On Topic

About On Topic

On Topic is a flip-and-write party game for 2 to 6 people. The more people you have playing, the more fun you will have. The game can be played as individuals or in teams of two. For the full list of rules please see the attached PDF file: On-Topic-Rules.

If you like games such as Apples to Apples and Scatergories, you will enjoy On Topic. This is not your traditional game of categories. All the topics are selected by the players from their hands at the start of each round after the qualifier card has been revealed. You will need to strategize to pick the best topics to either benefit you or to stump your opponents.

The Object of the Game

At the beginning of each round, one Qualifier card is revealed to all the players. These cards have a condition that all your answers must adhere to. There are the basic ones, such as Starts with the letter A, but also harder ones, like Ends with ING and Contains a double letter. You will find On Topic to be more challenging than a regular game of categories. Some of the other Qualifier cards include: Alliterative Answers, Abbreviations, "Use a Certain Number of Letters or Syllables", "Ends With Certain Letters", as well as "Does Not Contain Certain Letters".

Each player selects a Topic card from their hand and places it on a numbered jumbo card in the middle of the playing surface. Topic cards contain a category, such as "Things associated with Fruit" and "Things that are Blue." Choose carefully, because you won't just be answering your own topic, you will need to write down answers for everyone else's topics as well. Some topics are broad and others not so much. However, you can get creative, as part of the game is trying to explain how your answers fit the topic.

All players have three minutes to write down two answers for each topic. Be sure that they conform to the stipulations on qualifier card. Points are scored for unique answers that don’t match any other player’s answers. In team play, points are awarded for matching your teammate's answers. However, no answer will count if it has nothing to do with the category, so make sure your answers stay On Topic.

Customize to Fit You

Games are supposed to be fun, and the way you want to play may not be how it is laid out in the rule book. If that's the case, go a head and modify any of the rules you see fit (provided that all the players in the game are in agreement). Do you need more time on the timer? Add some. Would you like to play in teams of four? Sure thing, kiddo. Do you want to completely rewrite how points are scored? It's your game and as long as your having fun, go right on ahead.