It’s amazing how such a simple set of gameplay rules results in hours of entertainment and memories. 

If you lost your instruction booklet or need some clarification, this guide to Blank Slate Rules is for you! 

Things You’ll Need To Play Blank Slate

First and foremost, you’ll need the Blank Slate Board Game. 

Get this quick and easy party game for hours of fun!

Learn and play the game within minutes.

Fun for the whole family!

Check it out on Amazon

Contained in this box are the following items: 

• 250 cue cards
  • 500 Questions (1 on each side of each card)
• 8 dry-erase markers with an eraser on the cap
• 8 blank slate whiteboards
• 1 scoreboard
• 1 box for keeping cue cards in

How To Win Blank Slate: Objective

The first player to reach 25 points wins the game! 

If there is a tie, another round should be played. The first player of those two to score (or scores the most) wins the game. 

Points are scored by matching the missing words with other players. 

1. If no words are matched, you earn zero (0) points. 
2. If only one person is matched (2 players match), each earns 3 points. 
3. If more than one person is matched, each earns 1 point. 

How To Play Blank Slate

Hand out the blank slate whiteboards and dry-erase markers. 

Get out the scoreboard and elect one player to keep track of the scores. 

Shuffle the cue cards and place them in the card box. 

Figure out who is going to start as a selector. 

This person draws one card from the front of the box and reads the clue. Then, they place the card on the table where everyone can see it. 

Each player writes down an answer to complete the phrase where the blank goes. They don’t show the answers at this point. 

Once all answers are written down, players show their words (usually one at a time, starting with the player left of the selector).

Once everyone has shown their words, points are added to the scoreboard. 

• 0 points for no matches. 
• 3 points for exactly one match. 
• 1 pint for more than one match. 

Note: See the scoring examples in the next section if you need clarification. 

Put the cue card in the back of the box (or keep it somewhere separate to avoid shuffling it into later gameplay sessions). 

The player to the selector’s left becomes the new selector. The gameplay continues until someone reaches 25 points. 

Blank Slate Scoring Examples

The only part that may trip you up in this game is keeping score. I’ve seen a few people get into minor arguments over this. 

But once you see a few examples, it all makes sense. 

Example 1 

5 people are playing. The cue is: “Home ________.”

After writing down their answers, we see the following answers: 

• Bob = Homegrown
• Sue = Home improvement
• Jacinta = Home sweet home
• Toni = Home improvement
• Zeke = Homegrown

Jacinta gets zero points for making no matches. Sue and Toni get 3 points each for matching each other. Zeke and Bob get 3 points each for matching each other. 

Example 2 

5 people are playing. The cue is “______ Town.”

After writing down their answers, we see the following answers: 

• Bob = Funky Town
• Sue = Funky Town
• Jacinta = Small Town
• Toni = Funky Town
• Zeke = Funky Town

Bob, Sue, Toni, and Zeke all get 1 point for matching more than one person. Jacinta gets zero points for zero matches. 

Example 3

8 people are playing. The cue is “________ House.”

After writing down their answers, we see the following answers: 

• Bob = Dog House
• Sue = Small House
• Jacinta = Full House
• Toni = Small House
• Zeke = Full House
• Migale = Dog House
• Carl = Dog House
• Sally = Haunted House

Sally gets zero points for matching no one. Jacinta and Zeke get 3 points for matching each other. 

Sue and Toni get 3 points for matching each other. Bob, Migale, and Carl get 1 point for matching more than one person. 

Blank Slate Rules And Guidelines For Continuing Fun

Ultimately, it’s up to you and your friends to decide if an addition is allowed. Here are some of the games suggested rule clarifications: 

• Additions must be more than one letter (If the clue is “house ____,” you can’t put “Houses”).
• Adding a syllable is OK if the original clue is still audible (If the clue is “Day ___,” “daylight” is just fine).
• Proper nouns or names are acceptable (If the clue is “___ Dog,” then “Snoop Dog” is OK). 
• Only add one word to the clue to make it work*. 

