Bluff of the Bunch™ – Official Rules

Bluff of the Bunch™ is a social word bluffing game where one player secretly does not know the category, and everyone else tries to spot the bluffer.

These rules apply to the online version. play.bluffofthebunch.com.

Objective

Identify the Bluffer — or, if you are the Bluffer, blend in and survive.

Players

• 3+ players.
• Online, you can play with friends or with built-in bot players.

Round Overview

Each round has four stages:

1. Category Reveal
2. Word Submission
3. Voting
4. Reveal & Scoring

1️⃣ Category Reveal

• At the start of a round, one player is secretly chosen as the Bluffer.
• All non-bluffers see the category (for example: “Fun”).
• The Bluffer does not see the category, only a message that they are the Bluffer.

2️⃣ Word Submission

Players take turns saying (or typing) a single word that fits the category.

If you are NOT the Bluffer

• Choose a word that clearly fits the category.
• You want the Bluffer to slip up. Either by saying the category word by accident, or word that doesn't make sense

If you ARE the Bluffer

• You do not know the category.
• Pick a word that could plausibly fit many categories and hope it blends in.

Word Rules

• One word per player per round.
• Words must be family-friendly.
• You cannot submit the exact category word itself.
• Online, some words may be blocked by the safety filter.

3️⃣ Voting Phase

• After all words are submitted, everyone sees the full list.
• Each player votes for the person they think is the Bluffer.
• You cannot vote for yourself.
• Bot players also cast votes.

4️⃣ Reveal & Scoring

Bluffer Caught

• If the Bluffer receives the highest number of votes (a clear top vote-getter), the group has successfully found the Bluffer.
• The round ends with the Bluffer revealed.

Bluffer Survives

• If someone else receives more votes than the Bluffer, or there is no clear single top choice, the Bluffer survives.
• The player with the most votes may be “eliminated” from submitting words in the next round (but can still vote).
• If all non-bluffers are eventually eliminated from word submission, the Bluffer wins the overall game.

Online Scoring

In the online version, non-quest accounts earn and lose points:

When the Bluffer is caught

• Correct voters: gain points.
• Wrong voters: lose points.
• Bluffer: loses points.

When the Bluffer survives

• The Bluffer earns points for surviving.
• Eliminated players do not gain or lose points for that step.

Points contribute to the global leaderboard shown in the online game.

Eliminations

• Eliminated players remain in the game.
• They continue voting and participating, but do not submit words until a new game or session begins.

Bot Players

• Bots fill seats so you can always play a round.
• When not the Bluffer, bots pick words that fit the category.
• When they are the Bluffer, bots generate bluff words and vote like other players.
• Bots can be eliminated and can also win if they are the Bluffer.

Winning the Game

You can play:

• Single “one-shot” rounds.
• First to a target score.
• Best of a set number of rounds.

Code of Conduct

• Bluff of the Bunch is designed for kids, families, classrooms, and friendly groups.
• No profanity, harassment, hateful language, or unsafe content.
• The online game uses filters to block inappropriate words, but players are still responsible for playing kindly and respectfully.

Play Online

Play for free at: https://play.bluffofthebunch.com

Bluff of the Bunch™ – Rules subject to updates as the game improves. For questions, contact the game publisher or site owner.