What Category Rush is
One list — countries in Africa, Pixar films, Harry Potter characters — dealt as a board of names with a few bombs hiding among them. Take turns tapping names that are on it: hit a bomb and you’re out, and the last one standing takes the board. Or Rush it: 90 seconds, three lives, as many as you can find.
Every round is one list, “Countries in Africa” or “Pixar films”, dealt out as a board of names. Most of them are on the list and a few are bombs, and the board says how many. A name you are sure of is safe; a name that only sounds right is how you go out.
Players take turns tapping one name each. A safe name passes the turn, and a bomb or a clock that runs out puts you out of the board. When only bombs are left a fresh board deals in, a bomb harder, and the last one standing takes it.
Rush is the other way to play: everyone on their own board at once, ninety seconds and three lives, and the most names found wins. It works on your own, it is what the ranked ladder plays, and the Daily deals a fresh Rush every day.
How to play Category Rush
- Every round is one list — “Countries in Africa”, “Pixar films” — dealt out as a board of names. Most are on the list. Some are bombs, and the board says how many.
- Take turns tapping one name each. A name on the list is safe, and the turn moves on.
- Tap a bomb, or let your clock run out, and you’re out of the board.
- When a board has nothing left but bombs, a fresh one deals in, a bomb harder.
- The last one standing takes the board. First to three boards wins (fewer at a big table).
- Don’t fancy a list? Everyone has one veto a game: veto it on its card and a new list deals in (the host can turn vetoes off).
- Or play Rush: everyone on their own board at once, 90 seconds and three lives. Most names found wins, and it works on your own.
How to win at Category Rush
Save a sure name for later
Bombs get denser as the safe names run out, so a name you are certain of is worth more late in a board than early.
Count the bombs
The board says how many bombs it holds, so every safe name tapped raises the odds on the tiles that are left.
Never let the clock decide
Running out of time puts you out just like a bomb, so a careful guess always beats no guess at all.
Veto the list you don’t know
Everyone has one veto a game, so spend it on the card of a list you know nothing about before its board deals.
Rush: lives before speed
Three bombs end a run however much time is left, so a second’s thought on a doubtful name is cheap.
Questions about Category Rush
How is it different from the box game?
The box game gives everyone a letter and a page of categories to fill. Category Rush deals one list as a board of names instead, with a few bombs hidden among them, so knowing the list beats racing the clock.
What happens when I tap a bomb?
You are out of that board and the others play on. The last one standing takes it, and everyone is back in for the next board. First to three boards wins, fewer at a big table.
Can I play Category Rush alone?
Yes. Rush works on your own: ninety seconds, three lives, beat your best. Or add computer players to a game: they know the lists the way a person does, and now and then walk into a bomb.
How many boards does it take to win?
Three for up to four players, two from five and one from eight, so a game stays near ten minutes. The host can set anything from one to five.
Is Category Rush free?
Yes. It is free to play, with no adverts. An optional Plus membership opens bigger tables and extra packs.
How many people do you need for Category Rush?
Between 1 and 12. Below 1 there are not enough of you for the game to work.
What do we need to play?
A phone or laptop each, with a web browser. One person opens a room and everybody else joins by typing the room code on their own phone. There’s also an iPhone app if you’d rather.
Can we play Category Rush over a video call?
Yes. Share the room code in the chat and play with the call running — everything private stays on each player’s own phone.
