You’ve seen the show. Steve Harvey is doubled over laughing because someone said something incredibly inappropriate about a "sausage," the big yellow numbers flip over with that iconic ding, and everyone at home thinks, "I could totally do that." But then you try to host a game night or a corporate icebreaker and reality hits. You realize that a family feud make your own project isn't just about picking funny questions; it’s about the data.
The soul of the game isn't the buzzer. It’s the survey.
If you don't have 100 people to poll, your game is basically just "Guess what the host is thinking," which is—honestly—kind of a buzzkill. Most people fail at this because they overthink the questions and underthink the math. I’ve seen 40-minute games descend into arguments because the "top answer" was something nobody in the room had ever heard of. Let's fix that.
Why Your DIY Family Feud Usually Flops
Most DIY versions feel "off" because they lack the specific bell-curve distribution of answers that makes the TV show work. On the real show, the producers at Fremantle use professional polling companies to get those 100-person samples. When you're trying a family feud make your own setup, you’re likely pulling "top 10" lists from a random blog.
That’s a mistake. Those lists are often outdated or regional. If you’re playing with a group of Gen Z coworkers and your survey data is from a 1998 Midwest church group, the game is going to tank.
The magic is in the "Survey Says" moment. To get that right, you need answers that are obvious enough to be guessed but varied enough to cause a "strike." If every answer is too easy, the first team just clears the board and the other team sits there like statues. If they're too hard, everyone just stares at the screen until you awkwardly give away the points. It's a delicate balance.
The Logistics of a Family Feud Make Your Own Game
You have two paths here: the analog way or the tech way.
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The analog way involves poster board and those little strips of paper you tape over the answers. It’s charming, sure, but it’s a logistical nightmare if you want to play more than one round. You spend more time fumbling with tape than actually playing.
The tech way is usually the winner. You’ve got options like Canva, which has surprisingly decent templates now, or dedicated sites like BlueTwelve's QuizGecko or even specialized PowerPoint macros. But even with the best software, if your content is trash, the tech won't save you.
Sourcing the Survey Data (The Honest Way)
Don't just Google "Family Feud questions." Instead, try these three methods to get authentic-feeling data:
- The Google Forms Hack: If you have a week of lead time, send a 5-question Google Form to your entire contact list or your company's "random" Slack channel. Tell them to give the first answer that comes to mind. This gives you real data from real people your players actually know. It makes the "Survey Says" reveal ten times more hilarious.
- Reddit’s r/SampleSize: This is a goldmine. People there live to take surveys. Post your five questions and you’ll have 100 responses by morning.
- The "Inverse" Method: If you must use pre-made lists, look for "Family Feud" datasets on sites like Arkadium or even fan-compiled databases from the 70s and 80s for a "throwback" night. Just make sure to vet them for modern relevance. Nobody under 30 knows what a "Dime Store" is.
Writing Questions That Don't Suck
A good question is a prompt that has one very obvious answer (the 40+ point answer) and then a "long tail" of weird stuff.
Take this example: "Name something you might find in a magician's hat."
- Rabbit (Duh. This is your anchor.)
- Flowers (Solid.)
- A wand (Makes sense.)
- A dove (Classic.)
- A deck of cards (The 2-point answer that ruins someone's streak.)
If you write a question like "Name a country in Europe," it's a terrible Feud question. Why? Because there are too many correct answers. There’s no "funny" or "human" element to it. It's just a geography quiz. You want questions that touch on daily frustrations, body parts, or social awkwardness.
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The Technical Setup: Screen Mirroring and Sound
Sound effects are non-negotiable.
The "Strike" sound (the 'X') is the most important part of the sensory experience. You can find the classic sound bites on YouTube or SoundCloud. If you're using a family feud make your own PowerPoint, embed the audio files directly into the "X" animation.
For the "Ding," use a high-pitched, clean bell sound. If you're doing this in a living room, don't just rely on your laptop speakers. Plug into a soundbar. The bass of that "Strike" sound needs to be felt in the soul of the person who just guessed "Electricity" for "Something you find in a salad."
Scoring Nuance: Point Values Matter
Don't just make up numbers like 10, 20, 30.
Total points for a round should always equal 100 (or very close to it). This keeps the math simple and mirrors the show's tension. If the top answer is 52, the team knows they only need a few more "trash" answers to sweep. If the top answer is only 18, they know they're in for a grueling round.
Fast Money: The Final Boss
If you’re doing a full-scale family feud make your own event, you can't skip Fast Money. This is where most DIYers get lazy. You need two people from the winning team. One leaves the room (honestly, just make them wear noise-canceling headphones and stare at a wall).
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The trick here is the timer. Use a physical stopwatch or a giant digital countdown on the screen. 20 seconds for the first person, 25 for the second. If the second person hits a "duplicate" (the dreaded buzz), they need that extra 5 seconds to pivot.
Dealing With "Close Enough" Answers
This is where you, the host, have to be a bit of a jerk.
On the real show, they have a "judge" off-camera. In your living room, you are the judge, jury, and executioner. If the answer on your board is "Car" and they say "Automobile," give it to them. If the answer is "Dog" and they say "Golden Retriever," that’s a judgment call.
Usually, the rule is: if the category is specific, the answer must be specific. If the category is broad, be generous. Don't let a "well, actually" guy ruin the flow of the game. If the room thinks it’s a match, it’s a match.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Too many answers: Stick to 5 or 6 per slide. 8 is too many; it takes forever.
- Bad Font Choice: Use something thick and legible like Impact or Arial Black. Don't use script. People need to see those letters from the back of the room.
- Ignoring the Steal: The most exciting part of the game is when a team gets three strikes and the other team "steals" with one correct answer. Don't forget to give the second team a chance to huddle and discuss.
Actionable Steps to Build Your Game Today
To get your family feud make your own project off the ground, follow this specific workflow:
- Draft 10 questions that are subjective, not objective. Focus on "things you find in..." or "people who..."
- Gather your 100 points of data. Use a Slack poll or a Reddit thread to get actual numbers. If you're short on time, use an online "Family Feud Answer Generator," but verify the answers are actually recognizable.
- Download a template. Search for "Macro-enabled Family Feud PowerPoint" to get the automatic scoring and "X" animations.
- Test your tech. Connect your laptop to the TV or projector before people arrive. Check the aspect ratio; nothing kills the vibe like a stretched-out game board.
- Assign a Scorekeeper. Don't try to host and do the math at the same time. You’ll mess it up. Get a friend to sit at the laptop while you play the "Steve Harvey" role.
- Create a "Fast Money" sheet. Have five quick-fire questions ready on a clipboard so you can read them rapidly without fumbling with a screen.
The beauty of a custom game is the ability to "roast" your audience. If it's a family reunion, include a question like "Name something Grandpa always forgets." The personal touch is what makes a DIY game better than the TV version. Stop planning and start polling.