Say a Name, Flip the Coin: Free Paranoia Game on One Phone

Paranoia at a glance

Players: 3 to 12 (best with 4 to 8)
Game length: About 15 minutes a game
Phones: One phone, passed around
Where it works: In the same room
Who it’s for: Friends, families and coworkers (clean, nothing 18+)
Price: Free. No app, no sign-up
Languages: English and Spanish

How to play Paranoia on one phone

Paranoia needs 3 to 12 players and one phone, and it's best with 4 to 8. Every round comes down to one moment: one person sees a question, everyone hears a name, and nobody else knows why that name came up.

1Pick a pack: Cheeky, Friends, Silly, Family or Work. Mixed shuffles Cheeky, Friends and Silly together. Set the number of players. Typing names is optional, but it lets the game count who gets named.
2Pass the phone to the first answerer. With names, the screen says something like “Only Sam looks. Everyone else, eyes off the screen.” Without names, it just says to pass the phone to the left. The answerer taps Show my question.
3The question shows up on a dark panel. Everyone else looks away. The answerer reads it, says one player's name out loud, then taps that person. If you skipped names, they tap I said a name instead.
4Tapped the wrong person? Tap “Wrong name? Undo” and pick again. If a question doesn't feel right, tap Skip this question to get a new one. Nobody else sees it.
5Put the phone in the middle. The named player taps their button, like “Alex, flip the coin” (just Flip the coin without names). The coin spins for about two seconds. Heads, the question shows up for everyone. Tails, it stays a secret.
6Tap Next round and pass the phone to the left. That player is the new answerer.

Play as many rounds as you like. When you're done, tap End game. If you typed names, you'll see who got named the most.

Paranoia questions by pack

All 300 questions in the game, in five packs: Cheeky, Friends, Silly, Family and Work. Each one asks “Who…?” and can be answered with the name of someone in the room.

Cheeky · 60 questions

Whose screen time report would be the most embarrassing?
Who would leave the group chat on read for a week?
Who gets caught first in a heist?
Who dies first in a horror movie?
Who has the most chaotic camera roll?
Who would go viral for the wrong reason?

Show all 60

Who would fake being sick to skip plans?
Who would eat your leftovers and deny it?
Who would get voted off a reality show in the first episode?
Who would be the villain if this group had a reality show?
Who survives the zombie apocalypse without ever leaving the couch?
Who says “on my way” while still in bed?
Who would accidentally text the person they were complaining about?
Who probably has a secret group chat about this group?
Who would sell out the whole group for a free pizza?
Who reads the spoilers first and then acts surprised?
Who still has something they borrowed from someone here?
Who would show up late to their own surprise party?
Who would snitch first if we all got in trouble?
Who would accidentally tell the security guard the whole plan?
Who has the most unread notifications right now?
Who would leave a party without saying goodbye to anyone?
Who is secretly running an anonymous meme account?
Who talks through the whole movie and then asks what happened?
Who has a fake excuse ready to leave any party early?
Who would go check out the weird noise at 3 a.m.?
Who would eat the snacks they were supposed to bring?
Who would get lost using GPS in their own neighborhood?
Who has the longest list of shows they started and never finished?
Who reads people's texts over their shoulder?
Who sends voice memos that should have been a text?
Who gets secretly happy when plans get canceled?
Who would rename the group chat at 2 a.m. without asking anyone?
Who has lied about seeing a movie just to join the conversation?
Who cheats at board games and calls it strategy?
Who keeps screenshots of the group chat “for evidence”?
Who would fall for the same prank twice in one day?
Who pretends to know the lyrics and just mumbles along?
Who hits snooze until the last possible second?
Who would take over the music and clear the room in three songs?
Who would open their presents early and tape them back up?
Who would start an argument about the right way to load a dishwasher?
Who would bail on a hangout and then ask how it went?
Who gives terrible advice with total confidence?
Who would let everyone else do the group project and still take credit?
Who gets caught singing alone in the car at a red light?
Who has accidentally called a teacher “Mom” or “Dad”?
Who has waved back at someone who was waving at someone else?
Who would be the most dramatic about a paper cut?
Who would give up first in a phone-free weekend?
Who would spill a secret by accident within 24 hours?
Who would snoop through your fridge the minute they walk in?
Who would get the whole group kicked out of a museum?
Who tells the same story at every party like it's brand new?
Who would sleep through an earthquake and ask what happened?
Who would argue with the referee at a kids' soccer game?
Who has an old username they hope nobody here ever finds?
Who would split up from the group in a zombie movie and say “I'll be right back”?
Who replies “k” and makes everyone nervous?
Who would definitely press the big red button?

