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Explain It

A team word guessing game with forbidden words. Describe the answer without saying it while two teams race the clock.

  • 4+ players
  • About 25 min
  • Two teams
How to play

Set up your rounds, then invite players by QR code or link.

A card with colourful shapes and two speech bubbles

What’s the game?

The word is right there on your phone. Saying it would be easy — except you can’t use it, or the forbidden clues on the card. Find another way to describe it while your team calls out guesses before the clock runs out.

Two teams take short turns, with a new explainer as play moves on. The shared screen keeps the timer and scores visible while the secret card stays on the explainer’s phone.

If you enjoy Taboo, try this team word guessing game with forbidden words. Explain It uses its own word cards, with a private phone view for the explainer and scores on the shared screen.

Who will enjoy it?

A group ready for team competition

At least four guests join across two teams. Choose it when the room wants an energetic game with a shared goal.

Birthdays and friends’ games nights

Quick turns suit a group that enjoys shouting out guesses and cheering for each other.

Mixed teams at a social

Let players choose teams or use random assignment. Familiar words give people a way to contribute without prepared personal trivia.

How to play

  1. Join your team

    Choose the turn count, timer and team-assignment mode. Guests scan the QR code and join the red or blue team.

  2. Describe and guess aloud

    The current explainer reads the private card and gives spoken clues without its forbidden words. Their teammates call out answers.

  3. Mark answers and pass the turn

    The explainer marks correct answers or skips on their phone. When time runs out, the other team takes its turn. The host advances play.

Find another way to explain it

Imagine the answer is “Umbrella” and you cannot use “rain” or “wet”.

You try: “A thing you open above your head when the weather turns bad.” Your teammates call out guesses.

Mark the correct answer to earn a point and move to another card. If you get stuck, skip and keep the turn moving.

How points work

Each correctly guessed card adds 1 point to the active team. Skips do not add points. Team totals carry across turns, and the final screen shows which team finished ahead.

A tip for the host

Use an even turn count so both teams get the same number of turns. Remind explainers that they can skip a card, and agree how you’ll handle accidental forbidden words.

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