You remember charades, right? When you drew something out of a hat and had to act it out, using no sounds but only gestures? The entire game depended on your own acting skills—and if you sucked, like Sarah Jessica Parker did in The Family Stone, everybody hated your guts.

I remember charades being the most fun when they were themed. We always based ours on obscure things like historical people or band names, which can be hard to act out (exactly what do you do to get people to shout “Foghat!”?)

Using your party’s theme (if you have one) is a good way to integrate the game into the party. If it’s an Oscar party, do the movies or actors nominated; if it’s a baby shower, do baby-related stuff—or for fun, different contraceptive devices! For pirate parties, go with pirate gear, phrases, or stuff from the Pirates of the Caribbean series. These are both pretty limiting topics, though; below are some broader categories you can have fun with:

Inanimate Object Charades: Acting as a chair, rug or lampshade is definitely harder than being a puppy. The same thing goes with food charades.

Beatles Charades: Though this sounds limiting, when you think of everything about the Beatles—from songs to albums, places to people, history and beyond—you’ve pretty much got the whole world covered.

Candies Charades: This one’s bound to have some really good suggestive prompts.

Other Games Charades: This is pretty much just to be ironic. Have every guest come up with another game to use as a charade prompt and write it on a scrap of paper. Bonus points for adding a game you’d rather be playing—or something that’s hard to act out, like rummy.

Roast Charades: This one’s particularly good if it’s a birthday party. “Roast” your guest of honor by acting out different parts of his life, his characteristics, or anything else about him. He’ll either get a kick out of it or run home crying, but everybody else should have some fun.

You can always add a drinking twist if you like, with the entire team who doesn’t win the round having to take a drink on their turn. Prizes are always fun but not necessary; gag prizes like beer tab necklaces, baggies of dog food and condoms are even better.

Have some great charades ideas to share? Be sure to post them! For a refresher and history on charades, including basic rules, click here.