As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full details on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Guess Who vs Hedbanz: both are yes-or-no question games, and both are classic first games for kids. In Guess Who you try to work out which face your opponent picked by asking questions and flipping down the faces that do not fit. In Hedbanz the mystery is on your own forehead: you wear a card you cannot see and ask everyone else questions to figure out what you are. One is a quiet two-player deduction game, the other a noisy group game. Here is how they compare.
Best for two players: Guess Who? Original
Two flip-up boards, double-sided character sheets and a game that takes five minutes to learn. It costs about $17.
Price band: $10–$20 (about $17) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Guess Who vs Hedbanz at a glance
| Guess Who? | Hedbanz | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 2 | 2 to 6 |
| What you guess | Your opponent’s mystery person | The card on your own headband |
| Who answers your questions | Your opponent | Everyone else at the table |
| Timer | No | Yes, a sand timer for each turn |
| Skill it builds | Logic and narrowing down | Describing, asking and quick thinking |
| Noise level | Quiet | Loud and giggly |
| Typical game | 5 to 10 minutes | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Price | about $17 | about $20 |
How a round of Guess Who works
Each player has a board with a row of character faces that flip up and down, and secretly chooses one mystery person. Players take turns asking one yes-or-no question about the other player’s person, such as “Does your person wear glasses?” Based on the answer, you flip down every face that no longer fits. On any turn you can make a guess instead of asking. Guess right and you win the round; guess wrong and you lose it.
The trick is asking questions that cut the board roughly in half. “Is your person wearing a hat?” is better than “Is it Maria?” early on. That makes Guess Who a sneaky way to practice logic. Our guide to how to play Guess Who has a list of strong opening questions.
How Hedbanz plays
Each player wears a headband and slides a picture card into it without looking. Everyone else can see your card, but you cannot. On your turn you flip the timer and ask the group yes-or-no questions, such as “Am I an animal?” or “Can you eat me?” Guess correctly before the sand runs out and you earn a point, then draw a new card. If time runs out, your turn ends and you keep the same card for next time. The box has the exact scoring for that set, and the first player to the target score wins.
Because the answers come from the whole group, everyone is involved on every turn, and the guesses get very silly. For an adults-only version, see our guide to Hedbanz for adults.
The real difference: deduction vs description
- Guess Who is a logic puzzle. Every answer removes options, and good players win by asking smart questions.
- Hedbanz is a vocabulary game. Kids learn to sort things into categories, like animal, food or object, and narrow things down with each answer.
- Guess Who is head-to-head. It is perfect for a parent and child or two siblings.
- Hedbanz needs a group. It plays with two, but it is far more fun with four to six.
Guess Who or Hedbanz for a five-year-old?
Both are rated for early grade school, so either works for a five- or six-year-old with a little help. Guess Who is easier for pre-readers because the clues are all in the pictures, and younger kids only need to compare features like hair color and glasses. Hedbanz asks kids to think up their own questions under time pressure. For kids who are just starting, play Hedbanz without the timer for the first few rounds.
Which is better for family game night?
Hedbanz. Guess Who is great for two, but the rest of the family watches. Hedbanz Family keeps everyone talking and suits a mix of ages, since grown-ups have just as much trouble guessing they are a toaster. If your family likes guessing games with a little more variety, Dinosaur Tea Party is a charming question-and-guess game for 3 to 5 players, for about $20.
Our verdict: Guess Who or Hedbanz
Buy Guess Who if you mostly play with one child or want a quiet game that builds logic skills. Buy Hedbanz if you have three or more players and want laughter more than strategy. They cost little enough that many families own both, one for weeknights and one for gatherings.
Guess Who vs Hedbanz FAQ
Is Hedbanz like Guess Who?
Both use yes-or-no questions, but in Guess Who you guess your opponent’s person, while in Hedbanz you guess the card on your own headband with help from the whole group.
How many people can play Guess Who?
Two. Some families play in teams of two, but the game is built for two boards.
How many people can play Hedbanz?
Hedbanz is for 2 to 6 players, and it is best with four or more.
What is a good first question in Guess Who?
Ask about a feature that splits the board roughly in half, such as hair color or whether the person wears a hat.
