Check-in game

💡 One Clue Only

One person guesses, everyone else knows the secret word – say, “lighthouse”. Each person secretly writes exactly one clue word. The catch: if two people write the same thing (“sea” and “sea”), both clues are out. The guesser only sees what's left. One Clue Only is cooperative: the whole team wins together and learns how the others think along the way.

• 3–20 people
• about 2 minutes per round
• Free, no app

Play One Clue Only for free

How One Clue Only works

1. One person becomes the guesser, everyone else sees the secret word on their phone.
2. Each person secretly writes one single clue word.
3. Duplicate and very similar clues are removed automatically.
4. The guesser sees the remaining clues and types an answer. Correct? Points for them and everyone with a valid clue.

Why One Clue Only works

• Cooperative: nobody loses against anyone, the team wins together.
• Knocked-out duplicates reliably get a laugh (“We ALL thought of sea?!”).
• Quick to explain, instantly playable – even for people who don't like games.

Great for

• Daily stand-up
• Monday team round
• New teams
• Workshops

Examples

• Lighthouse
• Coffee machine
• Penguin
• Rollercoaster
• Treasure map

Tips for hosts

• Synonyms or typos? You can mark an answer as correct afterwards in the control room.
• Playable from three people, most fun with five to twelve.

FAQ

What if all clues are duplicates?

Then the guesser sees no clue at all – and can still guess or pass. It's rare, but always a highlight.

Can the guesser see the word on the shared screen?

No. The word only appears on the other players' phones and on the stage at the reveal.

More check-in games

• 🧠 Mind Reader – One clue, one secret position – how well do you know each other?
• 🐑 Herd Mind – Don't think original. Think like the herd.
• 🔢 Number Duel – One number, lots of tactics – who can outthink the rest?
• 📖 Bluff Dictionary – Invent an answer everyone believes is real.