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Get partygoers up on their feet (and hands!) with our Twister guide
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Twister is a classic party game that's a blast to play with your friends. All you have to do is maintain your balance as you move your hands and feet to different spots on the game mat. Twister has simple rules, and we’ll have you ready to start playing in minutes. Just keep reading, and we’ll even cover some strategy tips to help you win no matter how many people are playing!

Twister Game Rules

The referee spins the spinner and calls out the color and body part it lands on, like “Left hand, blue.” The players must move that body part to an empty circle of that color. Any player that touches their knee or elbow to the mat loses, and the last person standing wins.

Section 1 of 5:

Twister Game Setup

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    Spread out the Twister mat on a flat surface. Choose a spacious area to lay out the mat, like on the floor, on an area rug, or outside in the yard. Place the mat so the red, yellow, blue, and green circles are face-up.
    • Weigh down the corners with shoes, books, or other heavy objects to keep the mat from moving around.
    • You can play Twister indoors or outdoors. If you play outside, just make sure it’s dry so the game mat doesn’t get slippery.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    Twister works best with 2–4 players, but you can use party rules to play with an even larger group. Have everyone take off their shoes so your game mat stays clean and to prevent someone from stepping on your toes.
    • It’s okay to wear socks, but you may get a little better traction and balance if you go barefoot.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    Choose someone who isn’t playing as the referee and give them the spinner. The referee spins the spinner, calls out the moves, and supervises the game.
    • You may need to assemble the spinner if it’s your first time playing the game.
    • Switch off who the referee is each round so everyone gets a chance to play.
    • No referee? You can still play without a referee if you only have two players. Instead of spinning, one player calls out the color and the other player calls out the body part. Alternate who calls what after each turn.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    Have all the players except for the referee stand on the mat. Where you start the game on the mat depends on how many people are playing. [1]
    • For 2 players: Stand at opposite ends of the mat (near the word "Twister") and face each other. Each player places one foot on the yellow circle and the other foot on the blue circle closest to their end of the mat.
    • For 3 players: Two players face each other on opposite ends of the mat, near the word "Twister." Those players place one foot on the yellow circle and the other foot on the blue circle closest to their end of the mat. The third player faces the center from the side with the red circles, and places one foot in each of the two middle red circles. [2]
    • For 4 players: Split into teams of 2 players. Teams stand on opposite ends of the mat by the "Twister" logos. Each player stands in two circles closest to their end of the mat so the 4 circles on each end are covered.
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Section 2 of 5:

Twister Gameplay

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    Once all the players are ready, the referee sets the spinner on a flat surface and flicks it. When the spinner stops moving, the referee calls out the color and body part that it points to.
    • Example: If the spinner lands on the blue spot in the “Left hand” section, the referee will say “Left hand, blue!”
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    All the players move at the same time to touch a circle of the called-out color. Players can only touch circles that are empty, so if 2 people go for the same one, the referee decides who got there first.
    • If all 6 circles of color are already taken, then the referee spins again.
    • If you are already touching a color with the limb that has been called, you must move your limb to another circle of the same color.
    • If you’re playing a 4-player game, teammates can share the same circle with one hand or foot each.
    • After everyone is in position, the referee spins the spinner again to start a new turn.
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Section 3 of 5:

Winning the Game

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    As soon as a player falls or accidentally touches their knee or elbow down, they are removed from the game. Those players stand up and step off the mat for the rest of the round.
    • Players cannot stop touching the circles until the spinner tells them to move to a different spot. They may briefly lift a hand or foot off a spot to move another one of their limbs during a turn, but they must let the referee know first. If they stop touching the circles, then they’re out for the round.
    • As soon as there’s only one player left on the mat, they win!
Section 4 of 5:

Twister Party Rules

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  1. 1
    Compete in a round robin tournament to play against all your friends. When you have a large group, break off into teams of two. Have each team play a round of Twister against every other team so no one misses out on the fun. [3]
  2. 2
    Eliminate losing teams to crown a champion Twister team. Break into teams of 2 and randomly choose 2 teams to play the first game. Whichever team wins the game gets to play the next team, but the team that loses gets eliminated. [4]
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Section 5 of 5:

Winning Twister Strategies

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  1. When you touch a circle, try not to overreach into an uncomfortable pose. Instead, try to keep your legs planted firmly, and avoid spreading them too widely.
    • Be careful not to lean too far in any direction because it can make your position more difficult to hold.
    • Try to assess your balance before you definitively place your hand onto a spot. Make sure you feel sturdy and relaxed.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    When you place your hand or foot on a color, try to choose the circle that’s closest to your opponent. As you push the other player into a corner, they could lose their balance when they reach around you to touch a circle.
    • Be careful not to physically push another player off the mat while you’re playing. Just stand still so you get in their way.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    Get into difficult poses more easily by Stretching out first. If you aren't used to contorting your body into unnatural positions, do a few quick stretches to loosen up. Some simple stretches to try out are:
    • Bend forward, keeping your legs straight, and reach for your toes. Hold the position for at least 10 seconds.
    • Twist your torso slowly to the right, as far as you can go, then slowly to the left. Hold each pose for at least 10 seconds.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Play Twister
    Take off any heavy jackets or stiff layers before you play. If you can, put on a pair of loose shorts, yoga pants, or sweatpants because they give you the most freedom to move around.
    • If you’re wearing tight clothes, you may want to avoid playing Twister so you don’t accidentally rip anything.
    • If you have long hair, consider putting your hair up with a hair-tie or a headband before you play.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How does nude Twister work?
    Community Answer
    Nude Twister works exactly like regular Twister except for the fact that everyone playing is naked.
  • Question
    Can I still play Twister in other countries?
    Community Answer
    Absolutely, you can. Either take the game with you or purchase it in your new country.
  • Question
    How do players start the twister game?
    Надежда Катеринкина
    Community Answer
    You spin the wheel, and the first player is follows the instructions in the wheel.
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      Tips

      • When you’re done playing the game, just wipe the mat with a damp cloth if it gets dirty, and then dry it off with a towel.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Twister is a fun party game for 3-4 players where players have to place their hands and feet on different colored spaces without falling over. To play, first spread out the Twister mat on the floor. Then, choose one person to be the referee for that round and give them the Twister spinner. The rest of the players take off their shoes and stand at different edges of the mat. The referee spins the needle on the spinner and calls out whatever it lands on, and each player must move to a vacant circle in a corresponding color. For example, if the needle lands on a red circle in the left foot section of the spinner, all of the players must place their left foot on a red circle. If the needle lands on a yellow circle in the right hand section, each player must place their right hand on a yellow circle. The referee continues spinning the needle and calling out spaces for the players to move to. If a player touches the mat with their elbow or knee or falls over, they’re out. Whoever is the last one left on the mat wins the game! If you want to learn strategies to win at Twister, keep reading the article!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Oct 13, 2017

        "This article helps me understand how to play this game easily with the video clip. Superb!"
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