Taboo / Similar games

18 games like Taboo

The best games like Taboo are When I Dream, Decrypto XL and Codenames XXL — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. When I Dream shares party game, real-time, word game with Taboo.

Every alternative below links to its own Taboo-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s party game / real-time shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Taboo’s 1.2 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 

   1. When I Dream (2016)

   4–10 players · 20–40 min · ★ 7.1 · Light · See When I Dream alternatives →

   Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Real-time, Word Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based Game · 5 shared tags · 2 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (100%)

   vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–10 players · ~10 min longer · same complexity

   Check price for When I Dream →
2. 

   2. Decrypto XL (2018)

   3–8 players · 15–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light · See Decrypto XL alternatives →

   Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based Game · 4 shared tags · 2 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (100%)

   vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–8 players · goes down to 3 · ~10 min longer · +0.6 heavier

   Check price for Decrypto XL →
3. 

   3. Codenames XXL (2015)

   2–8 players · 15 min · ★ 7.6 · Light · See Codenames XXL alternatives →

   Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based Game · 4 shared tags · 2 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (100%)

   vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–8 players · goes down to 2 · about the same length · same complexity

   Check price for Codenames XXL →
4. 

   4. Poetry for Neanderthals (2020)

   2–12 players · 15 min · ★ 7.0 · Light

   Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Real-time, Word Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based Game · 5 shared tags · 2 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (100%)

   vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–10 players · goes down to 2 · scales to 12 · about the same length · same complexity
5. 

   5. Just One (2018)

   3–7 players · 20 min · ★ 7.6 · Light · See Just One alternatives →

   Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Communication Limits · 3 shared tags · 1 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (50%)

   vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–7 players · goes down to 3 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
6. 

   6. Codenames Deep Undercover (2016)

   4–8 players · 15 min · ★ 6.6 · Light

   Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based Game · 4 shared tags · 2 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (100%)

   vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–8 players · about the same length · same complexity
7. 

   7. Medium (2019)

   2–8 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.0 · Light

   Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based Game · 4 shared tags · 2 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (100%)

   vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–8 players · goes down to 2 · ~18 min longer · 0.2 lighter
8. 

   8. Time's Up! Title Recall! (2008)

   4–18 players · 60 min · ★ 7.7 · Light · See Time's Up! Title Recall! alternatives →

   Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 2 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (100%)

   vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–10 players · scales to 18 · ~40 min longer · same complexity
9. 

   9. Time's Up! (1999)

   4–18 players · 90 min · ★ 7.3 · Light · See Time's Up! alternatives →

   Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 2 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (100%)

   vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–10 players · scales to 18 · ~70 min longer · same complexity
10. 

    10. Trapwords (2018)

    4–8 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.0 · Light

    Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 1 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (50%)

    vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–8 players · ~18 min longer · +0.2 heavier
11. 

    11. Concept (2013)

    4–12 players · 40 min · ★ 6.8 · Light · See Concept alternatives →

    Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Communication Limits, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 2 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (100%)

    vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–10 players · scales to 12 · ~20 min longer · +0.2 heavier
12. 

    12. The Chameleon (2017)

    3–8 players · 15 min · ★ 6.7 · Light

    Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 1 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (50%)

    vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–8 players · goes down to 3 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
13. 

    13. Word on the Street (2009)

    2–10 players · 20 min · ★ 6.6 · Light

    Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 1 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (50%)

    vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–10 players · goes down to 2 · about the same length · +0.2 heavier
14. 

    14. Word Slam (2016)

    3–99 players · 45 min · ★ 7.0 · Light

    Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 1 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (50%)

    vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–10 players · goes down to 3 · scales to 99 · ~25 min longer · same complexity
15. 

    15. Secret Hitler (2016)

    5–10 players · 45 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-light · See Secret Hitler alternatives →

    Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Team-Based Game · 2 shared tags · 1 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (50%)

    vs Taboo: overlaps at 5–10 players · ~25 min longer · +0.4 heavier
16. 

    16. Shadows Amsterdam (2018)

    2–8 players · 20 min · ★ 6.7 · Light

    Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Real-time, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 1 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (50%)

    vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–8 players · goes down to 2 · about the same length · same complexity
17. 

    17. Linq (2004)

    4–8 players · 45 min · ★ 6.9 · Light

    Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 1 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (50%)

    vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–8 players · ~25 min longer · +0.2 heavier
18. 

    18. CrossTalk (2017)

    4–8 players · 20–30 min · ★ 7.0 · Light

    Shares with Taboo: Party Game, Word Game, Team-Based Game · 3 shared tags · 1 of Taboo’s 2 mechanics (50%)

    vs Taboo: overlaps at 4–8 players · about the same length · same complexity

Looking for the original? See the full Taboo fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.