert a streaming service like Prime, Netflix or Hulu}

Innovative and uncommon questions and categories

  1. Best-known urban legend.

  2. Big people problems / Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) problems.

    1. Some variations: “Rich people problems”, “Dog owner problems”, “Straight A student problems”.

  3. Stuff you can pick up with chopsticks.

  4. Least favorite household chore.

  5. Lies you tell roommates.

  6. Odd food combinations.

  7. Worst favorite emoji/punctuation in texting.

  8. Peak {insert city, state, or country name}.

  9. Typical buddy cop jokes.

  10. Most unique rom-com (romantic comedy) scene.

  11. Worst excuse to bail on a date (Seriously, does anything beat the classic “Granma just died.”?)

  12. Most effective way to “coffee-badge” at work. 

    1. Disclaimer: We don’t encourage violating workplace rules or doing anything that could risk your employment.

  13. Out-of-fashion but endearing phrases (Think “Hotdog!” or “Jiminy Cricket!”)

  14. Things that are hard to stop doing once you’ve started…

How to play Great Minds Think Alike

article-image-2


Let’s begin with how a basic like-minds game works. Then, we’ll check out how to make it more interesting.

The basic gameplay

The idea is for the entire group to individually answer a question and then compare how many answers match. The more matching answers, the more points.


Here’s a step-by-step breakdown for a competitive/head-to-head game of great minds think alike.


  • Things you need: index cards, notebooks or sheets of paper, and pens for everyone.

  • Write down game questions on index cards and mix them in a bowl or put them on a table, face down.

  • Divide your group into two or more teams.

  • Select a referee and timekeeper from each team.

  • Flip a coin to see which team starts.

  • Anyone from the first team selects an index card and shows the question to their team.

  • Then, everyone on the team writes down their answer within one minute. This must be done in silence and without any collaboration.

    • Time is maintained by the other team’s timekeeper.

  • Now, the other team’s referee compares responses and decides which of them match.

  • Two matching responses each two points, three matching responses earn three points, and so on.

  • Then the second team plays (with time-keeping and refereeing done by the first team).

  • After an equal number of rounds, the team with the most points wins!

Making the game more interesting

One way to liven up Great Minds Think Alike is by asking each player to write down 3 responses and mark one of them.

If a marked answer is repeated, that team is awarded a bonus point.

For example, say three players have one common response, and one of them has marked that option.

Then that team gets 3 ordinary points and a bonus point, adding up to 4 points in total.

Frequently asked questions

article-image-3

Can Great Minds Think Alike make learning certain topics enjoyable?

You bet!

Our favorite think-alike game can certainly be used to gamify learning.


Here’s one way of doing it, from the National Informal Stem Education Network (NISE) - 


  • Create a deck of cards, each featuring a topic or question on a chosen subject.

  • Choose a "guesser".

  • The guesser picks a random card and shows it to the others without looking at it himself/herself.

  • The others then each write a clue on what the card says.

    • This is done individually, without the others communicating or collaborating.

  • Clues are compared and identical ones removed.

  • The guesser has to guess what the card says from the remaining (unique) clues.


Check NISE’s pdf for comprehensive playing instructions.

Are there any think-alike board games or card games?

Sure, there are plenty!

Two that come to mind are Think ‘N Sync from Gamewright and Like Minds from Pressman.

Can Great Minds Think Alike be played remotely?

Why not?

Just hop onto a Zoom call with the entire team. Text everyone the clue and ask them to enter their answer, without coordinating with one another.

Does playing Great Minds Think Alike have any practical benefits?

Absolutely! 

As a top team-building venue in Chicago, we always try to think about how various games can boost skills.

Here are some of the practical benefits Great Minds Think Alike offers beyond just having fun.


  • Builds stronger relationships: Players are encouraged to think and learn more about their friends, deepening friendships. 

    • From a team-building perspective, we’d say it sort of builds emotional intelligence.

  • Enhances creativity: Coming up with unique and matching answers stimulates creative thinking.

  • Encourages quick thinking: With a time limit to answer questions, players develop the ability to think and react quickly.

Ready to shake up the next gathering?

article-image-4


With its mix of interesting questions and easy setup, Great Minds Think Alike transforms any event into a memorable experience. 

Whether you're looking for a fun icebreaker or a lively competition, this game has got you covered.

So, whenever you’re at a gathering next, and there’s a dearth of things to do, step up and organize a round of Great Minds Think Alike.

You’ll be remembered for jazzing up the get-together!


Want more games to choose from? Check out our ultimate list of pen-and-paper games!



  BLOGS