*My family doesn’t worry about this one-word rule as much. If something has a clear phrase, then it’s fine. 

But it’s in everyone’s best interest to stick with adding one word, as it’ll make the game go faster and increase your chances of winning. 

For example, we’re fine with the answer “Home Sweet Home” if the clue is “Home ____.”

Other Tips For Keeping Your Game Fun

• Put the caps back on the markers firmly. They will dry out. Replacement markers can be bought anywhere for pretty cheap too. 
• Decide in your group ahead of time what’s appropriate and inappropriate. When playing with all adult friends, maybe anything can go. But if your kids are near or playing too, set the restrictions first to avoid problems. 
• Let the selector pick either the front or back side to offer some more strategy on their part. 
• Keep discarded cards separate from the others during a lot of play (called marathon play) to avoid repeats. 
• If someone or some people are taking too long to write a word, consider using a timer. 

Quick Tips To Help You Win Blank Slate

There isn’t much to increase your odds of winning this game. And to be honest, this game is all about the experience of picking words with your friends and family. 

If you do want to win, here are the two hints I have to offer: 

1. Pick words that make good sense with the clue. 
2. Pick words someone at your table is more likely to pick. 

Let’s look at this in action. 

If the clue is “_____ House.” 

First, brainstorm options: 

• Small house
• Haunted house
• Brick house
• Full House

Now, think about the people at your table. If I’m playing with my sister, I know she’s a huge 90s sitcom fan. 

She’s more likely to pick “Full House,” so that’s what I’ll go with. 

It doesn’t work every time, but it’s better than you’d think. 

Get Those Words Brewing!

For hours and quick fun with family and friends, Blank Slate is a must. 

It’s not hard to play at all and takes only minutes to explain. 

If you’d like to read our detailed Blank Slate review, head on over to the link. 

The post Blank Slate Rules: How To Play & Tips For Winning appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

But is it really all it’s cracked up to be? 

I wanted to take a look for you and play at least 100 hours of the game before forming my opinion. 

Take it all with a grain of salt, but here’s my Blank Slate game review. 

Blank Slate is a quick game but a ton of fun for the whole family. With a simple word-association premise yet millions of options from 500 cue cards, you’ll play this easy game over and over again and rarely have the same experience. 

The Low-Down: Blank Slate Game Review

How To Play In 200 Words (Or Less)

The game ends when one player earns 25 points. Hand out a blank slate whiteboard and dry-erase marker to each player. 

Get out the cue cards and select one player to be the scorekeeper. 

Show one cue card. It’ll have one word on it; the other will be blank. 

Each player writes down a word that fits the missing one on the card. 

For example, if you get the cue “house blank,” some people may write: 

• House party
• House rules

After everyone has a hidden answer, everyone reveals what they wrote. Look for matches. 

One pair matching (two players) means those two people get three points marked on the scoreboard. Three or more matches of one word are only worth one point each. 

If you don’t match, you don’t get points. 

Tally the points and then erase your blank slates. Put the cue card into a discard pile and draw another one. 

Repeat play until someone gets 25 points. 

If there are any disputes, the majority rules, so take a vote. 

Check out our guide on how to play Blank Slate for more details.

Positives Of Blank Slate

I like to focus on the positives first. Every game has some value, so take a look here for Blank Slate’s good elements. 

If you like what you hear, check the game out and get it for yourself. 

Get this quick and easy party game for hours of fun!

Learn and play the game within minutes.

Fun for the whole family!

Check it out on Amazon

Easy To Explain

My family are big into board games, but some members of my family aren’t big into complicated games. Of course, with practice, they pick it up, but it’s always a bit rough at first. 

We didn’t have this problem at all with Blank Slate. My sister-in-law explained it to us in under 5 minutes. 

