Out of the Loop

Goal

Score points by helping The Outsider guess words while The Insider clues them in — without breaking the rules. The Loopers keep everyone honest with the buzzer. Highest score at the end wins.

Roles (each round)

• The Outsider — Does not see the word. Listen and guess. You can Skip, but only the Insider marks Got it.
• The Insider — Sees the word. Describe it without saying the word (or forbidden shortcuts). Mark Got it when they nail it, or Skip.
• The Loopers — See the word. Watch the Insider. Hit BUZZ if a rule is broken.

Roles rotate each round.

Setup

• 3+ players on phones (or browsers).
• One player Hosts a room and shares the code; others Join.
• Host chooses categories, difficulty, timer, and optional custom words.
• Optional: Presenter mode on a TV shows the live board (display only — no player seat).

Each round

1. Ready — Roles are revealed, then a short countdown.
2. Play — Words appear on Insider / Looper / presenter screens. The Outsider looks away from the board.
3. Got it / Skip / Buzz — Advance through as many words as you can before the timer ends.
4. Review — Vote on disputed got-its or buzzes if anyone challenges a call.
5. Host starts the next round or ends the game.

Scoring (typical)

• Got it — Outsider scores, Insider scores a smaller share.
• 3 skips in a round — Outsider and Insider each take a small penalty.
• Review votes can undo a false got-it or punish a bad buzz.

Exact values show on your phone as you play.

Insider rules of thumb

No saying the word, obvious parts of it, spelling it out, rhymes “that sound like…”, or straight translations. Loopers will buzz you.

Tips

• Outsiders: trust the Insider — and don’t peek at the TV word.
• Insiders: stay creative; Skips are shared pain after three.
• Loopers: buzz early if a rule breaks so the round stays fair.
• Use Presenter mode for a shared living-room board.