Who Am I? in a minute
Who Am I? is the guessing game where every player has a secret identity they cannot see. In person it is usually a name on a sticky note stuck to your forehead, so the whole room knows who you are except you. You ask yes-or-no questions to narrow it down, and the first person to name themselves wins.
How to play Who Am I?
You need at least two people, a pad of sticky notes and a pen. With more players it gets louder and better.
- Write the names. Each player writes a famous person, character or animal on a sticky note, keeping it hidden from the player it is for.
- Stick it on. Press the note on the forehead of the player to your left. Everyone can read every note but their own.
- Ask one yes-or-no question. On your turn ask something like "Am I a real person?" or "Can I fly?" The others answer yes, no or not sure.
- Guess when you think you know. Instead of asking a question, you can use your turn to guess. Name the right identity and you win.
- Keep going round the circle. Play passes to the next player after each question or wrong guess. Some groups let you keep asking for as long as the answers are yes.
- Decide when it ends. House rules vary. Some groups stop when the first person guesses, and others play on until everyone has worked out who they are.
The sticky-note version and other ways to play
- Sticky notes on foreheads are the classic. A headband with a card tucked in works the same way.
- No notes to hand? Hold a card against your forehead facing out.
- Celebrity Heads puts a few players at the front of the room with names on their heads while everyone else answers.
- Theme a game, such as animals only or characters from one film series, to make it easier to get started.
See Who Am I? on your phone
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Ask about your card -
Everyone else answers -
Who got it
Playing Who Am I? online
In the online room, every player is dealt a secret card. You can see everyone else's card but never your own, just like the sticky note. On your turn you either ask a yes-or-no question or make your final guess. The other players tap Yes, No or Not sure, and the room checks guesses for you, allowing for small typos.
Each turn has a 45, 60 or 90-second timer, and you can pass your turn instead. The first player to name their own card scores a point and ends the round for everyone. If nobody gets it within 3, 4 or 5 turns each, the round ends with no winner. A match lasts 3, 5 or 7 rounds, and a tie at the end goes to a sudden-death round between the leaders. Rooms take 2 to 8 players.
Cards come from ten categories: animals, food, objects, countries and places, brands, actors, celebrities, movie and TV characters, football players and football teams. The Common, Mixed and Challenge levels set how well known the answers are. Talk over the built-in video call, or keep FaceTime or Zoom running alongside the room.
Tips and house rules
- Start with big questions such as "Am I real?" or "Am I alive today?" before you try names.
- Write identities everyone at the table will know. For mixed ages, animals and cartoon characters keep it fair.
- When you answer, think about the card and say not sure rather than guess.
- Keep a straight face when you look at someone's note. A giggle is a clue.
- For young children, allow two questions a turn or give a hint after a few rounds of questions.
- For a harder game, ban questions that simply name a category, like "Am I an animal?"
Ideas for the sticky notes
- Animals: a sloth, a flamingo, a sea turtle, a blue whale.
- Characters: Sherlock Holmes, Cinderella, Paddington Bear, Pikachu.
- Things: a traffic light, a snowman, a rubber duck, a birthday cake.
Who Am I? FAQ
How do you play Who Am I?
Everyone gets a secret identity they cannot see, usually on a sticky note on their forehead. Players take turns asking one yes-or-no question about themselves or making a guess. The first to name their own identity wins.
How many people can play Who Am I?
Two or more. It gets livelier with a bigger group because there are more people answering. The online room takes 2 to 8 players.
What are good questions to ask in Who Am I?
Start wide and work inwards. "Am I a real person?", "Am I alive today?", "Am I from a film or TV show?" and "Am I bigger than a car?" each rule out a lot before you start guessing names.
What should I write on the sticky notes?
Pick someone or something everyone in the group knows. Famous people, cartoon and film characters, animals and everyday objects all work. Match the choices to the youngest player at the table.
Can you play Who Am I? on Zoom or FaceTime?
Yes. Each player's card shows on everyone else's screen and never their own, so nobody needs to hold notes up to a camera. Use the built-in video call or keep your own call running.
Is it free to play Who Am I? online?
Yes. The room is free in any browser, with no app to download and no account to create.
