Game Info
Year
2018
Players
4-12
Age
10+
Playtime
45 min
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
The game is for 2 teams, divided into two approximately equivalent number of players and takes about 30 minutes to play.
It could remind you of the classic word game known as Taboo, but this one has an interesting twist on gameplay – the opposing team is the one who chooses the words you cannot use. With you having no idea which words are "traps", it’s like dancing on a minefield, when you’re trying to describe your assigned word to the rest of the team.
You take the role of a group of adventurers crawling through a fantasy dungeon full of traps and curses, with a Boss waiting for you at the end.
You have to successfully guess a word that one of your teammates is trying to describe to you. Sounds simple, but it is made fiendishly difficult by not knowing which words you can't say. Because both teams are simultaneously preparing secret traps for each other, words that you can't use. And further you get, the more trapwords you might expect.
Let's see the example of one possible turn when you are trying to give clues for the word "Axe":
You: "It is a thing that a dwarf can…"
Opponents team: "A-ha, dwarf! Gotcha!"
You: "How did you know that? Was it obvious I will use that?"
Or when you would try another approach it could look like this, the successful turn of your team:
You: "This thing is used by a man with a beard, in a checkered shirt...."
One of your teammates: "A coffee maker?"
[Everyone laughs]
You: "He uses it for work in nature."
Another teammate: "A chainsaw!"
You: "He makes smaller pieces from a big plant with it."
Any of your teammate: "An axe!"
You: "Yes! Very good!"
Could you avoid your opponent's trapwords when you don't know what you can't say?
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 12
This page: 12
Sentiment:
pos 12 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–12 of 12
Video sH8MmBPe20w
Board Game Sanctuary Top List at 3:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 109848 · mention_pk 315993
Click to watch at 3:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Hilarious to watch players struggle to give clues while avoiding trap words.
- Fun to come up with trap words for the opposing team based on how you think they'll solve puzzles.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- a dungeon
Comparison games
- Taboo
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Taboo-like restrictions — One player is the clue giver, and the other team provides a list of words the clue giver is not allowed to say. The clue giver doesn't know the trap words.
- word guessing — Teams race through a dungeon trying to guess a series of words while avoiding key phrases or words provided by the other team.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Word games are probably my favorite genre of board games to get out when people come over or when we go on a weekend away or to play with family or friends.
- I haven't always had this fond association with word style board games mainly because of my background and my family and how I grew up.
- It wasn't until I went to university studied the English and that's when a lot of the ideas and concepts that I really like in modern literature and themes in board games just finally connected together for me.
- I really come to appreciate the complexities of English as a language.
- This game takes that sense of eavesdropping and funnels it and distills it into a brilliant word game, probably one of the best I've ever played.
- It is a beautiful game about spelling things out but in a way where you think okay if I use that word player number one might not actually know what that word is.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video uOVdBtHrRAY
Board Game Sanctuary Top List at 9:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 109868 · mention_pk 316085
Click to watch at 9:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Taboo version 2.0
- Gamifies Taboo with extra challenge and uncertainty
- Enjoyable to create trap words for the opposing team
Cons
- Accidentally saying a trap word means losing the round immediately.
Thematic elements
- Word guessing game with trap words.
- Dungeons
Comparison games
- Taboo
- Code Names
- Codenames
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- bluffing — The opposing team comes up with the list of trap words.
- Monster Battle — Teams must defeat a monster at the end of the dungeon.
- Press Your Luck — Teams progress through dungeons, avoiding trap words and curses.
- word guessing — One player describes a keyword to their team without saying trap words.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Hey dude our friends are on their way they're pretty new to gaming what sort of games should we have lined up tonight?
- Alright give me a sec I think I've got the perfect games that anybody can play.
- If you really like this video don't forget to smash the like and subscribe button as well as comment in the comment section below any games that you think would make a great addition to this cool list.
- Otherwise this is Danny Sonnet I hope your next game night is an amazing one goodbye.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6nexQhE3Mw0
Getting Games Review at 1:01:14 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91806 · mention_pk 246452
Click to watch at 1:01:14 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fun, party-style experience
- Better art and event-card variety compared to taboo
Cons
- Effectiveness depends on team dynamics
- Can rely heavily on players' willingness to participate quick is better
Thematic elements
- tabletop taboo-like guessing with taboo word selection by opposite team
- dungeon-themed team party word game
- light, party-friendly with rapid rounds
Comparison games
- Taboo
- Shadows Amsterdam
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- team-based clue-giving with taboo word constraints — Clue givers on opposing teams select taboo words; teams must get their teammate to guess a target word without saying those words.
