Balderdash

Canada Games Company Lmt., (Unknown), Casper · Board game · 1984
6.7 Ludopedia 6.5 BGG 2–6 · best 6 60 min Weight 1.4/5
Buy · from US$ 23.65
6.7 rating Ludopedia
6.5 rating BGG
Our Verdict
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

If you enjoy party games that blend creativity, bluffing, and a good word challenge, Balderdash is for you! It guarantees laughs and hilarious moments.

Highlights
  • Unlimited creativity
  • Pure fun moments
  • Easy-to-learn rules
  • Great for groups
Keep in mind
  • Requires constant creativity
  • Can get repetitive
  • Group's humor dependent
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Get ready for some serious laughs with Balderdash, a game that turns a simple dictionary into an arena of creativity and bluffing! The idea is straightforward: a bizarre and unknown word is drawn, and each player invents a definition that sounds as plausible as possible. The trick is to make others believe your fib! The more friends who fall for your tall tale, the more points you score. But beware, if nobody bites your bait, you might end up with a ridiculous definition and no points. The original game, tracing its roots to parlor game traditions, was published in 1984 and has seen new versions over the years, including a re-implementation that mixed rules and cards from its sequel, Beyond Balderdash. It's the perfect kind of game to liven up any party, where linguistic cleverness meets a bold face. You don't need to be a word genius, but a good dose of imagination and a talent for storytelling is essential. Each round is a new chance to be the master of deception or the victim of the round. With easy-to-learn rules and quick games, Balderdash guarantees fun for groups that enjoy a good mental challenge with a dash of madness.

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

1 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–6 players
2 OK
3 OK
4 REC
5 BEST
6 BEST

Soundtrack

Ambience suggested by Melodice

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Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Game: Balderdash Mechanism: Give a Clue / Get a Clue Misc: Dice Tower Hall of Fame Traditional Games: Dictionary
Publisher Canada Games Company Lmt., (Unknown), Casper, Drumond Park Ltd., The Game Works, Inc., The Games Gang, LTD, Hasbro, Mattel, Inc., Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Schmidt Spiele, Tactic, Target Games, Ventura Games, Western Publishing Company, Weston Group
Designer Laura Robinson, Paul Toyne

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

12,634owners
470wishlist
35want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
How many people can play Balderdash?
Balderdash is super flexible and can be played by 2 to 6 people. The more people, the crazier it gets!
How long does a game take?
A game of Balderdash usually takes around 60 minutes. Perfect for a game night without too much fuss.
Do I need to know many difficult words to play?
Not at all! The fun part is that nobody knows the words. The focus is on creativity in inventing definitions, not prior knowledge.
Is the game difficult to learn?
Not at all! The rules are super simple. In just a few minutes, you'll be inventing definitions and trying to trick your friends.
Is it a good game for casual gamers?
Absolutely! Balderdash is an excellent gateway game for the board game world, especially for those who enjoy more social and relaxed games.
What components come with the game?
Typically, the game comes with word cards, definition cards, a scoring board, markers, and a die.

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