
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,083
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Virulence: An Infectious Card Game
- 2–5 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2016

2019
Rules assistance for Nerd Words: Science!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Nerd Words: Science! is a board game released in 2019 for 2–12 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by John Coveyou and Eric Slauson and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, Paper-and-Pencil, and Team-Based Game.
Nerd Words: Science! is a word game in which teams pit their wits and science knowledge against one another to figure out secret science terms based on clues given to them. Each round, the lead scientist chooses a term from a hidden pool of science words, then reveals a series of one-word clues associated with the science term. The first three clues must begin with a different letter in the science term other than the first letter. If neither team figures out the science term, the lead scientist gives a final clue that begins with the first letter of the term. After each clue, teams have one minute to both submit a guess and place a bet based upon how confident they are in their guess. Each team that correctly guesses the science term scores points based on their bet, and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins!
Nerd Words: Science! supports 2–12 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 Nerd Words: Science! is 15–30 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 Nerd Words: Science! 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.
Nerd Words: Science! has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Nerd Words: Science! belongs to these categories: Word Game, Party Game, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck, 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 Nerd Words: Science! are: John Coveyou and Eric Slauson. 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 Nerd Words: Science! 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.