Folded Story
Write one line, fold it, pass it on. Unfold the nonsense.
Folded Story is the old parlour game known as Consequences, played on phones. Every player starts a story, but nobody writes more than one line of it. Each round asks the whole table the same question: who the story is about, who they met, where they met, what they said to each other and what happened next. You answer on the sheet in front of you, the line is folded away and the sheet moves one seat on, so the next writer never sees what came before. When every story is complete, the host unfolds them one line at a time and whoever started each story reads it out loud.
Objective
Every story is written one line at a time by different players, each answering a question without seeing the lines before. Then the stories are unfolded and read out loud.
How to play
- Each round asks everyone the same question: who the story is about, who they met, where, what they said, what happened next (and, in the longer game, how it ended).
- Answer it on the sheet in front of you, then it is folded and passed one seat on. You never see the lines already written on it.
- When every story is complete, the host unfolds them one line at a time. Whoever started a story reads it out.
- Everyone votes for the funniest story. Your own story counts too.
Scoring
Each vote for a story gives +1 to everyone who wrote a line in it, except the voter.
Example round
- Round one asks 'Who is this story about?' and you write 'A grumpy wizard'.
- Your sheet moves on. The next player, who cannot see the wizard, answers 'Who did they meet?' with 'The mayor's pet goose'.
- Further round the table, someone answers 'Where did they meet?' with 'Inside a bouncy castle', and someone else decides what they said to each other.
- At the end the host unfolds the story line by line: a grumpy wizard met the mayor's pet goose inside a bouncy castle. Everyone votes for the funniest story.
Strategy tips
- Answer the question you are given, not the story you imagine. The joke is that the lines were never meant to fit together.
- Specific beats clever: 'a dentist with a secret' is funnier when unfolded than a long punchline.
- Quotes are the best line to write. Short, odd and in character, they make the whole table laugh when they are read out.
Best with
Best with 4 to 8 players, and it works from 2 up to 12. Nobody needs to know anyone else, which makes it a good first game for a new group, a family evening or a team social.
Variations
- Choose 6 questions instead of 5 to add 'How did it all end?' to every story.
- Turn on a timer for quick, instinctive answers, or leave it off and let everyone take their time.
FAQ
Can I see the lines written before mine?
No. Earlier lines are never shown to the next writer, not even on a reload. You only see the question.
How are points scored?
Each vote for a story gives one point to everyone who wrote a line in it, except the person voting. You can vote for a story you wrote in.
What if someone doesn't answer in time?
Their line is left blank and the story carries on without it.