Balderdash Game

by Mattel

• Classic bluffing board game
• The categories contain real but unbelievable content about People, Words, Initials, and Movies; now includes a new category, Laughable Laws
• Players make up phony answers, read them off along with the correct answer, and others vote on which answer is real
• Score points for guessing correctly and for bluffing the other players
• Grab the bull by the horns and play Balderdash, the game that's hilarious beyond belief

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.1 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches ; 2.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Origin: Made in USA
• ASIN: B000096RBO
• Item model number: B9176
• Manufacturer recommended age: 12 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,761 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

You can’t always believe what you read. Is it for real or is it Balderdash? Balderdash is the classic bluffing game that has gone beyond hilarious. Now with the outrageous, Laughable Laws category, play the game that challenges your friends to call your bluff. Would you believe that in Fairbanks, Alaska, it was illegal to serve beverages to a moose? You better, ’cause it’s true! Each game card lists People, Words, Initials, Movies and Laws that you’ve probably never heard of. But that’s where the fun really begins, because you get to make up an answer that’s as silly or as serious as you want! Now, mix in the real answer and vote. You score points for guessing correctly and for bluffing the other players. So, grab the bull by the horns and play Balderdash, the game that’s hilarious beyond belief.

Product Description

Balderdash rewards knowledge and creativity. Players are given a word and they each write down what they think the definition is. The definition guesses are then read aloud and voted on. A player gets points if their definition is correct but you can also earn points if people vote for your proposed definition. Includes game board, 336 game cards, answer sheet pad, 6 movers, 1 die and 1 instruction sheet. For 2 or more players.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

158 of 159 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, educational, and hilarious word game June 15, 2004

By L. W. Barnes

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Balderdash is a great game that combines wordsmithing and bluffing. To begin, each player rolls the dice to determine who will be the dasher first. The dasher then draws a card, reads the balderdash word to the players, and spells the word. None of these words are ones used in everyday language. (Examples include fleer, runnel, pontage, etc.) Each player jots down a phony definition that sounds credible (or, if you happen to know the real definition, write it down instead), and gives the slip of paper to the dasher. And then the hilarity begins. The dasher must attempt to read each definition and the real one without showing any emotion ... which is much more difficult than it sounds! Some of the phony definitions are hilarious, and often the real definition is too. After all definitions have been read, the dasher asks each player which definition is the correct one, noting that player's choice on the slip of paper. At the conclusion of the round, the players who chose the correct definition move two spaces on the board. The players who received votes for their phony definitions move one space for every vote. And, if no player guesses the correct definition, the dasher moves forward three spaces on the board. For subsequent rounds, each player takes a turn as the dasher. This game is fun, educational, and incredibly hilarious. Someone will crack up with laughter in every round!

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Something good just got BETTER November 19, 2004

By Efrain Rivera Jr.

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Balderdash might be the funniest game my friends and I have ever played. It is basically a bluffing game gone wild. My friends and I have never laughed so hard playing any other game. And we have tried them all.

The Object of the game is: To make up answers that will bluff other players. Earn points for fooling other players into believing your bluff as well as for choosing the real answer.

The fun part is: Each player, on their turn, will read a word and every other player will write on a piece of paper, not letting others see, the "definition" of that word. Now the "dasher" will read out loud all the fake definitions including the real one. After the laughter ends every one except the dasher votes on which definition they believe is the right one. You get one point for every vote on your fake definition, three points if you vote for the real definition and three points if you happen to write something similar to the real definition (we make it five points). It has happened four times in the many years I have had this game.

THIS GAME GOT BETTER: There used to be only one category in this game - words. But now it has five different categories as Beyond Balderdash does. The difference between Balderdash and Beyond Balderdash is only one category. These are:

Words - As explained above.

People - Who is or what did this person do.

Movies - Write about the plot of the movie.

Initials - What do the initials stand for?

LAWS (instead of dates as in Beyond B) - You are given part of the law and the players must finish it. This is probably the best category in the game.

More categories add to the element of fun. Not to mention the "accidents". And since diapers are not included I will advice having a bathroom nearby. We sometimes use both games to play with six categories.

If you have only played the original version you have missed on a lot. Is it educational? YES!! Since every real answer is really real my friends and I have learned many things about people, history and ... well you know, stuff. So my final verdict is BUY THIS GAME! And Beyond Balderdash. And the Clasic Balderdash. You WILL enjoy them weather you like board games or not.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars this game is a blast November 30, 2005

By B. Emory

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

There is nothing better then playing Balderdash with a crowd of innovative people. A player reads a card with the title of a movie, acronym, a date, word so forth and the other players must write down the meaning of it. For example the date may be may 4, 1978 and the players write down what they believed was memorable about this date. Then after everyone has written down an answer they are all read aloud along with the right answer and everyone guesses which one they think is right. The outcome-- some creative and utterly hilarious answers . This game is a must have for family get togethers. Its hysterical and imaginative plus there is the extra bonus of learning random facts. Most of the time you'll be laughing throughout so you wont know who wins. We have get togethers and there is never a dull moment once the game comes out.