Friends · 60 questions

Who would you call first if you got locked out at midnight?
Who would you trust with your phone, unlocked, for a whole day?
Who would make a 12-hour flight feel twice as long?
Who gives pep talks that somehow make things worse?
Who remembers every embarrassing thing you've ever said?
Who is the reason nothing ever goes to plan on a trip?

Show all 60

Who knows way too much about everyone in this room?
Who secretly keeps every birthday card they've ever gotten?
Who would suddenly be busy on the day you need help moving?
Who here has a story for every situation?
Who would be the best travel buddy for a week somewhere new?
Who would leave dishes in the sink to “soak” for a week?
Who is most likely to spoil a surprise party by accident?
Who in this group plays every game like it's the championship?
Who would you pick as your teammate in an escape room?
Who always wins the argument about which movie to watch?
Who would set off the smoke alarm making toast?
Who would start a group chat for a trip that never happens?
Who here gives brutally honest opinions nobody asked for?
Who would forget your birthday until 11:59 p.m. and then post a long tribute?
Who would get famous and stop answering your texts?
Who would you want on your team in a dance-off?
Who here could talk their way out of anything?
Who always says “let's hang out soon” and never picks a day?
Who secretly rehearses what they're going to say before a phone call?
Who stays the calmest in a crisis?
Who gives gifts that are secretly for themselves?
Who laughs at their own jokes before the punchline?
Who would you want to be stuck in an elevator with?
Who is always first to say yes to a sunrise hike?
Who would you start a band with?
Who would come back from pet-sitting with your dog liking them more?
Who would scream the loudest at a scary movie and deny it after?
Who secretly enjoys watching two friends argue?
Who is most likely to know someone in every city?
Who recommends a show and then quizzes you on it?
Who would you call first when something hilarious happens?
Who changes the rules halfway through game night when they're losing?
Who would be the main suspect if something went missing at a party?
Who secretly loves being the center of attention?
Who in this room cries the hardest at goodbye parties?
Who would you want as your neighbor when you're 80?
Who would make themselves team captain without asking anyone?
Who plans a fun day with a schedule down to the minute?
Who always knows which song will cheer you up?
Who notices first when you're having a bad day?
Who would you trust to read your diary from when you were 12?
Who would you pick for a three-legged race?
Who here is the funniest when they're tired?
Who would be the best co-pilot on a six-hour drive?
Who would you most want to swap lives with for a day?
Who here is impossible to beat at board games?
Who would tell ghost stories if the power went out, just to scare everyone?
Who here could make friends with anyone in a waiting room?
Who is always the first to say sorry after a silly disagreement?
Who would write your life story and make themselves the main character?
Who would argue with you just for fun, even when they agree?
Who here has taught you something you use every day?
Who secretly checks that everyone got home safe?
Who is most likely to still have photos of tonight in 20 years?

Silly · 60 questions

Who would turn a desert island into a five-star resort?
Who would win a talent show juggling oranges?
Who is most likely to adopt a goat?
Who would accidentally join a parade and stay for the whole route?
Who secretly practices an award acceptance speech, just in case?
Who would end up best friends with a llama?

