Word & Deed
First in words, then in deeds.
Two teams play the same pile of words three times: first describe freely, then say just one word, then act it out in silence. The rules get tighter, but by round three everyone knows the words.
- Players
- 4–12
- Length
- 8–30 min
1 · Everyone
Two teams, one pile of words.
Seats split into Blue and Red. The words are drawn for you, and the same pile comes back in all three rounds.
2 · Performer
Tap Start when you're ready.
The clock only runs once the performer taps. 60 seconds by default, then the other team is up.
3 · Performer
Round 1: say anything but the word.
Only your team guesses. Got it scores a point; Skip sends the word to the back of the pile, once a turn.
4 · Performer
Round 2: one word only.
You may repeat it. No second word, no gestures.
5 · Performer
Round 3: act it out.
- No talking
- No sounds
- No letters in the air
By now everyone remembers the words from rounds 1 and 2.
6 · Everyone
Most words over three rounds wins.
Every Got it is a point for the performer's team. The best performer is named at the end.
Phones and TV
On your phone
- The performer's word, with Skip and Got it
- Your team, and whose turn is next
- The clock, on the other team's phones
On the TV (recommended)
- This round's rule in big type
- The performer, the clock and both scores
- Words left in the pile, and the best performer at the end
No TV? The performer's phone keeps time and the other team watches the clock.
Word & Deed at a glance
How many players does Word & Deed need?
4 to 12, split into two teams of at least 2: by seat, or at random. With an odd number, the smaller team starts rounds 1 and 3.
How long does a game take?
8 to 30 minutes. The host picks the pile: 3, 4 or 5 words per player (at least 15, 20 or 25, at most 48), and every round plays the whole pile.
Do we need a TV?
No, but it helps: a TV shows the rule, the clock and the scores for the whole room. Without one, the performer's phone keeps time.
Which languages are the words in?
English, Simplified or Traditional Chinese, 300 words each. Mixed table? Choose Universal and each performer sees the word in their own language.