The questions we get asked most. A fuller walkthrough is on the How to play page, and the complete rules for every mode are under All game modes.
Yes, entirely. There are no purchases, no subscriptions and no pro version. Every mode, every skin and every Library topic is open to everyone. Nothing locks after a certain number of matches either.
No. Creating a lobby, joining one and playing every mode all work without an account. You only need one if you want to keep your coins and unlocked skins beyond the evening — without an account they are gone when you close the page.
Without an account we store nothing about you permanently. With an account it is your email address, display name, your password as a cryptographic hash, plus coins and skins. Everything else is in the privacy policy.
Yes. Write to support@guessladder.ch and it will be removed along with all associated data.
It depends on the mode. Guess Ladder, the Library and Rush work from one person. Most others need at least two, Word Spy needs at least four, and Duel is built for exactly two. Eight is the upper limit.
Yes — in Guess Ladder, the Library and Rush. Solo play in Guess Ladder is not scored by placement but by accuracy: exactly right earns three squares, within 20 per cent earns two, within 40 per cent earns one.
Rush is done in three to six minutes. Guess Ladder and Duel run ten to twenty minutes, Trust me (not) and Word Hunt fifteen to twenty-five. Word Spy takes longest because of all the arguing — reckon on twenty to thirty-five minutes.
No, with one exception: if the writer in Word Hunt picks "act it out", they perform the word for real, which only works in person. Every other mode works across any distance, because everything happens on screen.
Either read out the four-character lobby code, or send the invitation link from the lobby. Anyone clicking the link lands straight in your game with nothing to type.
No, but you can between matches. The mode is chosen before the start and applies to the whole match. Only the host can set it.
Their place is held for two minutes. The game carries on for everyone else during that time, but the absent player does not count as eliminated. Come back and you are on your square again with your score. Questions you missed count as unanswered.
Any reasonably current browser — iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac, Windows. There is also an app for iPhone and iPad. Mixing is fine: app and browser players sit in the same lobby.
No. Everything runs in the browser without a download. The iPhone app is optional.
German and English — the interface as well as the questions and word lists. You can switch in the menu; the host sets the language for the whole lobby.
By finishing on the podium. With four to eight players that is 300 coins for the win, 100 for second and 50 for third. You can also watch a short ad clip in the shop for another 100 coins.
No. Skins change nothing but the look of your piece. No piece moves faster or earns more squares.
No. There is no way to get coins with money — only through podium finishes and the voluntary ad clip.
Yes, in the Library. You write the questions yourself and add an estimation question for each of the two betting squares. The game can stay private or be published.
Everyone. Published games appear in the "Public games" list and anyone can start them. If you would rather they did not, save the game as private.
Write to support@guessladder.ch. It helps most if you mention which mode you were playing, how many people were in the lobby and what device you were on.
It happens, and we are glad to fix it. Send us the text of the question and we will check it and correct the answer.