Undercover Words
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Resets every Monday (UTC).
About Undercover Words
Undercover Words is a social deduction party game played face to face on a single phone, tablet or computer. Everyone is secretly shown a word, but one player gets a different word that is close in meaning, such as two similar foods or animals. Nobody knows who holds the odd one, including that player. You take turns describing your word without saying it, then vote someone out.
It works best with three to ten people in the same room and takes roughly five to fifteen minutes. There is no computer opponent, because the fun is in listening to your friends' clues and spotting who sounds slightly off. A good game has clues that are vague enough to hide your word but specific enough to prove you belong.
How to play Undercover Words
- Choose how many people are playing, from three to ten, and tap Start.
- Pass the device around. Each player taps Show my word, memorises it, then taps Hide and pass.
- Take turns giving one short spoken clue about your word. The screen tells you who should start.
- Vote together as a group, then tap the player you have decided to eliminate.
- Keep playing rounds until the undercover player is caught, or only two players remain.
Controls
| Keyboard and mouse | Everything is done with the mouse. Click the plus and minus buttons to choose the number of players, then click through the reveal, discussion and voting screens as the device is passed around. |
|---|---|
| Phone and tablet | Tap the plus and minus buttons to set the player count, then tap the large buttons to show each secret word, hide it, and pick the player to eliminate. |
Scoring
If the group catches the undercover player, the civilians win and the score is 300 plus 40 for each player still in the game, minus 20 for every round it took. If the undercover player lasts until only two people are left, they win and the score is a flat 100. Quick, accurate votes score best.
Tips and strategy
- Give clues that fit your word but not too narrowly. A clue that is too specific can accidentally help the undercover player work out what the others are holding.
- Listen for hesitation or clues that are a little off. Your word and the odd word are similar, so the undercover player's clue often fits both, which makes it vague.
- If you suspect you hold the odd word, copy the general feel of earlier clues. Being vague and agreeable keeps you alive longer than a bold guess.
- Do not vote right away. Ask someone to explain a clue, since a player with the other word will often struggle to be convincing under questioning.
- Keep the device out of sight during the reveal. Shield the screen with your hand and hide it quickly before passing it to the next player.
Undercover Words FAQ
▸Does the game play against a computer?
No. It is strictly pass-and-play for people in the same place. The device only deals out the words, keeps track of who is still in, and counts the result. All the clues and discussion happen out loud.
▸How many people can play?
You can set anything from three to ten players. The game remembers your last choice when you start again. More players make the odd word harder to spot but give you more clues to compare.
▸Does the undercover player know their role?
No. They see a word just like everyone else and do not know it is the different one. They have to realise it from the clues, then blend in.
