
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,375
- BGG rating
- 6.7
30 Seconds
- 3–24 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2002

Rules assistance for Name 5
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Name 5 is a board game released in 2009 for 2–20 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Brian Turtle and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Team-Based Game.
Can you name the five Great Lakes in 30 seconds? Sure, but can you name five things you shouldn't say to your boss? That's the idea behind this quick-thinking team trivia game. When it's your team's turn, roll the die and move your pawn that many spaces. You'll then draw a card and you and your teammates will try to name 5 things that fit a category within 30 seconds. If you can, you get another turn. If not, it'll be your opponents' turn. Most of the spaces on the board are solid colors, which determine what category is in play. For example, if you land on a red space, you play the red category. However, there are four kinds of special spaces: All Play (both teams get a different category, and the first team to name 5 things in their category rolls the die and takes the next turn), Flip Flop (teams alternate giving answers until someone can't think of another), Wild (your team gets their choice of the five categories on the card) and Double Down (you have to pick two of the 5 categories and name five things in both those categories, all in 30 seconds). When you reach the big Name 5 space in the center of the board (which you have to do by exact count), you'll have the chance to win the game. You and your team will have 90 seconds to name 5 things in each of the 5 categories on the card. Contents: 336 game cards (3,360 questions), 1 60-second sand timer, 1 dry-erase marker, 1 dry-erase scorecard, and instructions
Name 5 supports 2–20 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 Name 5 is 30–60 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 Name 5 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.
Name 5 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.
Name 5 belongs to these categories: Trivia. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move 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 Name 5 are: Brian Turtle. 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 Name 5 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.