The quick version
Give each person a tray and roughly 75 random clean word magnets. Read a suitable prompt and build for 90 seconds using only your pool. Read all responses, then randomly choose a judge, who awards the prompt to somebody else. Return used words to the common pool and replace that many. First to five prompt cards wins.
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Prepare words and prompts before friends arrive
Separate magnet sheets before the gathering. Check both the word pool and every prompt; exclude adult, drug, alcohol, dating and insulting material. A family edition or expansion can supply suitable content, but verify whether your package includes trays. The unfiltered original box is not the format described here.
Give each player a metal tray and about three pinches, approximately 75 magnets, spread face up privately in front of them. Leave spare magnets in a common box. Prepare a random name draw, with one slip per player, to choose each judge after submissions. Add a 90-second timer.
Let the limited vocabulary make the joke
Read one clean prompt. If anyone requests a replacement, draw a new one before starting. Start 90 seconds. Everyone uses only words in their own pool to make a response on their tray. You may use a single word or an awkward sentence; do not write missing words or borrow magnets.
At the bell, stop and read every tray aloud in clockwise order. Only then draw a random judge’s name and return the slip for future rounds. In this house format the judge cannot choose their own response. They award the prompt card to their favorite other response, counting as one point.
Return only the magnets used on your tray to the common box, mix them and draw the same number as replacements. Keep unused personal magnets. This precise replenishment rule is a house choice because publisher pages describe replenishment differently.
Continue with a fresh prompt until someone owns five prompt cards. That player wins. Set aside completed prompts so the same wording does not recur this session.
Read the actual words
Let the tray speak before explaining what you intended. Missing grammar is part of the constraint, but imitating or mocking another person’s language ability is unnecessary. Encourage responses about ordinary fictional situations, such as advertising a squeaky umbrella, rather than private facts about people at the table.
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Ideas & Twists
Choose a variation together before you start.
Ransom Notes · See main rules
House suggestionSix-word answer
Use no more than six magnets per submission. Compounds printed on one magnet count as one. Keep the timer, judge draw and five-card goal unchanged.
Ransom Notes · See main rules
House suggestionOne swap before writing
After hearing the prompt but before the timer, everyone may return up to five unwanted magnets and draw the same number at random. Once timing starts, no swaps. Normal replenishment follows the award.
Ransom Notes · See main rules
House suggestionNeighboring editors
With exactly six people, form three pairs. Use one tray and a combined pool of 100 words per pair. Alternate who physically places each word. After all three responses are read, draw one pair at random as judge; it must award one of the other two pairs. Return and replace used magnets normally. First pair to five prompt cards wins.
Ransom Notes · See main rules
House suggestionSix-prompt exhibition
Play exactly six prompts without judging or scoring. After reading, each player names one phrase from another tray they enjoyed. Keep the word restriction and replenishment so each round still presents a fresh creative puzzle.
About this guide
Word magnets, limited personal pools and prompt responses are published mechanics. Main timing, judge exclusion, exact replenishment and variations are labelled house choices. No adult prompt text is reproduced; both magnets and prompts must be screened.
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