- timer constraint — 30-second timer restricts clue-giving and guessing pace.
- Timer-based turns — 30-second timer for each clue attempt.
- two-team real-time word guessing — Clue givers on each team write and later reveal trap words; opposing team selects taboo words to constrain clues.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I think this is a really great design from any dice drafting perspective it's very clean.
- this game was an absolute blast to play and I don't think I ever want to play it again
- I would like to have this one in my collection
- the central neutral airship that is effectively flying around a small planet
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BpxE8PmeOac
Brains On Games Interview at 11:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90789 · mention_pk 242946
Click to watch at 11:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- ensures everyone is involved
- great for language learning and vocabulary expansion
Cons
- may require careful word selection to avoid confusion
Thematic elements
- word association and trap words
- language-based guessing
- team-based word-guessing game
Comparison games
- Nerd Words
- Two Rooms and a Boom
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- team_play — both teams participate in the guessing process
- word_association — teams guess words while avoiding trap words
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- they really tap into those motivators that you can't get from a textbook you can't get from listening to an audio tape
- intrinsic motivation where the player wants to participate in language learning because they want to play the game
- when those moments are created in your classroom students are going to remember those things
- teachers are going to be the coaching role soon
- it’s about relationship building
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video F40vAZuz3eA
Analysis at 0:04 sentiment: positive
video_pk 79333 · mention_pk 192734
Click to watch at 0:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging theme and components
- Similar to Taboo but with a twist
- Includes curses and challenges to vary gameplay
- Party game that can be fun with the right crowd
- Includes helpful components like pencils and scoring sheets
Cons
- Theme feels like an 'adventure skin' that doesn't deeply integrate
- Instruction manual is long for a party game
- Potential for obscurity with some curse mechanics
Thematic elements
- adventure
- dungeon
Comparison games
- Taboo
- Pictionary
- Codewords
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dungeon Crawl — Players move through dungeon-style tiles, encountering monsters and curses.
- List Creation — The opposing team writes the list of words that cannot be said, and the player is not allowed to see this list.
- Variable Player Powers/Challenges — Different monsters and curses introduce unique rules or limitations for rounds or guesses.
- word guessing — Players try to get their teammates to guess a word without saying certain taboo words.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Hi! It's Ryan from Nights Around a Table and it's time to open a board game
- Trapwords is the second coming of Taboo
- The way Trapwords works is there's a word that you need your teammates to guess. There's a list of words that you can't say. So far so good.
- It's Taboo for 2019, and none of the words is allowed to be checkbook or fax machine.
- This is all theming of course, but I like theme. You know I'm a theme guy.
- Self-punching.
- I understand what's going on (finally).
- It's like The Matrix. i'm like 'i know kung fu! i know Trapwords!'
- With the right crowd, it's like a blast. With the wrong crowd, it's going to be horrid
- I like Taboo, I like word games, and I'm having a friend over tonight to play board games with me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video i3COwLZp88o
TheGameBoyGeek - Hi Quality Hi Energy Board Game Reviews Top 10 List at 7:57 sentiment: positive
video_pk 37367 · mention_pk 240768
Click to watch at 7:57 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- great for parties
- trap word mechanic adds depth and fun
Cons
- can be chaotic or overly punishing for clue givers
Thematic elements
- cooperative clue finding
- word guessing party game
- team-based
Comparison games
- Taboo
- Band Words
- Codenames
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Clue giving — clue giver writes clues to guide teammates
- Deduction — clue giver writes clues to guide teammates
- team-based play — teams compete to guess word clues
- Trap words — words that must be avoided when clues are given
- Word Deciphering — teams compete to guess word clues
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's such a mean game
- the game's quick it's only about 30 minutes
- it's a fantastic game that can be played anywhere
- the brilliance of this game is when you break up with the teams and you're coming up with trap words
- QE is just brilliant
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xu2M4MXdZ_o
Board Game Dad Top 10 List at 5:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 35974 · mention_pk 107712
Click to watch at 5:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fresh take on Taboo with list-building twist
- High interaction and negotiation
Cons
- Could be overly chaotic for some groups
Thematic elements
- communication and deception
- word-guessing with concealed lists
- Party game with strategic list-building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Risk Management — Players infer which words are on the taboo list while avoiding their own bans.
