Speed Roast
One player is the target. Everyone else writes a roast about them, anonymously. Then everyone votes for the funniest. The top roast wins points, and the target gets a participation prize for sitting through it.
What you're doing
Speed Roast is a writing-comedy game. Each round, the app picks one player as the "target." Every other player has a couple of minutes to type a roast about them on their own phone. When everyone's submitted, the app shuffles the roasts and labels them anonymously (Roast A, Roast B, Roast C…). Every player including the target votes for their favorite. The top-voted roast wins points for its author. The runner-ups get smaller scores. The target collects a small "thanks for taking the heat" bonus.
The skill ceiling is comedy writing under time pressure. The skill floor is "type something." It's accessible at any level.
How to play
1. Target selection
The app picks a random target for the round. In Multi Device, the target sees a "Brace yourself" screen with a live list of who has finished writing.
2. Roasts
Non-targets type a roast (up to 240 characters) on their own phone. In Single Device the phone gets passed; in Multi Device everyone writes simultaneously.
3. Voting
Roasts are shuffled and shown anonymously labeled A/B/C. Each player votes for their favorite (you can't vote for your own). When all votes are in, the reveal shows authors with their votes.
4. Scoring
Top vote-getter: +1 per vote plus a +2 bonus. Other roasts: +1 per vote. Target: +1 for participating. Then the target rotates and the next round starts.
Strategy tips
- Personal beats generic. "Your fashion sense" is weak. "Your fashion sense the time you wore the Hawaiian shirt to graduation" is strong.
- Make it short. Two sentences max. The funniest roasts read fast.
- Voters reward surprise. The roast everyone expects is the roast nobody votes for.
- Punch up, not down. Best roasts are about choices the target made, not things they can't control.
- Read the room. The whole group is voting, including the target. If they laugh, you score. If they wince, you don't.
When to pick this
Speed Roast is for groups with strong friendships and thick skin. Don't pick this with new acquaintances. Don't pick it at a work party. Definitely pick it with the friends you've been roasting since college — it's where the energy lives.
Three players is the floor; below that, the "anonymous" vote isn't anonymous. Sweet spot is 5-8.