Life Experience

Draw an experience, mark your card, and hear the stories behind it.

Welcome, hosts!

Everything you need to run the game is on this page. Print the cards in step 2. At the game, open step 3 and draw the experiences one at a time.

This game uses 40 experiences. Every card and the caller screen show the list code QSD4, so you can see at a glance that they match.

Before you go

  • Print one card per player, plus a few extras. Use letter paper at 100% size. Every card is different.
  • Playing more than one round? Print a fresh card per player for each round, since ink doesn't erase.
  • Bring pens or markers for everyone.
  • Bring a laptop, tablet, or phone to call from. If the room has a TV, plug in so everyone can see the calls. Reading them out loud works too.
  • Open this page before you go and leave it open. Once it's loaded, calling keeps working even if the Wi-Fi drops.
  • Want a no-tech backup? Print the slips and checklist in step 2. Cut the slips apart and draw them from a bowl.
  • Small prizes are fun. A candy bar for each BINGO works great.

Running the game

  1. Hand out a card and a pen or marker to everyone.
  2. Explain the one rule: when an experience is called, mark it if it's on your card, whether or not you've done it.
  3. In step 3, press Draw (or the space bar). Read it out loud as a question, like “Have you ever broken a bone?” Say it twice so everyone hears it.
  4. Ask, “Who has done this?” Let a person or two tell the story, then keep things moving so everyone gets a turn.
  5. Five in a row wins: across, down, or corner to corner. The free space counts. Check the winner's squares against “Called so far,” cheer, and keep going for more winners.
  6. Starting another round? Press New game and hand out fresh cards.

The first BINGO usually comes around call 12. With a story or two after each call, plan on about 2 minutes per call.

If something goes wrong

  • Pressed Draw twice? Undo last draw puts it back in the bowl.
  • Closed the page by accident? Open the link again on the same device. The game picks up where it left off.
  • Tried it out ahead of time? Press New game, then press it again to confirm, so every experience is back in the bowl.
  • No internet at all? Use the printed slips and checklist instead.
  • A card shows a different list code? It's from an older printing and won't match the caller. Swap it for a new one.
See all 40 experiences
  1. Been chased by a goose
  2. Been on TV or the radio
  3. Been to New York City
  4. Broken a bone
  5. Called a teacher "Mom"
  6. Cooked dinner for 10+ people
  7. Cried from spicy food
  8. Done a backflip
  9. Eaten a bug
  10. Fallen asleep in class
  11. Flown on a plane alone
  12. Found $20 on the ground
  13. Given a speech to 100+ people
  14. Gone white-water rafting
  15. Had an unusual pet
  16. Hiked to a mountain peak
  17. Hit a hole-in-one in mini golf
  18. Learned another language
  19. Lived in another country
  20. Locked your keys in the car
  21. Met someone famous
  22. Missed a flight
  23. Moved to a new state
  24. Played a musical instrument
  25. Pulled an all-nighter
  26. Ridden in a helicopter
  27. Run a half marathon
  28. Seen a bear in the wild
  29. Seen a total solar eclipse
  30. Sent a text to the wrong person
  31. Set off a smoke alarm cooking
  32. Slept under the stars
  33. Sold something door to door
  34. Solved a Rubik's Cube
  35. Started your own business
  36. Switched majors
  37. Taken a 10+ hour road trip
  38. Walked into a glass door
  39. Won a trophy or medal
  40. Worked in fast food