The Three-Word Wonders

If being concise is your nemesis, you may want to read this post.

If you’re into improv theater, then you have probably heard of the Three-Word Scene, also known as the Three-Word Game or Three-Word Sentences.

If you haven’t – you will now! (Double ahem! 😏)

The Original Explained

The rules of this game are pretty self-explanatory: two or more players build a scene, using only three words at a time. The goal is to think on your feet in line with this verbal constraint and keep the conversation going.

There are multiple variations of the game, such as those that include “Yes, and…”, offer advice, use tag teams and tag-outs, or focus on specific topics.

As mentioned above, the origins of this game stem from improvisational theater, but thanks to its high adaptability, the game is often used as a training exercise in team building, communication workshops, and classroom settings.

The Benefits Explained

Though simple on the surface, the three-word constraint sparks deeper creativity and often leads to unexpected laughs.

It forces players to focus on the essentials and be concise.

At the same time, it also hones active listening, requiring players’ full attention to respond meaningfully.

Players also share the same goal – creating a meaningful story or conversation – which demands collaboration and teamwork.

Needless to say, to reach that goal, players must remain flexible, present, and rely heavily on their voice control (and non-verbal expression).

The Twist Explained

In PREXcoaching®, we use a variant of this game as a first-level exercise, where only one participant is under constraint, and the other(s) may speak freely. The participants are assigned certain roles and placed in context.

For example, lawyers might be put in a courtroom, with one participant playing the judge, who must state their verdicts in three-word sentences only.

Or a team of developers working on a new feature, where one team member must troubleshoot all (potential) issues using only three-word advice.

Or sometimes… just random people with random problems – and a funny twist.

Have you ever played the Three-Word Scene?

Get in touch & let us know.

If you like improv game – share this post!

Till next time – leave us with your three-word advice. 🎤👂