Gather

Cover Word

Two teams, 25 words on the TV, and only the clue givers know which belong to whom. One word and one number have to steer their team to several cards – and away from the trap.

  • 4–12 players
  • 15–30 min
  • ages 10+
  • needs a TV

Find all your team's words before the other team does – and avoid the trap.

How it works

  1. Two teams, Red and Blue. Each team has a clue giver who sees on their phone which of the 25 words belong to whom.
  2. The clue giver says a single word and a number, e.g. “Ocean 2”: two words on the board relate to “Ocean”.
  3. The team reveals words on their phones – up to the number plus one.
  4. Your own word: keep guessing. A neutral or the other team's word: turn over. The trap: you lose immediately.
  5. The team that reveals all its own words first wins.

Good to know

  • The clue can't be a word that's still hidden on the board.
  • Clue givers may only give the clue – no gestures, no grinning.

On the TV and on your phone

What you see and tap, where and when – step by step:

  1. Open a room and join
  2. Teams and clue givers
  3. Word language
  4. Give a clue

How to play Cover Word with Gather

What makes Cover Word work

  • A clever clue that links three words gets genuine gasps.
  • Teams discuss out loud, so everyone’s involved even when it isn’t their turn.
  • The trap keeps every guess risky right to the end.

Pick Cover Word when there are at least four of you and you enjoy lateral thinking.

Skip it when time is short or someone doesn’t like carrying the team.

Frequently asked questions

What does the number 0 mean in a Cover Word clue?

In Gather your team may then reveal exactly one word, because you always get the number plus one. There’s no rule here that makes 0 mean unlimited guesses.

Which clues does Gather reject?

Only a single word without spaces and a number from 0 to 9 are allowed. Gather rejects clues that are a hidden word on the board, contain one, or are part of one.

How many words does each team have in Cover Word?

The team Gather draws to start has 9 words, the other has 8. There are also 7 neutral words and one trap.

Does the team have to use every guess it’s allowed?

No, after revealing at least one word it can end its turn. Gather doesn’t put a time limit on clues or guesses.

What happens if the other team reveals our last word?

Then you win. What counts is whose words are all face up first, no matter who revealed them.

Who sees what on which device in Cover Word?

The game table shows the 25 words to everyone. Only the two clue givers, picked at random by Gather, see the colours on their phones; guessers mark suggestions on their phones that their team can see, and reveal words from there.

Variants and house rules

Gather plays by the rules above. Anything you can set in the app is marked – the rest are agreements you make at the table.

Words in German setting in Gather

On the TV you can switch the word grid between English and German, as long as no clue has been given yet. For mixed groups or as an extra challenge.

Timer for clue givers table agreement

Clue givers like to ponder. Agree on a time limit, say two minutes per clue, and put a kitchen timer or a watch next to you. Gather itself has no clock for this.

Series with leftover words table agreement

Play several games: the winning team scores one point for each of the other team’s words still hidden; if a team turns over the trap, the other team gets a flat five. After three games, the highest total wins. Count the hidden words on the TV and write the points down yourselves.

Good for

Cover Word compared

Similar games

Help