Double Ditto is a Fun Quick Thinking Game for Tweens

Double Ditto board game is an incredibly fun, quick thinking game for tweens, teens, and families. If you’re looking for new board games for teenagers, give this one a try.

During the game, players write down words that fit categories, while hoping to match each other’s responses.

We’ve played (and loved) similar games, but the twist with this one is that you’re trying to come up with the same answers, which sounds easier than it is.

Close up of a bunch of cards from Double Ditto game laying over an answer sheet. Blue rectangle above image with text.

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Double Ditto is Perfect for Tweens and Families

Double Ditto has definitely become one of our family’s favorite games. The rounds are fairly quick-paced and there’s always a lot of laughter as we read our answers to each other.

As I mentioned, the general concept of the game is for players to match answers with each other.

The goal is to be the one with the highest score at the end.

Each game comes with a deck of category cards, a 15-second timer, and a pack of answer sheets. Players will each need a pen or pencil to play.

It may be a simple game, but it’s not as easy as it seems. We regularly second-guess ourselves. An answer that seems like common sense to one person may not even enter another player’s mind during the 15 seconds you have to think.

Double Ditto is a fun twist to category-guessing games.

It’s a game that tweens will want to play with their friends and families with older kids will enjoy playing together.

How to Play Double Ditto

To begin, the category cards are placed face down on the table and each player is given an answer sheet.

One player is chosen Ditto Master. This person is responsible for turning over a category card, reading it to the group, and running the timer. At the start of each turn, the Ditto Master will turn over the top category card, read it aloud, and then turn over the timer.

Then, players quickly write down two words they feel fit the category on their answer sheet. The goal is to match as many answers as possible, so you need to be strategic with your responses. Try to guess words you think other players will write down.

When time is up, players take turns reading their answers aloud, starting with the Ditto Master. As each player says their answers, if anyone has the same one, they call out, ditto, and they both cross out the matching answer on their sheet.

If players manage to match both words, they say double ditto and cross them both out.

After everyone shares their two words for the category, players figure out their points and write them on their score sheet.

One crossed off answer is worth one point and two matching answers are worth 3 points. Players can earn a maximum of 3 points per category.

Here’s an example of how the game is played and scored. Let’s say the category is dog breeds.

Player 1 writes down Chihuahua and Bulldog.
- They matched both of their breeds with players 2 and 3, so they earn 3 points. This is double ditto.
Player 2 writes down Bulldog and Labrador retriever.
- They matched one of their answers with two players but didn’t match their second one, so they get 1 point. This is ditto.
Player 3 writes down Bulldog and Chihuahua.
- They matched an answer with players 1 and 2, so they earned 3 points. This is double ditto.
Player 4 writes down Dalmatian and Yorkshire Terrier.
- Unfortunately, these dog breeds didn’t match anyone else, so they don’t get any points. They write down zero on their sheet.

There will always be a mix of 0, 1, and 3 point rounds when you play.

Then, it’s time for the next category. The person to the left of the original Ditto Master becomes the new one. Play begins as this player turns over and reads a new card.

Play continues until everyone has been Ditto Master. This counts as one round. With 4-5 players, you’ll end up playing 4 rounds.

At the end of the game, players add up their scores for each category and the highest score wins.

Close up of three sets of cards from Double Ditto board game.

Things to Keep In Mind When Playing Double Ditto

Answers that mean basically the same thing counts as matching. For example, open presents would match unwrap gifts.
On the other hand, specific answers don’t match general ones. So if you wrote down fruit, it wouldn’t match a player who wrote down bananas.
When questions arise on whether answers match, players can vote to determine the outcome.
Keep in mind that even if answers are wrong (they don’t match the category) they can still be worth points if they match another player. Let’s say during a round, the category is world cities and two people write down Italy. Of course, Italy isn’t a city, however, because the answer matches, the players earn points.

Game Variations You Can Make

Consider adding a 5 point bonus if two players match both of their answers with each other.
To make the game more challenging, before each turn, specify a letter that everyone’s answers need to start with. You can use a random letter generator program or a letter die if you have one.
Instead of writing down two answers for each category, have players write down only one word that they’ll need to match.

Collage of three images on bottom, blue square with text overlay on top. Images are of cards from Double Ditto board game.

Modifying the Board Game for School

I love playing word games in our homeschool and this one is easy to adapt to a number of lesson plans.

The easiest way to modify Double Ditto for school is by creating your own category cards for specific school subjects. This will give older kids a chance to review topics they need more help with.

Here are some broad category examples. You can narrow the focus as much as you’d like to fit the material you’re studying in your homeschool.

American History
- Famous women
- Presidents
- Battles of the Civil War
- Original 13 Colonies
- Signers of the Declaration of Independence
- Civil rights leaders

Geography
- State capitals
- Cities in Germany
- Bodies of water
- Mountains
- Something you would see in Italy
- Famous Washington DC landmarks

Science
- Parts of a cell
- Invertebrate animals
- Things used in chemistry class
- Newton’s Laws
- Famous scientists
- Planets

Language Arts
- Authors
- Famous book characters
- Types of writing
- Parts of speech
- Synonyms for emerge
- Books that have been made into a movie

If you want to make it even more challenging for your tweens, assign or randomly choose a letter that each answer must begin with. Or, give them a set number of syllables their answers must fit.

Hopefully, this gives you some ideas on how you can turn this fun, family game into an exciting, educational tool.

Additional Game Resources for Tweens

Play these classic board games with your tweens and discover why they’ve stood the test of time.
These teen board games are ones that they’ll want to play over and over again.
The 6 family board games here will liven up any family game night with tweens.
Older kids will love playing these fast-paced card games.

Must-Have Board Games for Older Kids

Double Ditto is a fantastic game, and one I think families with teens should have in their game closet.

Megan Zechman

I love homeschooling! Learning is a way of life for our family. Most days you will find us exploring our Central Florida community, having fun while learning. I am constantly looking for new and interactive ways to engage my older children.