Letter Rush - the categories game app.
One letter, a list of categories, a ticking clock. Letter Rush brings the classic categories game to your phones: everyone plays at once, the group votes on what counts, and the app keeps score.
What is the categories game?
The categories game is the pen-and-paper classic: a letter is chosen, and everyone races to write one word per category that starts with it. In the UK it is often called stop the bus, in India and the US many people know it as name, place, animal, thing, in Germany as city, country, river. Letter Rush is exactly that, on your phones: everyone plays at once in a lobby, the group votes on what counts, and the app keeps score. No paper, no arguing, no adding up.
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The host creates a lobby, picks the categories and sets the time per round. Besides city, country, river and animal, any custom category is allowed. Everyone joins with the 6-digit code on their own phone.
- 2
Every round the app draws a random letter - the same one for everybody.
- 3
Everyone types one word per category that starts with that letter, as fast as they can.
- 4
When time is up, the lobby votes on every answer: does it count or not? No referee needed.
- 5
Accepted answers score points. The app keeps score live and shows a podium after the last round.
Example categories.
The classic five are only the start. Mixed categories are what make a round funny. A few ideas for your next lobby, each with a word for the letter M:
City
Madrid, Manchester, Mumbai. The classic opener, and the one that always sparks a debate about whether a village counts.
Country
Mexico, Morocco, Malta. Harder than it looks once you reach Q or Y.
River
Mississippi, Mekong, Murray. The category that separates the geographers from the guessers.
Animal
Meerkat, moose, mantis. Everyone has one, so unique answers are rare.
Name
Maria, Max, Mohammed. Easy points, unless everyone writes the same one.
Food
Mango, muesli, meatballs. Brand names usually end in a vote.
Things in a kitchen
Microwave, mug, mixer. The point where the classic ends and the fun starts.
Things that are red
Mulled wine, maple leaves, macaws. The further from the dictionary, the better.
Excuses for being late
Missed the bus, my alarm died, Mum called. Full sentences allowed.
Band or artist
Madonna, Metallica, Massive Attack. Beware of generation gaps.
Film title
Matrix, Memento, Moana. Whether the article counts is something to settle before the round.
Something you would never say to your boss
Maybe tomorrow. The category that wins the evening.
Categories game - questions & answers.
Is there a categories game app?
Yes. Letter Rush in the free wayoff. app is the categories game for iOS and Android. One player creates a lobby, everyone else joins with a 6-digit code on their own phone. No paper, no sign-up. You may know the game as stop the bus.
Can you play the categories game online with friends?
Yes. Everyone in the lobby plays on their own phone, in the same room or in different cities. The app shows the same letter to everybody, runs the timer and collects the answers.
What categories can we play?
The classics like city, country, river and animal come built in, and the host can add any category they like - things in a fridge, bad superpowers, song titles. Custom categories are included.
Who decides whether an answer counts?
The lobby does. After every round the app shows all answers and everyone votes. Accepted answers score points, the app counts them live and shows a podium at the end. No referee, no arguing.
How many players, and what does it cost?
2 to 99 players per lobby. wayoff. is free on the App Store and Google Play, with no account and no in-app purchases.
Keep exploring.
Ready to play
Letter Rush?
Free on iOS & Android. First lobby up in under a minute.