How to play Just One, the cooperative clue giving game
Watch the Video
Read the Rules
The aim of the game
In just one, you’ll work as a team, giving just one clue each to help the guesser find the hidden word.
Careful though, write the same as someone else and it’ll be erased!
To set up
- Shuffle the deck and pick 13 cards. Put the rest away.
- Give everyone an easel and pen
- Pick one player to be the guesser.
To play the game
1. Pick a word
The guesser draws a card without looking, places it on their easel away from them, so everyone else can see and picks a number from 1 - 5.
2. Write your clues
Everyone else must secretly write a clue for the corresponding word on their board without conferring!
- Your clue must be just one word.
- Numbers, acronyms, onomatopoeia and special characters are allowed (007, $, SMS, Riiiiing).
- It cannot be the word spelt differently (shurt / shirt).
- Or in a foreign language (Poisson / Fish).
- It cannot be from the same family (prince / princess).
- a phonetically identical word (Whether / Weather)
- Or an invented word (Swee’ting / Cake).
3. Compare your clues
Once clues are written, the guesser closes their eyes, everyone reveals their clues and compares them. All invalid clues are removed, that is:
- Any identical words.
- Words from the same family (Prince/Princess).
- Plurals, gender variations or spelling errors of the same word. (prince/princes, actor/actress, Philosphy/Filosphie).
4. Make a guess!
Once invalid clues are removed, the guesser opens their eyes and has JUST ONE guess at the mystery word.
- If they’re correct, keep the card face up next to the pile.
- If they fail, return the card AND the top card of the deck to the box.
- If they choose to pass, return the card to the box.
Then, the player to the left becomes the guesser and a new round begins.
Game end and scoring
The game ends when all 13 cards are used. Count the number you guessed correctly to determine your score.
For a 3 player game, take 2 easels and write 2 clues each.
That’s Just One, the game of clever clues.
Enjoy!