Pyramids

Pyramids is a pen and paper game that can be used on Valentines Day, family reunions or any time you play parlor games.

Age: Adults and older children

No. of players: 2 or more

Equipment: Pen and paper for each player or team

Time: 5 minutes+

Aim: To create a pyramid of words based on a keyword

This fun pen and paper game can be played with as few as two players but it is more entertaining when played by teams of three or four players.

1. Players are given a sheet of paper and a pen. A six letter keyword is written across the top of the page. For example, a Valentines Day party could use the word "FLOWER".

2. Players or teams are given five minutes to write a pyramid of words below each letter of the keyword starting with the corresponding letter. Each word is one letter longer than the word above it. Words do not have to contain the same letters as the words above but they must all start with the same letter. There is no limit to the length of a word.

3. To make it easier, especially for two-letter words, players may use abbreviations, names, plurals or foreign words.

4. At the end of the time limit, the teams add up their scores. Any correctly spelled words are worth one point for each letter, while words that no other team/player has written down are worth two bonus points each.

5. The next round starts with a new keyword.

6. The player or team with the most points at the end of five rounds (or at any other agreed time limit) wins the game.