Rock Paper Scissors But You Can Use Anything
One of the most beautiful aspects of Rock Paper Scissors is its adaptability. The core mechanics can be applied to any three options that maintain the game's circular dominance relationship, opening up endless creative possibilities.
The Core Principle
For any Rock Paper Scissors variation to work, it must maintain the fundamental non-transitive relationship:
A beats B, B beats C, and C beats A
Creating a complete cycle with no single dominant option
Why This Works
This mathematical structure ensures:
- Perfect balance between all options
- No single strategy can dominate
- Psychological elements remain important
- Equal 33.3% chance for each option against random play
Creating Your Own Variations
Step 1: Choose Your Theme
Select a category that interests you:
- Food items (Pizza, Burger, Fries)
- Fantasy characters (Wizard, Elf, Dragon)
- Superhero powers (Flight, Strength, Invisibility)
- Historical figures (Pirate, Ninja, Cowboy)
Step 2: Establish Relationships
Decide how each option beats another:
- Pizza beats Burger (more popular)
- Burger beats Fries (more substantial)
- Fries beat Pizza (perfect side dish)
Popular Existing Variations
Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock
Made famous by The Big Bang Theory with 5 options
Fire Water Leaf
Pokémon-inspired elemental version
King Queen Slave
Historical hierarchy variation
Example Variations
Breakfast Edition
Pancake
Covers Bacon
Bacon
Greases up Juice
Juice
Soaks Pancake
Fantasy Edition
Wizard
Outsmarts Warrior
Warrior
Defeats Dragon
Dragon
Eats Wizard
Pro Tip: Theming Your Variations
For kid-friendly versions, use characters from their favorite shows. For corporate team-building, create versions using your company's products or inside jokes. The more personal the theme, the more engaging the game becomes!
Advanced Customization
5-Option Variations
Expand beyond three options while maintaining balance:
- Each option should beat 2 others
- Be beaten by 2 others
- Example: Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock
Team Variations
Adapt for group play:
- Teams discuss and reveal simultaneously
- Majority choice determines team's move
- Ties result in sudden-death playoffs