From there, we were able to play the game for about 3 hours that first night. It was a blast! 

I always test games and rules out on my young kids too. All three boys (6, 8, and 10) picked it up instantly. 

Lots Of Variety

The cues themselves were big in variety. Each cue sent you in a different direction from most of the others, so we didn’t end up repeating many words at all. 

Of course, the more people you have, the more variety you get too. 

Fun With Kids And Adults

Not every game translates well between kids and adults, but this one is quite versatile. The cues may be bit tough with some age groups, but most of them are fine. 

Just use your best judgment and skip some that younger kids may not know. 

Of course, if you’re playing with all adults, some of the cues may lead to some…adult responses. 

You don’t have to play the game this way. It’s geared toward family-friendly fun. 

But if you’ve ever played open-ended games with my brother, you’ll know they don’t always end up so appropriate! 

A Ton Of Cues

This game comes with 250 cards with a cue on the front and the back. 

One side has all the cues with the blank second, and one side has all the cues with the blank first. 

It’s best to mix these up for some better variety. 

Eventually, you’ll start repeating words, but you shouldn’t do it so often you find yourselves with the same experience over and over. 

I recommend keeping used cards separate from the rest for a while. It’ll help accidentally shuffling in cards you just did in your last play session.

A Fast Game

I love games that take hours and hours to play, but not everyone does. This game is in and out in 30 minutes, max. Sometimes it’s much less. 

If you like quick games, this is one you should check out for sure! 

Negatives Of Blank Slate

Not every game is perfect, and while this one is a ton of fun, there are little things you may want to be aware of before you buy. 

Check out our list of answers to common Blank Slate questions at the link.

Little Strategy

There’s not a lot to think about when it comes to this game. 

Since you want to pair your answer with someone else, you really only need to think about two things: 

1. What’s a common word that matches the given cue?
2. What is a word someone at your game is likely to pick? 

Outside of this, it’s all luck. But it’s still fun to play. 

Not Complex

Some people like it when a game has a couple of different levels to consider, whether it’s different phases of a game or different ways to get points or an advantage.

With Blank Slate, what you see is what you get. 

Some Repetition If Played A Lot

If you play a ton in a row, there’s a chance some of the cues may repeat or be similar to what you’ve played recently. This isn’t likely to happen in a single session, but it may happen if you play many days in a row.

Smaller Groups Are Less Fun

I’ve played with three players and eight players (even beyond too). Larger groups are a lot more fun. 

You get more variety, and people play off one another more often. 

With small groups, you end up with the same people matching or missing altogether. It’s much less fun. 

The Verdict

Blank Slate is a must-have for your game collection. It satisfies casual players and makes for a fun, quick game for a lot of folks. It’s versatile and simple, but the game changes almost every time you play it. 

The post Official Blank Slate Game Review (After 100+ Hours) appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

We picked it up in our family recently, and it’s become a common game for us to play. 

I’m asked a lot of questions about this game (people seem to assume I know everything about all games), so I decided to research the answers and put them all together in this simple FAQ on Blank Slate. 

When Did The Game Blank Slate Come Out?

The game Blank Slate was released in 2018. It sits in the same vein as Codenames and Master Word. Since then, it’s risen to become one of the more popular board games with the wider public. 

Every holiday season, the game hits a peak for the year as sales skyrocket. In 2018, when it was released, it was quite popular. 

But then it went down for a couple of years. 

Last year in 2021, it rose again in popularity, and it looks like this 2022 season, it’ll be the most popular yet! 

Check out our official Blank Slate game review here.

Who Made The Game Blank Slate?

The Blank Slate board game was made by Robert A. Kamp and published by The OP Game Studio, or USAopoly. Their most popular games include Blank Slate, Telestrations, Tapple, Hues and Cues, and Venn. 

Bob Kamp is a new game designer with a big future ahead of him. His new big game is called Ferret Out. 

