How to play Paranoia.

Paranoia is a party game built on one uncomfortable idea: someone says your name out loud, and you do not know why. One player hears a question in secret, answers it by naming someone in the room, and then chance decides whether everyone else finds out what the question was.

It works with friends, flatmates, couples and big groups, and it gets better the more people there are.

1. Sit in a circle.
2. Whisper a question to the person next to you — usually “Who is most likely to…” or “Who in this room…”.
3. They answer out loud by saying one person’s name. Nobody else hears the question.
4. Flip a coin. Heads, the question is revealed to everyone. Tails, it stays secret for ever.
5. The person who answered whispers the next question, and play moves round the circle.

Need inspiration? See some example Paranoia questions.

The drinking version

Some groups play that the person who was named has to take a drink to hear the question. Drinking is always optional — in the Paranoia app, Drinking Mode only comes on if the whole group agrees, and every drinking prompt has a non-drinking option.

Pay to know

Instead of a coin, the named player can choose to take a forfeit to hear the question.

Themed rounds

Agree a theme for a round — work, dating, the family, uni — and only ask questions that fit.

1. The next reader is chosen. The app calls a name. Pass them the phone.
2. Only they see the question. It stays on their screen — nobody else gets to see it.
3. They say one name out loud, then lock it in.
4. The reveal decides. Green seals the question for ever. Red reads it out to everyone.

You choose how far to go with four levels: Nice, Mild, Spicy and Insane. Insane is only available with Paranoia Pro, and everyone has to agree before it starts. Play on one shared iPhone or iPad in the same room, or online with everyone on their own phone.

• Start on Nice. Let everyone learn the reveal before the questions get personal.
• Agree the level together. Paranoia is bold, but nobody should ever be forced.
• Get more people in. Paranoia works for 2 to 20 players, and some questions and twists only appear once the group is big enough.
• Keep it about the game. The best nights are the ones everyone wants to play again.