How to play Yapper.

A party game on one phone

Get your friends together in the same room and split into teams. Add your names, choose your game settings and decide who will describe first. Only the describer needs to see the screen; everyone guessing should look away from the card.

You don’t need a board, a pile of cards or a separate phone for every player. The app handles the words, timer and scores. Pick your language before you start: Yapper includes 11 languages for both words and menus.

The Yapper rules, one turn at a time

1. Pass the phone. Give it to the player named on the handoff screen. Get your team ready before starting the timer.
2. Describe the word. Explain what it is, what it does or where you would find it. Don’t say the answer, spell it out or use a rhyming clue.
3. Guess aloud. Your teammates call out their answers. Tap Got it! when they get the word right, then move on to the next card.
4. Keep moving. If a word has you stuck, use Skip when your game settings allow it. Keep an eye on the remaining skips and any penalties you selected.
5. Beat the clock. Get as many correct answers as you can before the turn ends. Check the scores, pass the phone and race towards your chosen target.

Agree on your settings before the first turn so everyone plays by the same rules. A clear description usually beats repeating the same mysterious clue louder.

Good clues get the room guessing

Start with the big idea, then add something specific. Describe a use, a place or a recognisable detail. Here are three examples to get you going:

For people, try what they are known for. For objects, describe how you use them. For actions, explain what someone is doing. If the first clue doesn’t land, try a different angle.

Chaos mode: everyone gets a chance

Chaos mode is part of the free game. After a normal turn, an available Chaos round lets the whole room answer. The first team to guess correctly steals a point and the next turn. Suddenly, paying attention when it isn’t your turn has its rewards.

You can try a small Chaos demo on the home page. The full app keeps track of teams and scores for you.

For fans of fast-talking board games

If your favourite part of game night is the frantic describing and guessing, Yapper brings that energy to your phone. It’s a handy option for friends looking for a team word game without setting out a board.

Fans of games like Articulate! may enjoy Yapper’s timed clues and team competition. Yapper is its own game, made by Sumdora Ltd; it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Articulate! or Drumond Park.