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Ramen Fury
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Banned Words
2017
Rules assistance for Banned Words
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4–99 players
- 30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 4 players
Rules assistant for Banned Words
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Banned Words is a board game released in 2017 for 4–99 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Prospero Hall, Forrest-Pruzan Creative, and Sean Fletcher.
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About the game
Players in Banned Words need to get their teammates to guess five secret words or phrases while avoiding traps set up by the opposing team — but you can only guess what those traps might be! In more detail, the game lasts three rounds. At the start of each round, each team (red and blue) receives a card showing five words or phrases. Team members then write down up to sixteen words they think someone on the other team might use while trying to get their teammates to guess these secret words. Once each team has written down their "banned" words, one person on each team is designated as the clue-giver, then they swap cards. The clue-giver on the blue team then starts giving clues to their teammates; if this clue-giver says any of the words that the red team wrote down prior to the start of the round, someone on the red team holds up the card holding the word and says it out loud. Once time runs out, the blue team scores 1 point for each secret word or phrase correctly guessed, and the red team scores 1 point for each time the blue clue-giver said a banned word. The red clue-giver then takes their turn. After three complete rounds, whichever team has scored the most points wins.
Categories
Publishers
- Wonder Forge
Questions and answers
Banned Words supports 4–99 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Banned Words is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Banned Words for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Banned Words has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Banned Words belongs to these categories: Word Game and Party Game. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Banned Words and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Banned Words are: Prospero Hall, Forrest-Pruzan Creative, and Sean Fletcher. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Banned Words as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.