Balderdash
CLASSIC BLUFFING PARTY GAME (1984 by Laura Robinson + Paul Toyne) — players are given OBSCURE WORDS + must WRITE FAKE DEFINITIONS trying to FOOL other players into thinking their bluff is REAL. Signature: 5 CATEGORIES (WORDS, PEOPLE, INITIALS, DATES, MOVIES) added in 'BEYOND BALDERDASH' 1994. Each turn: DASHER reads real definition + all fake ones aloud; players GUESS which is real. Score points for GUESSING RIGHT + FOR YOUR BLUFF FOOLING OTHERS. Rewards creative writing + BS-detection. Sold 12+ million copies.
Quick facts
Category
Party Games
Type
Team sport
Players
2–6
Duration
~45 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇨🇦 Canada
Estimated origin
1984 by Laura Robinson + Paul Toyne (Toronto); Beyond Balderdash expansion 1994
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Score MOST POINTS via 3 mechanics: guessing real definition, fooling others with your fake, writing exact real answer.
Rules
Basic rules
DASHER (rotates each turn) draws card with obscure word + reads word aloud
Signature Dasher role.
ALL PLAYERS (including Dasher) secretly WRITE a FAKE DEFINITION making it sound real
Signature bluff-writing phase.
DASHER collects all fakes + adds real definition; SHUFFLES + READS ALL aloud
Signature blind read-aloud.
PLAYERS VOTE which definition is REAL
Signature voting.
SCORING: 2 pts for guessing REAL definition; 1 pt for each other player who VOTED for YOUR FAKE; 3 pts if you WRITE the exact REAL definition (bonus)
Signature multi-way scoring.
BEYOND BALDERDASH: 5 categories (Words, People, Initials, Dates, Movies) rotated by die roll
Signature Beyond 5 categories.
FIRST TO 25 POINTS (or set target) wins
Signature target score.
Scoring
Points from guessing real, fooling others, or writing exact real answer.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Guess real definition | 2 |
| Someone votes for your fake | 1 per vote received |
| Write exact real definition (bonus) | 3 |
Win condition · First to target score (usually 25) wins.
Equipment
Balderdash game box: 2500+ obscure words + real definitions on cards
Signature word cards
Pens + slips of paper for writing fake definitions
Signature writing supplies
Score track + tokens
Signature scoring
Category dice (Beyond Balderdash 5 categories)
Signature category die (Beyond)
Terminology
- Dasher
- Turn player who reads word + collects/reads definitions.
- Bluff
- Your fake definition submitted to fool others.
- Real
- The actual dictionary definition.
- Beyond
- Beyond Balderdash 1994 expansion with 5 categories.
- Bald-faced lie
- Slang for obvious bluff.
Where it is played
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Balderdash— Wikipedia
- BoardGameGeek — Balderdash— BoardGameGeek