- Strategic risk awareness — Players infer which words are on the taboo list while avoiding their own bans.
- Word-guessing with hidden lists — Opponents construct a list of taboo words you must avoid while guessing.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is actually a brainstorm for a future pre-recorded video that I'd like to release incoming weeks
- I'm looking for feedback from my subscribers
- the purpose of this video isn't to show you all the games but to talk through what I'm thinking about
- if you've got a recommendation please include it in the chat or if you're watching this after the live recording you can write it in the comments
- for cribbage I'll get all three of them
- I'll end the video with this one and see what kind of feedback I get
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video KMVJ4XbBvpo
Game Night Picks - Pair Of Dice Paradise Discussion at 4:26 sentiment: positive
video_pk 30675 · mention_pk 90308
Click to watch at 4:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fast, party-friendly
- Familiar concept with a twist (trap words)
Cons
- Can rely on shared context and humor; may not suit all groups
Thematic elements
- Word guessing with traps
- Party word game theme
- humorous party game
Comparison games
- Taboo
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dynamic narration / cutaway — Commentary and context provided by presenter during discussion.
- Minefield / traps metaphor — Words not to say create a tense guessing dynamic.
- Word guessing / taboo-like mechanic — Opposing team selects words that players cannot say; players try to guess the target word without triggering 'trap' words.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a very intense looking euro style game
- I want that game on my table
- Trap Words is just a little party word game but it's a game that kind of reminds me of Taboo
- it's like dancing in a minefield
- This is a fantastic family game that I got a chance to play at bgg con
- I thought this was a really complex euro game and I shied away from it thinking it was real brain burger
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Ok7xvOBEed0
Actualol Top List at 30:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10558 · mention_pk 99523
Click to watch at 30:59 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- highly accessible party game
- thematic and humorous
Cons
- can depend on strong clue-giving or poor clue interpretation
Thematic elements
- communication and misdirection
- party word game with trap words
- gaslight social, funny
Comparison games
- Codenames
- Taboo
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- describing a word without forbidden terms — clue-giver navigates trap words while competing teams guess
- opposing team guessing — the other team tries to deduce the target word while avoiding traps
- word description under constraints — clue-giver describes a word without using forbidden terms
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's one of those games that can be played by anyone
- it's basically Taboo but trap words
- one of the best-looking covers of a ball game I've ever seen
- a dynasty of games that feels different to anything else
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Wujn-PheAqg
Actualol Top List at 8:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5257 · mention_pk 105017
Click to watch at 8:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- innovative twist on classic Taboo-style play
- high tension and creativity
Cons
- can be fiddly to manage the trap word list
- requires careful moderation to keep pace
Thematic elements
- communication under pressure
- word-guessing with trap words that end the round
- competitive and fast-paced
Comparison games
- Code Names
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Timed clues — rapid rounds with limited verbal clues
- Trap words — describing a target word without using trap words; if you trigger a trap word, the round ends with no points
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I love the frenetic pace to it
- it's insane listening to your teammates trying to work out what the hell you mean
- Detective Club fixes all of those things
- Detective Club is my favorite party game of 2018
- it just puts you back in that moment
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video f-roYHvUt3I
Chairman of the Board Top List at 7:11 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4777 · mention_pk 99333
Click to watch at 7:11 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- high party appeal
- reliable fun for groups
Cons
- downtime if groups stall
Thematic elements
- word associations with taboo word constraints
- Team word-guessing party game
- lively, social
Comparison games
- Just One (similar party word game lineage)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- team-based play — Two teams compete in rounds of clue giving and guessing.
- word-guessing party game — Teams give clues to help teammates guess a target word without banned words.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this was definitely the hardest to rank these games
- none of these games I thought were bad this month
- this is an absolute delight
- ultra smooth ultra fun
- this is a thinky filler game with a great weight and repercussions
- you can teach this one in 30 seconds
- very elegant and easy to teach
- the elegance of the system is amazing
- I'm absolutely hit for me
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video c-RpJ3b09O8
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Discussion at 14:49 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4522 · mention_pk 104025
Click to watch at 14:49 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Acknowledged as a known title in the space; referenced in relation to the designer's work.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the roller coaster ride that is pitching at a convention
- nine meetings I'll talk through some of them
- publishers won't meet with you unless you present them with the rules of the game
- Trap words is great
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–12 of 12