Learn how to play: Line Up, Level Up!

Download the rules & question bank for Line Up, Level Up! Be sure to print these when hosting this activity.

Line Up Level Up is a cooperative game that challenges teams to arrange themselves in numerical order — without knowing anyone else’s answer.

It sparks laughter, reveals surprising insights, and helps teams learn more about each other in a low-pressure, high-engagement format.

Watch the tutorial in the video below.

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Game Details

Players: 4–15
Duration: 10–15 minutes
Format: Cooperative
Location: In-person
Materials Needed:
- Small dry erase boards or sheets of paper (one per player)
- Markers or pens
- This document

Objective

Work together to form a straight line from lowest number to highest number — without revealing your answers until the end of the round.

Your goal is to keep as many players correctly ordered as possible.

The number of players remaining in line at the end of the reveal is your team’s score.

Setup

Place all players in a circle.
Give each player a writing surface and marker.
Select one player to read the first question.

How to Play

Step 1: Read the Question

The selected reader chooses a question and reads it aloud.

All answers must be a number.

Example questions:

How many countries have you visited?
How many years have you lived in this city?
How many concerts have you attended?
How many siblings do you have?
How many books did you read last year?

Step 2: Write Answers Secretly

Each player secretly writes down their answer.

Do not reveal your answer to anyone.

Keep your answer hidden until the end of the round.

Step 3: Form the Line

The reader steps into the center of the circle.

Moving clockwise around the circle, invite each player into the center one-by-one.

Each player must place themselves in what they believe is the correct position in a straight line based on their answer:

Stand in front of someone if you believe your answer is higher.
Stand behind someone if you believe your answer is lower.
Stand between two people if you believe your answer falls between theirs.

Example: The question is: “How many countries have you visited?”

It’s Andria’s turn. She has visited 10 countries. She knows David is an avid traveler and has likely visited more than she has, while Monica has mentioned she has never left California.

Without revealing her number, Andria steps into the line between David and Monica, placing herself where she believes 10 belongs.

Players may not discuss specific numbers.

General discussion is allowed, but answers must remain secret.

Continue until all players are in a straight line.

Step 4: Reveal the Answers

Now, each player reveals their answer, one by one, starting from the back of the line.

Each answer must be the same or higher than the previous answer.

If the order breaks:

The player with the higher answer steps out of the line.
Play continues until all answers are revealed.

Example: Reveals begin from the back of the line.

Monica reveals first. Her answer is 1.

Next, Andria reveals her answer: 10. The order is still correct.

Then David reveals his answer: 9.

Because 9 is lower than 10, the order breaks. Andria has the higher answer, so she steps out of the line. Play continues with the remaining players revealing their answers.

Step 5: Score the Round

The number of players remaining in line is your team’s score.

Ask a new question and try to beat your previous score.

Facilitator Tips

Encourage playful debate before revealing answers.
Pause after each reveal to let reactions happen.
Remind players that mistakes are part of the fun.
Keep energy light and collaborative.
Avoid overly sensitive or personal questions.

Why It Works

Line Up Level Up creates:

Shared laughter
Unexpected discoveries
Natural conversation
Safe vulnerability
Stronger team awareness

The best part isn’t lining up correctly — it’s discovering what you didn’t know about your team.

LINE UP LEVEL UP

Each round, take turns selecting a question from the list below — or feel free to make up your own. Mixing it up keeps the game fresh and the surprises coming.