Name a word and get rid of the phone before it blows
The screen shows a category and a letter, say Animals starting with B. The player holding the phone names one, then hands the phone to the next person, who has to find another.
The fuse length is secret and the ticking never changes pace, so nothing warns you. When it goes off the whole screen explodes and the phone shakes; whoever is holding it takes the explosion.
How to play
One phone, a circle of players and nerves.
Choose a short, medium or long fuse and, if you like, the players' names.
Light the fuse, name a word for the category and letter, pass the phone.
When it explodes, tap who was holding it and start the next round.
What the bomb does
A party round in seconds, with nothing to install.
- Ten ready categories and a random letter each round
- A hidden fuse of 10–80 seconds, depending on the length you pick
- Even ticking that gives nothing away, then a full-screen explosion and a vibration
- A tally of explosions per player
- Another category with one tap if the letter is too hard
Where it shines
Wherever people sit in a circle.
New Year's Eve and family dinners.
Road trips, passed between the seats.
Language lessons: vocabulary practice under pressure.
Warm-ups before a meeting or a class.
How the fuse works
Each round draws a fuse length at random inside the range you chose: short is 10–25 seconds, medium 20–45, long 40–80. Nobody, not even the host, can see it.
The ticking keeps one steady pace from the first second to the last, and the bomb looks the same throughout, so the room never knows how close the end is.
Good to know
Phones on silent will not tick; turn the sound on or watch the bomb throb.
The game trusts the group to judge whether a word counts.
Tips
- Ban repeats: a word already said in the round does not count.
- For young children, drop the letter and play the category alone.
Word bomb questions
Can anyone see how long the fuse is?
No. The length is drawn when you light it and never shown.
Do we need names?
No. Names are only for counting explosions; the game works without them.
Does the bomb cost anything?
Yes, with no account and no download.