Balderdash cover
1984BGG rank #2,344

Balderdash

by Laura Robinson, Paul Toyne · Canada Games Company Lmt.

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Players2–6
Time60m
ComplexityLight
Age12+

About the game

What is Balderdash?

A clever repackaging of the parlor game Dictionary, Balderdash contains several cards with real words nobody has heard of. After one of those words has been read aloud, players try to come up with definitions that at least sound plausible, because points are later awarded for every opposing player who guessed that your definition was the correct one. Versions of the game as a parlor game go back at least as far as 1970, although Balderdash itself was not published until 1984. Mattel, Inc. republished Balderdash in 2006 in a form that derives its gameplay from the sequel Beyond Balderdash. Re-implemented by: Beyond Balderdash / Absolute Balderdash Kokkelimonke Jubileum Re-implements: Beyond Balderdash* In a peculiar situation, this game was reimplemented by Beyond/Absolute Balderdash and then combined back into the original title (Balderdash) but with the rules and cards from Beyond/Absolute; while Tactic re-published their version of Beyond/Absolute combined with the original Balderdash and called it Kokkelimonke Jubileum.

How it plays

Mechanics

Paper-and-PencilVoting

On the shelf

Categories

BluffingParty GameWord Game

Questions players ask

Questions to bring to BoardGameBrain

  • How do setup and the first turn work in Balderdash?
  • When does scoring happen and what ends the game?
  • How should the table resolve an unusual timing or rules interaction?