
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,036
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Hit or Miss
- 3–8 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2006

2003
Rules assistance for Buzzword
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 4 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Buzzword is a board game released in 2003 for 4–12 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Brian S. Spence, Garrett J. Donner, Michael S. Steer, and Peggy Brown and its main mechanics are Paper-and-Pencil and Team-Based Game.
2004 Games Magazine Games 100 Honoree First, divide everyone into two teams. On your team's turn, one member attempts to give clues to 10 words. The cards state its "buzzword". Other team members must solve each clue by saying the phrases that includes the buzzword. Meanwhile, the other team keeps track of the time and the missed clues. Score one point for each correctly solved clue. The clue giver reads the missed clues to the other team, giving them a chance to score. First team to reach 50 points wins. Watch out! You only get 45 seconds to complete your answers to questions ranging from easy to quite difficult.
Buzzword supports 4–12 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 Buzzword is 45 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 Buzzword for ages 10 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.
Buzzword 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.
Buzzword belongs to these categories: Word Game and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Paper-and-Pencil and Team-Based Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Buzzword are: Brian S. Spence, Garrett J. Donner, Michael S. Steer, and Peggy Brown. 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 Buzzword 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.