Forbidden Word
Set up the game
You need at least 2 players
How to play
- 1Type in the names, pick how many cards you want and how long each turn lasts.
- 2Whoever's up sees the word and its five banned words, and describes it without saying any of them.
- 3A hit scores one, a taboo costs one, and passing costs five seconds of the turn.
Example cards
- Coca-ColaFizzy · Bubbles · Can · Red · Thirst
- MichelinStars · Tyre · Mascot · Restaurant · Guide
- StreamingLive · Watch · Internet · Platform · Series
- UpdateVersion · Install · Wait · Features · Restart
- Peppa PigPig · Cartoon · Puddle · Children · Family
- Michael JacksonGlove · Dance · Moonwalk · Pop · King
- Dressing roomBehind · Stage · Mirror · Artist · Change
- Changing roomAfter · Shower · Team · Lockers · Towel
- FencingSword · Mask · Foil · Touch · Lunge
- Mr. BeanComedy · Car · Pulling faces · Teddy · British
- AmsterdamCanals · Bikes · Holland · Tulips · Red light
- SydneyAustralia · Opera House · Bridge · Beach · Kangaroos
- HamPig · Carve · Slice · Spain · Leg
- MosquitoBite · Buzz · Summer · Night · Scratch
- TurtleShell · Slow · Ancient · Beach · Hide
- PilotPlane · Cockpit · Uniform · Fly · Take off
- PirateShip · Eyepatch · Treasure · Flag · Parrot
- NeighboursNoise · Complain · Wall · Banging · Building
- NeonLights · Colours · Sign · Night · Glow
- StreetlightGlow · Post · Orange · Switch on · Lean
- PocketTrousers · Put in · Find · Keys · Surprise
- DoorbellRing · Press · Run · Neighbour · Prank
- JailBars · Cell · Lock up · Yard · Get out
- Bow tieNeck · Smart · Dinner · Knot · Waiter
A sample: the deck holds 1000, shuffled every game.
Frequently asked questions
- How many players do you need for Forbidden Word?
- From 2 to 12. Fewer and it falls flat, more and it drags, though nobody is going to stop you trying.
- Do I have to download anything?
- No. Forbidden Word opens in your phone's browser and runs right there: nothing to install, nothing to sign up for.
- Is Forbidden Word free?
- Completely. Every card, every level and all six languages, with no account and no paid tier.
- Does someone have to police the banned words?
- No. The taboo button is pressed by the player themselves: it runs on good faith, so nobody misses the game playing referee.
- How long does a game last?
- Fifty cards with one-minute turns is about twenty minutes. It doesn't end until every card is guessed: passed ones come back around.