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About Taboo
Taboo is the classic team word game designed by Brian Hersch and first published by Parker Brothers in 1989, now part of Hasbro's range. You describe a word to your team against the clock, but each card also lists five forbidden words that are the obvious way to describe it. An opponent watches over your shoulder with a buzzer, ready to pounce. It is frantic, loud and easy to teach, which is why it has stayed a family and party staple for decades.
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Is Taboo Right for You?
Best for
Taboo is for families and friends who want a fast, competitive team game with almost no rules to learn. It is at its best with six to eight players in two teams, where every turn has a full team guessing and a rival watching for slips. It is also a dependable choice for groups that include people who do not usually play board games.
Maybe skip it if…
Quieter players can find the clue-giving role stressful, and groups where some people are much faster with words can feel lopsided. At ten players, turns come round slowly for each clue-giver.
How to Play Taboo
Setup
Split into two teams sitting alternately. Shuffle the cards and have the buzzer and timer ready.
On Your Turn
- The clue-giver has one minute to get their team to say the top word on as many cards as possible.
- They may not say the word, any of the five taboo words on the card, or part of any of them, and may not gesture or use sound-alikes.
- An opponent watches the card and buzzes any slip. Buzzed or skipped cards go to the other team.
- Correct guesses score for your team. Then the other team takes a turn with a new clue-giver.
How to Win
Play an agreed number of rounds. The team with the most points wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Before speaking, glance at the taboo list and pick an angle none of them covers. Opposites, famous examples and fill-in-the-blank phrases work well.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Starting to talk before reading the taboo words. Your first instinct is almost always one of them.
- Hanging on to a card that is not working. Skipping costs a point, but a stuck card can cost the whole minute.
- Letting the buzzer-holder drift off. Someone on the other team must watch every card closely, or the game falls apart.
- Using hand gestures out of habit. They are not allowed, and in a strict group they get buzzed.
Advanced Strategy
- Use 'opposite of' clues freely, but avoid 'sounds like' and 'rhymes with', which the rules ban.
- Fill-in-the-blank phrases are your strongest tool: a well-known saying with a gap often bypasses every taboo word.
- As a guesser, shout lots of short answers. Silence wastes more time than wrong guesses.
- When buzzing, be quick and fair. A consistent buzzer keeps arguments short and the game moving.
Variants & House Rules
House rule: limited passes
Allow only one or two skips per turn. It stops clue-givers burning through the deck looking for easy cards.
House rule: Celebrity-style finale
Set aside the cards guessed during the game and finish with a one-word-clue round using only those. It works well with groups who also enjoy Monikers.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Taboo is an old, simple game, and its BGG rating reflects that, but the core idea still works brilliantly. The taboo list turns an easy describing game into a real scramble, and the buzzer adds just enough drama. For a mixed group of six to eight, we still think it is one of the most reliable party games on the shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players do you need for Taboo?
At least four, so you can have two teams of two. Six to eight is the sweet spot; with ten it still works but each person gets fewer turns.
Can you say part of the guess word?
No. You cannot say the word itself, any of the five taboo words, or any part of them, such as 'fire' for 'firefighter'.
Do you need the buzzer?
Not really. Any noise works, and many groups just shout. The buzzer simply makes catching a slip more fun.