Fictionary

About this board game

Fictionary is a dictionary-based word game for 4–10 players, usually played in about 60 minutes. Players invent plausible definitions for obscure words, then try to identify the real definition and the players behind the bluffs.

Each player uses two sheets of paper: one for writing definitions and another for recording guesses. One player becomes the announcer, chooses an obscure word from the dictionary, spells it aloud, and announces what kind of word it is, such as a verb, name, or adjective.

Everyone writes a convincing definition for the word, while the announcer writes the true definition. The definitions are then collected, shuffled, and read aloud. Each player except the announcer records who they believe wrote each definition, including which one came from the dictionary.

Once the guesses are complete, the announcer reveals the true definition and identifies each author. Scoring rewards both accurate deduction and successful deception:

• Score 2 points for choosing the dictionary definition.
• Score 1 point for each other player correctly identified.
• Score 1 point for every player tricked into believing your definition was the true one.
• If nobody identifies the true definition, the announcer scores as many points as there are players.

After scoring, the dictionary passes to the player on the announcer’s left. The game continues until everyone has had the dictionary once or twice, giving each player the opportunity to choose a word, write the truth, and test their skill at misleading the group.

Fictionary is also described at Wikipedia, while Balderdash is a popular commercial version of this game.