Show all 60

Who will accidentally become the mayor of a tiny town someday?
Who would open the world's smallest restaurant?
Who would get shushed in a library for laughing at nothing?
Who would end up chatting with a stranger's dog for ten minutes?
Who already has an evil laugh ready, just in case?
Who would hold a door open for so long it turns into a job?
Who would give a goldfish a long, fancy name with three middle names?
Who here could last a week in the woods with only a spoon?
Who is convinced the squirrels are up to something?
Who would try to teach a rabbit to do tricks?
Who would win a contest for the most dramatic gasp?
Who has the perfect voice for a cartoon hamster?
Who is most likely to start a new dance craze by accident?
Who is secretly taking orders from a cat?
Who would show up to a costume party dressed as a houseplant?
Who would cheer the loudest at a turtle race?
Who could turn any grocery list into a catchy song?
Who would be the first to try a mystery ice cream flavor?
Who would lose a staring contest to a seagull?
Who has definitely had a polite argument with a vending machine?
Who would get chased by a goose and scream the whole time?
Who would talk a lost duck back to its pond?
Who would turn a boring Tuesday into a theme party?
Who would keep a pet rock and throw it a birthday party?
Who would spend an hour looking for the perfect skipping stone?
Who secretly knows every word of a cartoon theme song?
Who would bark back at a dog just to see what happens?
Who would end up starring in a commercial for slippers?
Who will one day wear a cape to the grocery store just because?
Who would wave at a statue thinking it was a real person?
Who could write a strongly worded letter to the moon?
Who would apologize to a robot vacuum for getting in its way?
Who secretly wants to ride a unicycle to work?
Who would open a museum just for spoons?
Who would volunteer at a magic show and accidentally ruin the trick?
Who would win a tongue twister contest with zero practice?
Who here was born to be a superhero's sidekick?
Who would try to sneak backstage at a puppet show?
Who would get a photo with every mascot at the ballpark?
Who would start a conga line at the worst possible moment?
Who would sneak a garden gnome into every vacation photo?
Who would name their car and get offended when you don't use it?
Who would collect a bucket of seashells and name every one?
Who could give the most dramatic weather report?
Who could get a whole quiet museum dancing?
Who would get lost on a spacewalk waving at the camera?
Who has the most convincing fake laugh in this room?
Who would bring a full picnic to a five-minute wait?
Who always roots for the T. rex in dinosaur movies?
Who here would be terrible at whispering?
Who is most likely to order 50 pizzas instead of five by mistake?
Who talks to their plants and expects an answer?
Who in this room was a pirate in another life?
Who would accidentally end up in a stranger's family photo?

Family · 60 questions

Who makes the best Sunday breakfast?
Who would invent the best bedtime story on the spot?
Who in this family knows the most old songs by heart?
Who could run the family kitchen for a whole week?
Who knows the best hiding spot in this house?
Who is this family's real alarm clock?

Show all 60

Who would make the best lemonade on a summer afternoon?
Who would build the coziest reading nook in this house?
Who in this family would be the most fun teacher?
Who sneaks bites off the serving plates before dinner is ready?
Who is the best vacation planner in this family?
Who has a joke ready for every family get-together?
Who would every dog at the park run to first?
Who grabs the mic first at family karaoke?
Who would make the best school principal for a day?
Who in this family can fix almost anything?
Who would grow the best vegetable garden on the block?
Who would split the last cookie into perfectly equal pieces?
Who would win a family game of charades?
Who tells the best spooky stories around a campfire?
Who would remember what everyone ate at the last big holiday dinner?
Who has the most patience for a 1,000-piece puzzle?
Who would cry happy tears at a school play?
Who can always make everyone laugh at the dinner table?
Who has the best stories from when they were little?
Who would pick the best movie for family movie night?
Who would be the best at reading the map on a road trip?
Who would make up the best car game on a long drive?
Who would be first to sign up for a trip to Mars?
Who wraps the neatest presents in this family?
Who is the funniest dancer at family parties?
Who could cheer up anyone in this family in under a minute?
Who gets the most excited on the first day of summer vacation?
Who would be happiest working at a zoo?
Who is secretly the boss of this house?
Who always saves the best bite for last?
Who would be the most fun to go camping with?
Who sends the most messages in the family group chat?
Who would make the best family newspaper?
Who sings “Happy Birthday” the loudest?
Who could find anything that's lost in this house?
Who has the most ideas for inventions?
Who would bake the best birthday cake in this family?
Who could spend all day in the pool?
Who knows the most about this family's history?
Who can make any baby smile?
Who would win a family video game tournament?
Who would be the best at teaching someone to ride a bike?
Who would want to go on every ride at an amusement park?
Who always offers to do the dishes and then disappears?
Who takes over the music on every family road trip?
Who argues the longest about the rules of a family board game?
Who is most likely to fall asleep first on a long car ride?
Who knows the most riddles?
Who takes the longest to say goodbye when leaving a family party?
Who could beat everyone here at dominoes?
Who would teach the whole family a new dance?
Who should get to name the next family pet?
Who would pack half the house for a weekend trip?
Who is most likely to plan a backyard picnic for everyone?

