How to Play
1. Objective
In BattleGuess, players compete to guess themed words (e.g., countries) by revealing letters or guessing the entire word. Earn points to reach the target score ("Win At," default: 50 points) before your opponents, or outlast them if words run out!
2. Setup
A game requires 2-4 players. The host starts by:
- Choosing a name (1-8 characters).
- Selecting a word bank (e.g., Countries, Animals).
- Setting the target score ("Win At," default: 50).
- Setting the turn timer (10-60 seconds, default: 30).
- Choosing the number of players (2-4).
Once enough players join, the game starts, and each player is assigned a unique word from the bank.
3. Gameplay
Players take turns guessing their assigned word, displayed as underscores (e.g., _ _ _ _ for "CUBA"). Each word has:
- A theme (e.g., Countries).
- A level (1-6, higher levels are tougher).
- A word value (equal to the number of letters, reduced by wrong guesses).
On your turn, you can:
- Guess a Letter: Choose a letter (e.g., "A"). If it's in the word, it appears (e.g., _ _ A _). If not, it's marked as a failed letter, and your word value decreases by 1. Wrong guesses pass your turn.
- Guess the Word: Enter the full word (e.g., "CUBA"). If correct, you score the word's word value plus a level bonus (level number, except 0 for level 1). If wrong, your word value decreases by 1, and your turn passes.
- Use a Hint: Get a clue about the word (one per word), but it counts as a failed attempt, reduces your word value by 1, and passes your turn.
- Challenge an Opponent: Guess another player's word. If correct, you steal their word's word value, and they lose those points. If wrong, you lose your turn and 1 word value.
- Pass: Skip your turn to get a new word with its own word value, without penalty.
Each turn is timed (default: 30 seconds). If time runs out, your word value decreases by 1, and your turn passes. If your word value reaches 0, you fail the word, drop a level (minimum 1), and get a new word.
4. Scoring & ELO Rating
In-Game Points
During each game, points are earned by:
- Correct Word Guess: Gain the word's word value (letters minus failed attempts) plus a level bonus (e.g., 3 points for level 3).
- Successful Challenge: Steal the target's word value, which they lose.
The game ends when a player reaches the "Win At" score (default: 50 points) or no words remain. The highest scorer wins!
ELO Rating System
BattleGuess uses an ELO rating system to measure your skill level across all games. Your ELO rating reflects your ability to win, not just how many games you've played.
How ELO Works:
- Starting Rating: New players begin at 1200 ELO.
- Winning Matters: Beat higher-rated players for bigger ELO gains. Beat lower-rated players for smaller gains.
- Losing Fairly: Lose to higher-rated players for small ELO loss. Lose to lower-rated players for bigger loss.
- Placement Games: Your first 10 games have higher rating volatility to quickly find your skill level.
ELO Tiers:
Sign in to track your ELO rating, peak ELO, win rate, and compete on the leaderboard! For questions, contact .
5. Tips for Success
- Guess common letters (e.g., vowels) early to reveal the word.
- Save hints for tough words, as they reduce your word value by 1 and pass your turn.
- Challenge strategically when you suspect an opponent's word, but beware of the risk.
- Pass if a word seems too hard to get a new word with a fresh word value.
- Track failed letters and words to narrow your guesses.