Word Spy
Shortcuts: Ctrl+P pause · Ctrl+M sound · Enter play again
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Resets every Monday (UTC).
About Word Spy
Word Spy is a social deduction game played by passing one device around a group. Everyone except one secret spy is told the same word and its category, such as a food, an animal or a job. The spy knows only that they are the spy. Over a round of questions the group tries to find the odd one out, and the spy tries to bluff.
It suits families, friends and parties of three to ten people, and a round takes about five to fifteen minutes. No board or cards are needed, only one phone or computer. A great round has clever questions that prove you know the word without making it so obvious that the spy can simply copy you and guess it.
How to play Word Spy
- Set the number of players from 3 to 10 and press Start.
- Pass the device around; each player taps Show my role, reads it privately and taps Hide & pass.
- Take turns asking each other questions about the word during the three minute talking phase.
- Press Vote now, or wait for the timer, then each player secretly votes for the player they suspect.
- If the spy is caught, they get one chance to guess the word from a list of six choices.
Controls
| Keyboard and mouse | Everything is done by clicking the on-screen buttons: choose the number of players, reveal each role, start the vote and pick a player. There are no keyboard controls for the game itself. |
|---|---|
| Phone and tablet | Tap the buttons to set the player count, show your role, hide it and pass the phone, then tap a name when it is your turn to vote. The device is handed from person to person. |
Scoring
This is a party game, so there is one result per round rather than individual points. If the spy escapes the vote, or is caught and then guesses the word, the round records 100 points. If the group catches the spy and the spy guesses wrongly, the round records 300 points for the civilians.
Tips and strategy
- As a regular player, ask questions that only someone who knows the word could answer, but keep your own answers vague. The spy listens for details to piece the word together.
- As the spy, give short, safe answers that fit the category and follow what others say. Overly specific replies are the quickest way to be spotted.
- Watch for players who hesitate or give a very general answer. A spy often waits for someone else to answer first, so notice who speaks last.
- Vote honestly and in secret. A tie counts as the spy escaping, so the group should agree on a suspect in the discussion before the votes are cast.
- Do not let the next player see your screen when you reveal a role. Tap Hide & pass promptly, and the secret word stays hidden from the spy.
Word Spy FAQ
▸Is anyone playing against a computer?
No. All the players are real people sharing one device, passing it around. The game only picks the word and the spy, runs the timer and counts the votes.
▸How many players can join?
From three to ten. The default is four, and you change it with the minus and plus buttons before starting.
▸What categories are used?
Each round picks one of six categories at random: places, food, animals, jobs, sports and objects. The word comes from that category and every non-spy sees both.
▸What happens if the vote is tied?
A tie counts as the spy escaping. Only a single player with the most votes can be caught, and that player must actually be the spy.
