Thingamajig

About this board game

Thingamajig is a party word game for 3–8 players that takes about 30 minutes to play. On each turn, an electronic Thingamajig reveals a secret word to one player, who must give clues so the others can figure it out.

The scoring rewards clues that find the right balance. You score one point for every player who correctly guesses your word, but if everyone guesses it, you score nothing. That means you need to make the answer sound like it could be one thing, while leaving room for a little uncertainty.

Giving clues in Thingamajig is not simply a matter of being precise. The game encourages players to bluff a little, stretch the truth, and suggest possibilities without making the word completely obvious. Each turn becomes a challenge to help some players reach the answer while avoiding a unanimous guess.

• An electronic Thingamajig reveals the secret word.
• The built-in Thingamabrain contains thousands of words.
• Scoring depends on how many players guess correctly.
• The portable design makes it suitable for travel.

With its fast-moving clue-and-guess format, the game is designed for groups looking for a humorous activity that everyone can play. The large word supply also supports repeated games without needing to create your own prompts.

Released in 2003, Thingamajig is built around social guessing, playful misdirection, and the tension between being helpful and being too clear. Press the button, discover the word, and see how many players you can lead to the answer—without letting everyone know.