Ballpark: Birthday Numbers

What it feels like

A birthday is, when you think about it, just a number. So tonight, let's play with a few. Here's how it works. In a private turn, answer a question about yourself with a true number, then guess the numbers for a few of the others. Each round, all the guesses about one person go up in a line, lowest first, with no names. Back the guess you think is closest without going over. Closest without going over scores three, and spot on scores two more. Backing it scores one. If every guess went over, the person it's about scores two.

How to play

1. Take a private turn each: answer a question about yourself with a true number, and guess the numbers for a few of the others.
2. Each round, everyone's guesses about one person go up in a line, lowest first, with no names.
3. Back the guess you think is closest without going over — on your phone, or by pointing.
4. Then the real number comes out.

Scoring: Closest without going over scores 3, and spot on scores 2 more. Back that guess and score 1. If every guess went over, the person it's about scores 2.

You'll get prompts like

• “How many birthday parties have you thrown for someone else?”
• “How many years have you known the birthday person?”

What you need

3 to 10 people and one phone, tablet or laptop to pass around — or everyone on their own phone in a room. Nothing to download, no accounts. The best lines can be sealed into your group's Almanac and come back in later games.

More games like this

• Lorewheel
• Last Photo
• Firsts
• Tiny Joys
• Hot Takes
• Childhood Rooms