Wordhack

What is Wordhack?

Twenty-five words sit face up on the table. Only the two spymasters know which of them belong to their own team, which are harmless neutral words, and which single card is the deadly one. On your turn you must join several of your team’s words with ONE word and a number — “Signal 3” — and then say nothing at all while your team argues about what on earth you meant. Every card they get right keeps the turn alive; a neutral word ends it, the other team’s word hands them a free find, and the deadly word loses the game on the spot. Play the classic 5×5 or shrink to a fast 4×4, add a clock to either side of the turn, and switch on consensus mode when you want the whole team to agree before a card is touched. Four word packs in English and Russian — or write your own, out of the names, in-jokes and places only your table would get. The tension is never the words — it is the gap between what the spymaster meant and what the table heard.

How to play

1. Two teams, each with one spymaster and any number of operatives.
2. 25 word cards on the table; only the spymasters see who owns which.
3. The spymaster gives one word and a number — never anything else.
4. Operatives tap cards; a hit keeps the turn, anything else ends it.
5. Touch the deadly word and your team loses instantly.
6. First team to find all of its own words wins.

Frequently asked questions