Objective

Be the team that correctly guesses the most items described by a teammate before the game ends. The game finishes when a team counter passes the finish line and all teams have had an equal number of turns.

Suitability

• For adults and children aged 8 and over
• 4 to 8 players recommended
• Each player requires a separate computer
• Each player also needs access to a video call app (e.g., Zoom or WhatsApp) on a phone or tablet

Set-up

• The player listed first in the schedule allocates players into 2–4 teams; each team must have at least two members
• The system randomly selects which team goes first

Playing Board

• The playing board appears on the left of the screen
• Each team is given a coloured circular counter; all counters start in the segment labelled Start
• Each board segment has one of seven topics; when it is your turn a team member describes items for that topic

Dashboard

The dashboard is shown to the right of the playing board and adapts to each player's role for the turn.

Roles

• Describer — a member of the team whose turn it is
• Guesser — the other members of the team whose turn it is
• Observer — all players from teams not currently playing

Common dashboard rows

• Row 1: Player name
• Row 2: Role description for this turn
• Row 3: Split cell with the describer’s name and a countdown clock
• Row 4: Topic for this turn

Describer dashboard

• Additional row 1: Two empty cells that are filled with items to describe when the countdown starts
• Additional row 2: Two cells each with a GOT button; click a button when the corresponding item is guessed correctly
• Additional row 3: A START WHEN READY button; click it when the describer is ready — this starts the countdown and reveals the items

Guesser dashboard

• When the describer starts the countdown, guessed items are appended to the guessers' dashboard and the turn score updates

Observer dashboard

• Additional row 1: Score for the turn
• Additional row 2: Two cells that are filled with items to be described when the countdown starts
• Additional row 3: Items successfully communicated during the turn
• When the countdown ends an observer receives a row with an AGREE button and the describer’s claimed score; after discussion, correct the score if needed then click AGREE to advance the counter and start the next turn

Order of Play

• The system randomly selects the starting team
• The first listed player of that team is the initial describer
• After each turn play passes to the next team
• The describer role cycles through team members on subsequent turns

Description Rules

Forbidden actions

• Do not state the initial letter or the number of letters in the word
• Do not say the word or any derivation (for example, do not say "postage" or "postman" for "post")
• Do not use "rhymes with" or "sounds like" clues

Permitted actions

• Gesticulate, act, or mime (do not mouth the word)
• Use any verbal clues that are not forbidden above

Winning the Game

• When a team's counter crosses the finish line, play continues until all teams have had an equal number of turns
• The winning team is the one that has successfully communicated the most items