😉 The Secret Winker
Known in many places as Wink Murder, this version keeps it gentle: one secret winker sends players 'to sleep' with a wink, and a detective tries to catch them. It is full of suspense and dramatic acting.
What you need
Equipment: Small slips of paper and a hat or bowl. Prepare one slip per player: one says 'Winker', one says 'Detective', and the rest are blank. Fold and mix them in a hat. Sit in a circle where everyone can see everyone.
How to play The Secret Winker
- Each player draws a slip, reads it secretly and puts it in their pocket. Nobody says what they got.
- The detective reveals themselves and stands in the middle of the circle.
- The winker stays secret and keeps sitting with everyone else.
- When the host says 'Start', the winker secretly winks at players one by one.
- A player who gets winked at silently counts to 3, then 'falls asleep' dramatically and leaves the circle.
- The detective watches and tries to spot the winker. They have only 2 guesses.
- A correct guess means the detective wins. Two wrong guesses mean the winker wins.
- If the winker sends half the group to sleep, the winker wins straight away.
Scoring and wrapping up
Scoring: Detective catches the winker = 3 points to the detective. Winker sends half the group to sleep = 3 points to the winker. Each extra dramatic 'falling asleep' = 1 point.
To finish: Play 4 to 6 rounds so everyone gets a role. For a great finish, play one round with two winkers. Confusion guaranteed.
By age
- Ages 8-9: allow 3 guesses and let the detective stand outside the circle to see better.
- Ages 10+: play with two detectives who must agree on each guess.
Variations
- Big group: play with two winkers and two detectives in a large circle.
- Capy twist: instead of winking, the winker sticks out their tongue for a split second. Much harder to hide the giggles.
Tips for the adult in charge
- Build the tension. The winker should be subtle and the detective should keep scanning everyone.
- Counting to 3 before falling asleep is important, so the detective cannot just look at who the 'sleeper' was facing.
Questions and answers
How do you play Wink Murder with kids?
Secretly choose a winker and a detective. The winker winks at players, who 'fall asleep' after a count of three, and the detective has a few guesses to catch them. Calling it sleeping keeps it friendly for younger kids.
What if a child cannot wink?
Let them blink both eyes slowly or raise their eyebrows instead. Agree on the signal before the game starts.