Monikers Board Game Review

Monikers is a party card game designed by Alex Hague and Justin Vickers, published by CMYK in 2015. Based on the classic public domain game Celebrities, it has earned a spot among the most beloved party games for groups who enjoy laughter-filled evenings. The game supports 4-16 players, takes 30-60 minutes to play, and carries a 17+ age rating due to some mature content on the cards. This review covers everything you need to know about Monikers, from setup to strategy.

Monikers Game Overview

Monikers challenges teams to guess names on cards across three progressively difficult rounds. The first round allows any clues except the name itself. The second round restricts clue-givers to a single word. The final round removes speech entirely, leaving only gestures and charades.

The game builds on shared knowledge created in earlier rounds. A detailed explanation in round one becomes a single-word callback in round two, then a silly gesture in round three. This escalation creates memorable moments as players reference inside jokes that develop naturally during play.

Specification	Details
Designer	Alex Hague, Justin Vickers
Artist	Cécile Gariépy, Alex Hague
Publisher	CMYK, Palm Court
Year Released	2015
Players	4-16
Age Range	17+
Playing Time	30-60 minutes
Game Type	Party, Card Game
Complexity Rating	1.09 / 5 (Light)

What’s in the Monikers Box

The Monikers box contains everything needed for immediate play. Component quality matches the casual nature of the game without unnecessary frills.

Component	Description
Name Cards	440+ cards featuring celebrities, historical figures, fictional characters, and pop culture references
Card Quality	Standard card stock with clear text and point values
Illustrated Cards	Select cards feature artwork by Cécile Gariépy
Rulebook	Compact rules sheet with quick-start guide
Timer	Sand timer for turn management (phone timer also works)

Each card includes the name, a brief description or clue, and a point value. The descriptions help players who might not recognize every name, though familiarity with pop culture improves the experience.

Monikers Pros and Cons

How to Play Monikers

Monikers uses a simple structure that builds complexity through restrictions rather than new rules. Setup takes about five minutes once players understand the card selection process.

Setup

Divide players into two teams of roughly equal size. Deal 8 cards to each player face-down. Each player secretly selects 5 cards they want in the game and discards the rest to the box. Combine all selected cards into one shared deck.

Aim for 40-50 cards total in the deck. For groups larger than 10, deal fewer cards per person. For smaller groups, deal more. The team with the best celebrity encounter story goes first.

Round Structure

Each round uses the same deck of cards. Teams alternate turns with one player giving clues while teammates guess. Turns last 60 seconds, or 30-45 seconds for large groups.

Correctly guessed cards stay with the team for scoring. Skipped cards return to the deck. A round ends when all cards have been guessed. Shuffle the deck and begin the next round with the lower-scoring team going first.

Round 1: Say Anything

Clue-givers can use any words, sounds, or gestures except saying the name itself or reading the clue text. Accidentally saying the name forces a skip. This round establishes the shared vocabulary teams will rely on later.

Round 2: One Word Only

Clue-givers can only say one word, though they can repeat it. No sounds or gestures allowed. The word cannot include any part of the name or clue text. Teams often reference descriptions from round one.

Round 3: Charades

No words at all. Clue-givers can only use gestures and body movements. Sound effects are permitted. This round tests how well teams built shared references in earlier rounds.

Winning Monikers

After three rounds, the team with the highest total score wins. Point values on cards vary based on difficulty. Many groups ignore scoring entirely and play purely for entertainment.

Monikers Game Mechanics

Monikers combines several mechanics that work together to create escalating entertainment. The core loop relies on memory and shared experience rather than trivia knowledge.

The open drafting at the start lets players curate the deck. This prevents situations where nobody recognizes a name. Players naturally select cards they can describe and cards they think will be funny.

Communication limits define each round. The progressive restrictions force creativity and reward teams who pay attention during earlier rounds. A detailed round-one description of “the actor who always dies in movies” becomes just the word “dies” in round two, then a dramatic death scene in round three.

Team-based play means everyone participates throughout. Unlike some party games where players wait for their turn, Monikers keeps all team members engaged as guessers. The clue-giver role rotates so everyone performs eventually.

Who Should Play Monikers

Monikers works best for groups who enjoy performance-based games and share cultural knowledge. The game rewards players who pay attention and can make quick mental connections.

Groups of 6-10 players hit the sweet spot. Fewer players means less team energy during guessing. Larger groups may need shorter turns to maintain pace. The game handles up to 16 but works better split into two simultaneous games at that size.

Players who dislike being the center of attention may struggle with the charades round. However, the team format provides support that solo performance games lack. Groups can also house-rule that shy players can skip clue-giving duties.

If your group enjoys Codenames or Wavelength, Monikers offers a more physical alternative with similar word-association elements. Those who prefer Time’s Up should know Monikers offers nearly identical gameplay with different card content and humor.

The 17+ rating reflects adult content on some cards. The Family Edition removes mature content for mixed-age groups. Consider your audience before purchasing.

Where to Buy Monikers

Retailer	Notes
Amazon	Base game and expansions available with Prime shipping
Cardhaus Games	Board game specialty retailer with competitive pricing
Noble Knight Games	New and used copies available
Target	Often stocks base game in stores
Local Game Stores	Support local retailers; call ahead for availability

The base game provides enough content for many sessions before cards become too familiar. Expansions like Monikers: More Monikers and Monikers: Serious Nonsense add fresh cards that integrate with existing decks.

FAQ

Is Monikers good for beginners?

Monikers ranks among the easiest party games to learn. The rules take under 10 minutes to explain, and the first round allows enough freedom that new players catch on quickly. The card drafting also lets players remove names they do not recognize.

How long does Monikers take to play?

Most games run 30-60 minutes depending on group size and deck size. Larger groups may finish faster since more guessers means quicker card completion. You can adjust game length by adding or removing cards from the deck during setup.

What is the best player count for Monikers?

The game works best with 6-10 players split into two teams. Four players is the minimum for functional gameplay. Groups larger than 12 should consider shorter turn timers or splitting into two separate games for better pacing.

Is Monikers appropriate for families?

The standard edition carries a 17+ rating due to mature content on some cards. CMYK publishes Monikers: Family Edition specifically for mixed-age groups. This version removes adult content while keeping the same three-round structure.

What games are similar to Monikers?

Time’s Up uses nearly identical rules with different card content. Celebrities is the public domain game Monikers adapts. Codenames and Wavelength offer similar word-association gameplay without the performance elements. Telestrations provides comparable party chaos through drawing.