Charles Ate a Goat Testicle in Algeria…
Yes, you read the title correctly!
Now before you start thinking that this game involves some pretty weird stuff, I would like to clarify that Charles Ate a Goat Testicle in Algeria is an icebreaker. Very quickly, you will know the interesting and quirky experiences of other people , which will allow you to more easily remember their identity! Overall it’s a fun and different approach than standard icebreaking techniques, and I hope you enjoy!
Will you tell people the weird stuff you’ve done? Let’s find out…
Players: 4-30
Gear: Paper, Pencils, a Hat or Bucket
PREPARATION
Each player writes down three unique one-sentence facts about themselves on three different strips of paper. These situations should be as specific as possible and something that practically no one else knows.
Quirks like “I’m afraid of spiders” or “I’ve gotten into a car accident” are too generic. Try and think “what tidbit is going to intrigue others that has an interesting anecdote behind it?” If the story is especially embarrassing, it may just be the perfect sentence to use. Some examples from The Games Bible are
“Until 1st grade, I thought that my pants had to be down around my ankles to use the urinal.”
and
“I compulsively throw all pennies in the trash.”
Once everyone has written something down, place all strips into a hat or bucket and shuffle. All players should then pull three pieces of paper that are not their own.
After everyone has three stories that aren’t their own, they may begin to investigate the other players to try and match the story to its owner.
THE CATCH
The only thing you CAN’T do? Say the exact words written on the paper.
So let’s say your piece said:
“I once ate a goat testicle in Algeria”
As you interview other people, you wouldn’t be allowed to use the words
– Ate (or the verb “to eat”)
– Goat
– Testicle
– Algeria
It’s your responsibility to get creative and work around these “forbidden words,” as well as the barriers they create, while trying to get information about who matches with your papers.
Instead talking about Algeria, you could ask someone “Have you ever been to Africa?” etc. By trying to deduce who in the room matches the activity on your paper, you end up learning a lot of niche things about people!
When the host feels like enough time has passed for players to mingle and solve their mysteries, they can call an end to the game where each person announces who they think the match to each of their descriptions is, and why. For example:
“I think Charles once ate a goat testicle because they’ve been to Africa and has been dared to try exotic foods!”
If the guess is correct, the player may elaborate for the amusement of everyone, but if incorrect, the guesser may take another shot.
At the end of it all, you will have a plethora of knowledge to *cough cough* blackmail *cough* every other player, as well as have a solid base to strike up extremely engaging conversations. Some of the information may show you who to stay away from (you’re welcome in advance).
Author’s Note
I mostly chose this game because of the completely outrageous title, but I think it’s actually very well worth playing! It’s a bit different than the norm and is guaranteed to generate laughs and a good time. It also doesn’t need to be played with a group of strangers! Even friends (especially those we just met at college) have bizarre pasts, and you have the right to know about them! Even though this game doesn’t have a clear winner and it’s a distinct shift from past games, I think it’s still great and a wonderful addition to the blog. Also, let me know if you’ve been able to experiment and try any of these, as we are just about halfway through out first semester in college!
These are not the examples I would use if I were to play the game, but here are some fun facts about me anyways:
- I skied the longest mogul run the US called “Pallavicini” at A-Basin in Colorado before middle school
- For my dad’s 40th Birthday, he got his college band back together to play a concert of 21 songs. Unfortunately, the drummer couldn’t make it, so 9-year-old Nick Bodie got to be a rock star that night. Check out some (mostly hilarious) videos at FunkaliciousMusic
- When I was in 3rd grade, I was so obsessed with Harry Potter, that I read the whole series 7 times in a row until my parents prohibited me from reading it anymore so that I could expand my literature scope. Haven’t read the whole series since…
Analysis
Charles Ate a Goat Testicle in Algeria isn’t at all a competitive game, but there are certain aspects that make it unique and special that make you want to try it out!
Creativity: This game is ALL ABOUT creativity. From rummaging through the archives of your brain in order to remember those idiosyncratic memories, to phrasing the questions just right, to having goofy fun with other people, there is no clear cut logic behind the game, only using your imagination and being silly.
Luck: Without an end goal to “win,” luck doesn’t play such a major role in the game. Pretty simple.
Strategy: Overall, strategy isn’t a very important game factor, but here is one tip that might help:
Tips & Strategies
- If the story on your paper is particularly embarrassing, keep an eye on how players react when you ask them questions. If someone blushes when you bring up the topic, then they’re likely the culprit.
Variations: If you are interested in a competitive version, then you can tell players that they’re trying to be the first player to accurately identify all three of their cards. You can play to first, second, and third place, but I personally don’t see the necessity in this!
Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful day!
Credits
I cannot stress enough the importance of Leigh Anderson’s fantastic book The Games Bible for inspiring these blog posts. Her book has hundreds of amazing ideas, from icebreakers, family games, and weekend getaways. This blog would not be possible without all the hard work she put into writing the book so my source for ideas and research are from her book.
Sources
- Anderson, Leigh. The Games Bible. Workman Publishing Company, 2010.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LBfpymUAgk&list=PL54EF00F87A16171F
- Anderson, Leigh. “The Games BIBLE: The Ultimate Gamebook… Book by Leigh Anderson.” ThriftBooks, www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-games-bible-the-ultimate-gamebook-for-grown-ups-307-games-to-put-the-fun-back-in-parties_leigh-anderson/571781/#edition=5740103&idiq=12407424.
Image Sources
I love this! I like how it is so different from another blog that we have been reading over the past weeks. the title of this blog is such a hook to the reader that you HAVE TO read this and look deeper into what you’re writing. I like how this game is all about creativity. this game is no joke. it can be pretty difficult trying to say sentences without using keywords in your answer. the game reminds me of a harder version of charades. worth the time to play…Great work!