Work · 60 questions

Who here has the most sticky notes on their desk?
Who here plans the best team outings?
Who could explain anything complicated in simple words?
Who has the most creative email sign-off?
Who would win a round of mini-golf with the team?
Who is always the first to try a new feature in the team chat?

Show all 60

Who has the neatest computer desktop?
Who probably has the most mysterious folder names?
Who would come up with the best name for a new project?
Who types the fastest on this team?
Who would be the best emcee for a company event?
Who has the best playlist for getting work done?
Who could teach the team a great cooking class?
Who would teach the whole team to play chess at lunch?
Who would plan the best surprise for a teammate's birthday?
Who secretly reads all the terms and conditions?
Who would run the best company talent show?
Who would start an after-lunch walking club?
Who could write the catchiest team song?
Who has the tidiest inbox in the building?
Who would be the most fun to sit next to at a conference?
Who would bring back the best souvenir from a work trip for the team?
Who has the best stories from their very first job?
Who could teach a five-minute class on their favorite hobby?
Who knows the most movie quotes on the team?
Who would host the best radio show for the office?
Who here has had the most surprising job before this one?
Who sends the best emoji reactions in the team chat?
Who knows everyone's favorite snack?
Who would pick the best song at team karaoke?
Who would win a paper airplane contest in the break room?
Who secretly has a nickname for the office printer?
Who has the best tricks for staying focused?
Who would shine on a TV cooking show?
Who would plan the best team trip to another city?
Who writes the funniest out-of-office message?
Who could come up with the most creative name for the team chat?
Who would give the most entertaining talk to the team?
Who could explain their job to a five-year-old the best?
Who would bring the best dish to a team potluck?
Who would plan the best welcome breakfast for someone new?
Who always has a pen when you need one?
Who should plan the games for the holiday party?
Who is the most fun lunch buddy?
Who has the best stories from work trips?
Who should get to name the meeting rooms?
Who could come up with the best team motto?
Who secretly knows the quietest spot in the building?
Who is the best company on a long work road trip?
Who keeps every conference badge they've ever worn?
Who could pull off a real surprise party for the team?
Who should host the team's end-of-year awards?
Who probably has the most interesting weekend hobby?
Who has the cheeriest Monday morning energy?
Who would design the best team T-shirt?
Who could build the most impressive sculpture out of paper clips?
Who would explain the rules best at a team game night?
Who has the most interesting thing on their desk?
Who would write the hardest trivia questions about the company?
Who would be the first to sign up for bring-your-dog-to-work day?

How the classic whisper version works

Paranoia started with no props at all. Players sit in a circle. One person whispers a question to the player next to them, something like “Who here would last the longest on a desert island?” That player answers out loud with someone's name. Then a coin is flipped, often by the person who was named. Heads, the question is said out loud. Tails, it stays between the two of them, and the named player is left wondering.

That's where the name comes from. Hearing your name with no context makes you a little paranoid, in the best way.

Whispering has its problems, though. In a loud room, the question gets lost. Some people mumble, so it has to be repeated, and half the circle catches a word or two. Making up a question on the spot is hard, and improvised ones can go too far. And when the coin lands on heads, the person who asked can always change the question a little.

The phone fixes all of that. Only the answerer sees the question, word for word, and it can't change after the name is said. The named player still flips the coin, and everyone watches it land. The questions are already written, so nobody has to think of one.

Reveal settings and scoring

Under Reveal the question, pick how much the group gets to know before you start.

Coin flip, the default. After every answer, the named player flips a coin. It spins for about two seconds. Heads shows the question, tails keeps it hidden. About half the questions come out, so there's always some suspense.
Never. No question is ever shown. It's the most paranoid way to play, and the safest start for a new group.
Always. Every question is shown right after the name. Good for young kids, or when the group wants every answer explained.

Paranoia has no winner in the usual sense, but if you typed names, the phone keeps count. Every time a player is named, they get a tally. When you tap End game, the last screen shows “Named most” and how many times each person was picked. If you skipped names, there's no tally.

The hidden questions are never listed, not even at the end. Whatever stayed a secret stays that way. If your group wants a prize, try a house rule: the player named most picks the next game.

