WQRDLES Word Guessing Game for Two to Six Players Instructions
- June 4, 2024
- WQRDLES
Table of Contents
WQRDLES A Secret Word Deduction Game Instructions
A Secret Word Deduction Game
(July 29, 2022)
WQRDLES is a word guessing game for two to six players, aged 10+. Each player thinks of a secret word and hides it for their opponents to decode. All players play at once – no moderator is required to host the game.
COMPONENTS
- Set of partially magnetized dry erase decoding boards
- Dry erase markers
- Set of double-sided query cards, each with 12 curated words
- Optional 30 two-sided marking rings (green and yellow)
- Magnetic covers (to hide secret words)
- Two dice.
A deluxe version uses transparent coloured acrylic tiles.
INITIAL SETUP
- Give each player a decoding board and a dry erase marker
- Place the markers between the players
- Shuffle the query cards and place one card face up.
PLAY IN ROUNDS
At the start of each round, clear your decoding board (except for score) and draw a new query card. All players write down a secret word and cover it to keep hidden.
GAME PLAY (3+ PLAYERS)
Players take turns rolling dice, selecting query words, decoding their own word, guessing each others’ words.
On each turn …
- The next player rolls both dice. If doubles are rolled, proceed to the doubles action section (skipping #2)
- The player selects one of the four query words matching a either die number. If all words have been used, roll again.
- The player calls out the query word.
- All players write down the letters of the query word in the next empty row on their decoding board.
- All players decode and ring any matching letters as per the decoding section below.
- All players optionally mark one of the sequence clues next to the word to indicate whether their secret word is alphabetically higher (>) or lower (<) than the query word.
- All players use the next two minutes to examine all the opponent’s boards to see if they can decipher any secret word.
- Each player is allowed one attempt to guess any player’s word at this point in the round.
- If a word is guessed, the player accumulates the value next to the word on the decoding board as their score and the “owning” player will reveal their word.
- When all words have been guessed, erase the boards (except for score) and start a new round.
TWO PLAYER GAME
With two players, use your decoded form differently.
n turn, each player will call out any word to decode their opponent’s secret word. Your opponent does not write down the word you call. Your opponent will indicate which letters are in the word you called and you will mark their response on your form.
DOUBLES ROLL ACTION
A double roll allows the player to either flip over a new card, select any existing query word or supply their own query word for all players to write. Continue with game play action #3 above.
MARKING MATCHING LETTERS
Each player will be decoding their own word for others to review. You must accurately mark each letter of the query word against the letters in your secret word.
WITH A PEN: Mark an “X” for a letter in the wrong spot. Fill the square for a letter in the identical position.
WITH RINGS: Place a green ring around letter(s) in the same position as your secret word. Place a yellow ring around letter(s) in a different position from your secret word.
DECODING EXAMPLES
Your secret word is HOUSE. The query word is SHAPE.
Three letters are in common and the “E” is in the correct place. Fill in the box for the “E” and mark the other letters with “X”. Indicate that your secret word is lower than SHAPE by marking “<”.
Your secret word is NEWTS. The query word is PECAN.
Two letters are in common and the “E” is in the correct place. Mark the “E” with a green ring and mark the “N” with a yellow ring. Indicate that your secret word is lower than PECAN by highlighting “ < ”.
SCORING
When a player guesses a word, the value in the leftmost box (1-6) is their score for the round. Add that number to the existing score and mark the current score at the bottom of their decoding board.
TRACKING MISSING LETTERS
Mark the A-Z letters at the bottom of your decoding board for others to see which letters are not in your secret word.
INCORRECT DECODING PENALTY
If a player incorrectly decodes their word, they cannot receive any points for that round. It is very important to be accurate in decoding your own word.
ENDING THE GAME
The game is over once five rounds have been completed. The player with the highest score is the winner.
In the case of a tie, erase your board (except for the score) and play one more round.
ALTERNATE GAME PLAYS
- Instead of rolling dice, select any word on any card.
- Instead of using query words, provide your own word, but all players must decode that word.
- For an easier game, use four-letter words.
STRATEGIES
- Pick words that do not contain letters in your word.
- When you narrow in on an opponent’s word, pick words that alternate its known letters.
QUERY CARDS
We use query cards to help you find a query word quickly. Often people cannot think of the right word to ask. This makes it easy and quick to play the game.
Query cards have specially-curated words. All letters in the alphabet (A-Z) are found among the 12 words on each card.
www.WQRDLES.com
Copyright © 2022 Knowledge Probe Inc (dba Brainy Games).
References
- WQRDLES - A Wordle-Like Multi-Player Word Deduction Game
- WQRDLES - A Wordle-Like Multi-Player Word Deduction Game