We haven’t had the chance to play it yet, but if it’s as fun as Blank Slate, I know it’ll be on the list before too long. 

How Many People Can Play The Game Blank Slate?

Blank Slate is best played between 4-8 players. It’s possible to play with fewer, though it’s less fun as you’ll match words less often. It’s also possible to play with more. All they need is something to write on and keep track of the score! 

Going above or below this amount of players will slow the game down, but that doesn’t mean it still won’t be fun. 

With 4-8 players, expect the game to take between 20-30 minutes. 

Learn more about the Blank Slate Rules in our guide here.

What Kind Of Game Is Blank Slate?

Blank Slate is a word-association party game. Players get a cue card of a two-word phrase with one of the words missing. They write down the word they think is missing on a “blank slate” or whiteboard. Players earn points by matching words.  

There isn’t much to this game, but that’s OK! It’s quick and fun to play. 

Get this quick and easy party game for hours of fun!

Learn and play the game within minutes.

Fun for the whole family!

Check it out on Amazon

How Is the Game Blank Slate Played?

To play Blank Slate, hand out a dry-erase marker and blank slate whiteboard. Select one person to track the score. One player flips a cue card and reads it out loud. Then, players write down the missing word. Compare answers to hand out points. 

If one pair matches the word, they both get three points. 

If three or more match the word, they all get one point. 

When you match no one, you get no points. 

Play continues in this manner until someone reaches 25 points.

How Do You Win Blank Slate?

You win Blank Slate by being the first person to reach 25 points. You earn points by matching other players as they guess words to fit the blank on the cue cards. 

I’ve found the most success by keeping these two ideas in mind as I play: 

1. What word or words match the phrase best and most naturally? 
2. What word or words do I think a specific person playing the game will pick? 

The intersection where these two meet is where I make my guess. 

For example, let’s use the cue: Home Blank. 

Some common words that best fit are: 

• Home Depot
• Home Improvement
• Home sweet home

But if I think about my mom, who LOVES Tim Allen, I’m going to guess she’ll pick Home Improvement over the other options. 

It doesn’t work every time, but it improves your odds. 

How Many Questions Are In Blank Slate?

There are 250 cue cards in Blank Slate with a front side and a backside. This makes 500 questions in total. 250 are in a blank-first format, while the other 250 are in a blank-second format. 

Download a complete list of the cues in the Google Sheet here. 

Also, if you want some more Blank Slate Game Examples to extend your game, check out these 25 extra to add some variety. 

The post When Did The Game Blank Slate Come Out? & Other Questions appeared first on Huddle Around Games.

But if you’ve played it a lot (like our family has), you may be looking for some new Blank Slate game examples to mix it up a bit. 

We’ve tried doing this too, and so here are 25 examples to add to your game. 

In the rest of this article, we’ll share the cue cards, and some example answers you may find with them if you’re stumped. 

1. Blank You
2. I’m Blank
3. This Blank
4. You Blank
5. Blank Me
6. Blank Big
7. Space Blank
8. That’s Blank
9. I Blank
10. How Blank
11. Blank In
12. Hello Blank
13. Blank It
14. It Blank
15. Dear Blank
16. Beat Blank
17. Blank Out
18. Yes Blank
19. Move Blank
20. Drink Blank
21. Take Blank
22. Let’s Blank
23. Blank Up
24. Can Blank
25. Tommy Blank

Check out our guide for playing Blank Slate at the link.

#1 Blank You

When playing with adults, we tend to get inappropriate, but it doesn’t have to be this way. I always make sure there is also a common couple of other phrases besides the “bad” one. 

Here are some samples of this one: 

• F**k you
• Hey you
• Why you! 
• Love you!

Get this quick and easy party game for hours of fun!

Learn and play the game within minutes.

Fun for the whole family!

Check it out on Amazon

#2 I’m Blank

This one is very open-ended, so it’s common to get a whole slew of answers here. Here is a couple that comes to my mind: 

• I’m tired.
• I’m yours! 
• I’m hungry.
• I’m drunk. 

