Monikers vs Bowl Game: playing Fishbowl online
Fishbowl has been played with scraps of paper and a hat for decades. Monikers turned it into a published card game, and it's excellent. Bowl Game is our version for phones.
The rules are the same
Split into two teams. Round 1, describe the name any way you like except saying it. Round 2, one word only. Round 3, act it out. The same cards go back in each round, so by round 3 everyone knows the names and the charades get absurd. Most points after three rounds wins. If you've never played, start with our Fishbowl rules.
The big difference: who writes the names
Monikers comes with a deck of cards, each with a name and a little description underneath, so you don't have to know who everyone is. Players pick their favorites from a hand and those make the deck. It's a great way to play with strangers.
In Bowl Game, everyone writes 3 to 5 slips on their phone (there's an “Idea?” button if you're stuck). That means the bowl fills up with grandma's famous dishes, your group's in-jokes, and that one teacher everyone remembers. It's more personal, and it's funnier with people who know each other.
| Monikers | Bowl Game | |
|---|---|---|
| Names | Ready-made cards with descriptions | Written by your group on their phones |
| Timer and score | You keep them | The TV does it |
| Passing | Skipped cards go back in | Pass sends the slip to the bottom of the bowl |
| Players | 4 or more | 4–16, in two teams |
| Over a video call | Tricky | Yes, remote mode |
If your bowl empties mid-turn in Bowl Game, the clue-giver keeps their leftover time for the next round, and the other team's phones show the slip too, so they can keep you honest.
Fishbowl in two teams, up to 16. Slips on your phone, the clock on the TV.
Play Bowl GameNo group handy? Try Wordy Birdy solo, free, in 10 seconds →Questions
Can you play Monikers online?
Monikers is a physical card game. Bowl Game on Hangtime plays the same three-round Fishbowl format online, with slips written on phones.
How many players do you need for Bowl Game?
At least 4, two on each team, and up to 16.
Is Monikers the same as Fishbowl?
Yes, Monikers is a published version of the Fishbowl (Salad Bowl, Celebrity) party game.
Is Bowl Game affiliated with Monikers?
No. It's Hangtime's own version of the traditional Fishbowl game.