My Word is a fun word deduction game that combines elements of Mastermind and Hangman.
Learn how to play this game in simple steps.
| Number of players | 2 |
| Game length | 30 minutes |
| Game difficulty | Medium |
| What you need to play | Pen and paper |
Object of My Word
To deduce your opponent’s words by figuring out the correct positions of individual letters.
Setting up the game
- Each player secretly chooses a word that their opponent will try to guess. It should be a word that the opponent is familiar with.
- There are two rounds in the game. The first round is a six-letter word round, and the second round is a seven-letter word round.
Playing the game
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The game consists of 11 guesses in each round, with both players taking turns. Players make guesses by stating shorter words that contain the same letters as their opponent’s longer word. All guesses must be real words.
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For the first guess, players state a two-letter word that corresponds to the first two letters of their opponent’s word.
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Points are awarded for each correct letter guessed: 250 points for each correct letter, 1000 points for each correct letter in the correct position For example, if the word is “nephew” and the guess is “me,” the guesser gets 250 points. If the guess is “no,” the guesser gets 1000 points.
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Play continues with each guess consisting of a word between two and seven letters in length, corresponding to specific letters in the opponent’s word.
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The final (eleventh) guess has the same number of letters as the opponent’s word, allowing players to try to guess the entire word. Guessing the correct word awards 3000 points in addition to points for each letter.
Winning the game
At the end of the game, players tally up their points. The player with the most points wins. It’s possible to win without guessing the opponent’s word. Players face the dilemma of whether to go for quick points by guessing known letters or take a risk for the chance to earn bonus points.