Forbidden Word Game

How to play the forbidden word game

You’re the only one who can’t see your own word. Say it and you’re out.

1. 1. The words are dealt

   Everyone gets one forbidden word. Yours is hidden from you — everyone else can see it, and you can see all of theirs.

2. 2. Memorize

   Learn the other players’ words before the talk starts. On one phone you pass the screen around; online, everyone else’s words sit right on your screen.

3. 3. Just chat

   Bring up topics, ask questions, and steer the others into saying their own words. Talk topics appear automatically, so the conversation never stalls.

4. 4. Win or lose

   Say your own forbidden word and you’re out on the spot. Everyone still in when time runs out wins — and if only one player is left, they win outright. Deal 3 words per player, or turn on shared forbidden words, and rounds finish much faster.

Full rules & how to play

Frequently asked questions

What is the forbidden word game?

It’s a talking game where every player carries one word they must not say — and you’re the only one who doesn’t know your own. Everyone else’s words are visible to you, so you steer the conversation to make them slip. Say your own word and you’re out.

How do you play it, in short?

Four steps: 1) everyone gets a banned word, hidden from its owner; 2) memorize everyone else’s words; 3) chat like normal; 4) whoever says their own word is out. Everyone still in when time runs out wins.

How many players do you need?

It works from 2 players. The sweet spot is 4–8, and up to 12 can play. With 2 players, each of you knows only the other’s word — it’s a surprisingly tense duel.

Do we need paper, pens or sticky notes?

No. This site deals the words for you. In one-phone mode you pass the phone around to check words, and in online mode everyone else’s words appear on your own screen. No writing words on notes and sticking them to foreheads.

Is it really free? Do I have to install anything?

It’s free. No app install and no account — open it in your browser and play.

Can’t you just stay quiet and never lose?

Technically yes, and that’s the game’s one weakness — it also kills the fun for everyone. This site keeps serving talk topics so there’s always a reason to speak. If someone still refuses to talk, the usual house rule is a silence vote: the table votes out anyone who clams up.

How do we finish a round faster?

In the settings, set the number of forbidden words to 3 per player. With three words each, saying any one of them puts you out, so rounds end much sooner. Turning on shared forbidden words helps too — every eliminated player’s word becomes a forbidden word for everyone, so the later it gets, the more dangerous it is.

What are shared forbidden words?

It’s a setting where an eliminated player’s word becomes a forbidden word for everyone from then on. Switch it on and every elimination adds more words the whole table has to avoid, up to 9. By the end, ordinary conversation is a minefield.

Can kids play?

Yes. The “Kids & classroom” category uses only words elementary schoolers know. Great for family game night or the classroom.

Can we make up our own words?

Absolutely. Browse the word lists, pick words yourself, or invent inside jokes only your group would know. The lists on this site are the exact words the game deals automatically.