#3 This Blank

Here’s another open-ended one. My family often ends up picking the same for this one, but that’s because we say this all the time! 

• This sucks
• This one
• This blows
• This isn’t right

#4 You Blank

Opposite of the Blank You, you can get a lot of funny answers from this one too. 

• You rock! 
• You guys
• You suck
• You all

#5 Blank Me

I love it when everyone’s answer is different. It doesn’t help you win the game, but it’s great to see some funny answers. 

• F**k Me
• Why me? 
• Got me? 
• Feel me?

#6 Blank Big

This is one where I don’t think of too many, but my family and friends are always good at picking other ones. 

• Think big
• Dream big
• Really big
• Plan big

#7 Space Blank

My kids and I are nerds, so we tend to go a little overboard with this space one. We pick super-specific ones that nobody else guesses. 

• Space balls
• Space telescope
• Space time
• Space rock

#8 That’s Blank

That’s and This aren’t too different, but a whole list of different phrases comes to mind when doing this one. 

• That’s life
• That’s it! 
• That’s funny! 
• That’s no good. 

#9 I Blank

Such a simple starting word with so many possibilities. 

• I am. 
• I think. 
• I spy. 

#10 How Blank

This one is a great jumping point for so many expressions, usually around exasperation! 

• How quaint!
• How exhausting!
• How about that?
• How come?
• How you doin’?

#11 Blank In

This one doesn’t have a lot of options, but it’s good for making some quick points in the game. 

• Jump in
• Get in
• End in

#12 Hello Blank

With so many ways to say Hello, I’m surprised this one wasn’t already on the list of cues in the base game. 

• Hello there! 
• Hello dear
• Hello, it’s me. 
• Hello hello!

#13 Blank It

If it was my family, we’d all answer the swear word version of this phrase. But maybe your family and friends are better than mine. 

• F**k it
• Screw it
• Get it
• Do it!

#14 It Blank

Sometimes simply flipping the common word to the front opens up a whole new world of Blank Slate phrases. 

• It happens
• It sucks
• It follows

#15 Dear Blank

Dear is a good launching word, and it’s interesting to see how many terms of endearment people come up with. It’s also interesting to see what different family groups trend toward. 

• Dear Abby
• Dear Theodosia
• Dear me! 
• Dear writer

#16 Beat Blank

Every time I do this one, I can’t help but break out into the Michael Jackson song. 

• Beat it
• Beat down
• Beat ‘em up

#17 Blank Out

Bad things happen when the second word is Out. But it’s good for the game!

• Wipe out
• Get out
• Black out

#18 Yes Blank

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I always have a hard time with this one, but no one else seems to. 

• Yes sir
• Yes maam
• Yes dear

#19 Move Blank

Bossy people probably don’t have a problem finding a phrase that starts with move. 

• Move it
• Move along
• Move on

#20 Drink Blank

This one is surprisingly hard. You’d think it has a lot, but you have to really think about it. 

• Drink up
• Drink dispenser
• Drink holder

#21 Take Blank

We usually play where you can complete a phrase rather than having to use a single word. So take your time is pretty common for us. 

• Take that! 
• Take it! 
• Take your time

#22 Let’s Blank

I can hear my brother yelling, “let’s go!!!!!!” right now.

• Let’s go!
• Let’s party!
• Let’s leave
• Let’s dance

#23 Blank Up

• Get up
• Screw up
• F**k up
• Sweep up

#24 Can Blank

• Can do
• Can do-sville
• Can-can

#25 Tommy Blank

• Tommy gun
• Tommy boy
• Tommy Lee
• Tommy Hilfiger

Check out our complete FAQ list of Blank Slate board game questions.

The post 25 Blank Slate Game Examples (Make Your Game Last Longer) appeared first on Huddle Around Games.