Keep it fun for everyone

Getting named should make someone laugh and wonder, not wince. A few habits help.

Skip freely. The answerer can skip a question with one tap, and nobody sees it. A player can also pass on their turn.
Fix slips. Tapped the wrong name? “Wrong name? Undo” takes it back before the coin flips.
Start new groups on Never. Nobody sees any question, so it's all suspense and no explaining. Switch to Coin flip once everyone's warmed up.
Pick the pack for the room. Cheeky has the most sting. Family and Work are milder, which is why they're not in Mixed.
No questions are about looks, bodies or crushes. That's by design. If you whisper your own between rounds, keep them about habits and what-ifs.
Don't beg for the question. On tails, the secret stays. Spread the names around, too: most questions fit more than one person.

Ways to play

Game night

A good warm-up, because it gets everyone talking about each other. Put it early in your Game Night lineup, before something louder like Truth or Dare.

Dorm or hangout

One couch, one phone, a room full of people who know too much about each other. Pick Cheeky or Mixed, keep Coin flip on and let the room guess why someone just got named.

Sleepover

The classic setting. Sit in a circle on the floor, pick Friends or Silly and let the coin decide. It's even better with the lights low.

Family table

Use the Family pack with grandparents and kids at the same table. Set Reveal the question to Always for the youngest players, so nobody is left out of the joke.

Video call

The answerer opens the game on their own phone, reads the question privately and says a name on camera. Then they flip the coin and, on heads, read the question out loud. Take turns being the answerer.

Team icebreaker

The Work pack is about office habits, hobbies and skills, never about how well someone does their job. Five minutes is enough to warm up a meeting.

Where Paranoia comes from

Paranoia is a folk party game. Nobody owns it, and it's been played at parties, campfires and sleepovers for years under the same name. It needs nothing but people and a coin, which is part of why it has lasted.

It got a second life when it went viral on TikTok, where groups film the moment a name is said and the named person's face when the coin lands. Plenty of versions online are drinking games or go straight to 18+ questions. This one doesn't need either. The questions tease, the coin adds the suspense, and that's enough.

If your group likes Paranoia, try Most Likely To, where everyone points at once and every vote is public. For more secrets and suspicion, play Imposter.

Questions

Is Paranoia free?

Yes. All five packs and every setting are free. The site runs on ads, and there's no app to download and no sign-up.

How many players do you need?

Between 3 and 12. It's best with 4 to 8, so names come up often and everyone gets a turn as the answerer.

Does everyone need a phone?

No. One phone is enough. Pass it to the answerer each round, then put it in the middle for the coin flip.

Do I have to type everyone's name?

No. Names are optional. If you type them, the answerer taps the person they named and the game counts who was named most. If you skip them, the phone tells you to pass it to the left, the answerer taps I said a name, and there's no tally.

Is there drinking or 18+ content?

No. You don't need drinks to play, and nothing is 18+. The questions tease about habits, group chats, horror-movie instincts and silly what-ifs. None are about looks, bodies or crushes.

What happens on heads or tails?

The named player flips the coin, and it spins for about two seconds. Heads, the phone shows the question to everyone, so they finally know why. Tails, it stays a secret for good. You can change this under Reveal the question: Never hides every question, and Always shows every one.

Can kids play?

Yes. Pick the Family pack, which works for grandparents and kids at the same table. With young kids, set Reveal the question to Always so no question is left hanging.

How is Paranoia different from Most Likely To?

In Most Likely To, everyone hears the question and everyone votes. In Paranoia, only one person sees the question and gives one name. The rest of the group hears just the name, and the coin decides whether they ever learn the question.

Do the hidden questions show up at the end?

No. If you typed names, the final screen shows who was named most and how many times each player was picked. Questions that stayed hidden are never listed in the game.

The whisper question game Paranoia

Paranoia at a glance

How to play Paranoia on one phone

Paranoia questions by pack

Cheeky · 60 questions

Friends · 60 questions

Silly · 60 questions

Family · 60 questions

Work · 60 questions

How the classic whisper version works

Reveal settings and scoring

Keep it fun for everyone

Ways to play

Game night

Dorm or hangout

Sleepover

Family table

Video call

Team icebreaker

Where Paranoia comes from

Questions

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