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Easy-to-learn rules for the 5 Second Rule board game
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Planning a game of 5 Second Rule for your next party or game night? It’s a fun, fast-paced game that’ll have your brain going a mile a minute at every turn—and we’ll teach you the ins and outs, so you’ll know exactly how to play. Luckily, it’s a super simple game; there are cards and a timer, and your job is to answer questions within 5 seconds! There are a few differences between the original and board game versions, but we’ll cover those, too. Keep reading for a complete guide to the rules of the 5 Second Rule game.
A Quick Breakdown of the 5 Second Rule Game
- Setup: Move the timer and card box (and game board, if applicable) to the middle of the play area.
- Gameplay: Take turns getting in the “Hot Seat.” The person to the left of the Hot Seat must draw a card and read its question aloud.
- Using the timer: Once a card is read, the player in the Hot Seat has 5 seconds to give 3 correct answers to the question.
- Keeping score: A player who gives 3 correct answers gets a point (or advances on the board). If they fail, the next player can try to answer the question instead.
- Declaring a winner: The player with the most points (or who reaches the finish space on the board) wins the game.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
How to Play 5 Second Rule
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1Set up the cards and timer within reach of all players. You’ll get a box of cards and a timer to play the game; place both on a table, in a spot where all players can easily reach them. Then, after setting up the game (it’s a quick setup, as you can see!), decide how many rounds you want to play before declaring a winner. [1] X Research source
- Small groups may want to play more rounds—four or five, for example.
- Large groups may want to play fewer rounds—two or three, for example.
- Game variations are also an option! For example, you could choose to play in 2-person teams or just add more rounds than we’ve suggested to make gameplay last longer.
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2Start the game by drawing a card and reading it aloud. Typically, the owner of the game goes first (meaning they’re in the “Hot Seat”). However, they don’t draw the card—instead, the player to the left of the Hot Seat player must draw a card and read it out loud. It’ll begin with “Name 3…” followed by a prompt from a random category. This is the prompt that must be answered by the player in the Hot Seat! [2] X Research source
- For example, a card could read something like, “Name 3 pasta shapes.”
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3The player in the Hot Seat has 5 seconds to give 3 answers. After the card is read, start the timer immediately (typically by flipping it, although some versions of the game come with an electric timer instead). As soon as the timer starts, the player in the Hot Seat must try to give 3 answers to the prompt—all within 5 seconds. If they successfully give 3 answers within that time, they get a point! [3] X Research source
- To easily keep track of points, have players keep cards that they answer successfully in front of them.
- When using the timer: If you have a flip timer, keep in mind that time is up when the balls hit the bottom. There’s a “zoop” sound effect, too, but that isn’t part of the time-keeping!
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4If a player can’t give 3 answers, their card moves to the next player. Say the player in the Hot Seat can only give one or two answers (or none) before the timer is up. In that case, they get no points, and play moves to the right. The player to the right can try to answer the same card prompt—but they can’t use any answers given previously. Continue going around the group until a player can give 3 answers successfully. [4] X Research source
- For example, if the prompt is “Name 3 pasta shapes,” and one player gives “penne, spaghetti,” the next player can’t use either of those answers.
- Instead, the player to the right could use answers like “fettuccine, farfalle, linguini.”
- Note: If play circles back to the original player in the Hot Seat with nobody able to give 3 answers in 5 seconds, the original player gets a point by default.
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5After a card is resolved, gameplay moves to the player to the right. From the first player in the Hot Seat, keep moving to the right; the player to the right of that first player is then in the Hot Seat and must take their turn with a different card. As always, the player to the left of the Hot Seat player must draw a card and read it out loud. [5] X Research source
- After every player has taken a turn this way, that marks a complete round.
- Keep playing until you complete whatever number of rounds you agreed on before the game!
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6Collect the most points to win the game. Once you finish playing the agreed-upon number of rounds, stop the game and have every player count up their points (with each card in front of a player being worth one point). The player with the most points wins the game! [6] X Research source
- If there’s a tie: Hold a tie-breaking round. Only the players who tied can play, and the winner of the round officially wins the game.
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Section 2 of 4:
The 5 Second Rule Board Game
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1Players move pawns around a board in this version of the game. However, the goal of the game remains the same: the player in the Hot Seat must try to give 3 correct answers to a prompt card within 5 seconds. The rules are also very similar, even if you’re playing the board game version; the only major difference is the board itself, as well as a few special cards. [7] X Research source
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2Set up the board game’s cards and pawns. To set up the board game, make sure all cards are in the card box (within reach of all players) and each player has a playing pawn on the board’s START space. Additionally, deal each player 1 PASS ON card and 1 SWITCH card.
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3The youngest player goes first, and gameplay moves to the left. When you begin the game, have the youngest player get in the “Hot Seat” first—meaning the player to the right of them must draw a card, read it, and start the timer. The player in the Hot Seat must try to give 3 correct answers in 5 seconds, then hit the buzzer. If the timer buzzes after 5 seconds, that means they’ve run out of time!
- If a player gives 3 correct answers within 5 seconds, they can move their pawn forward one space on the board.
- However, if they fail to answer a prompt correctly, they do not get to move forward any spaces.
- Just like the rules above state, if a player in the Hot Seat can’t give 3 answers, the next player can then try to do so with the same card—but they can’t use any answers that have already been given.
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4The player to reach the FINISH tile first wins the game. Essentially, instead of collecting points (like the version of 5 Second Rule above), players move forward one space on the board for every card successfully answered. Gameplay continues this way, and the player who gets to the FINISH tile on the board first is the winner!
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5The 5-Second Rule game also has special cards and board spaces. Special cards can be played when a player is in the Hot Seat. However, if a Hot Seat player wants to use a card, they must call out the name of the card right after hearing their question, before the timer is started. Additionally, they can only use one card per question. [8] X Research source
- PASS ON cards:
When a Hot Seat player uses this card, their question is instead asked of the player to the left. If that player gives 3 correct answers, they get to move forward, but if they fail, the original player moves forward instead.
- Once the player with the PASS ON question gives their answers, the turn ends, and they must proceed with their regular turn.
- Additionally, the PASS ON card must be discarded.
- SWITCH cards: When a Hot Seat player uses this card, they can switch out their question for a brand new one (and discard their SWITCH card after).
- DANGER ZONE spaces: If a player lands on a DANGER ZONE space, they have to give three correct answers the next time they’re called on to answer a question (whether that’s on their turn or another player’s). If they’re unsuccessful, they automatically miss their next opportunity to answer a question.
- PASS ON cards:
When a Hot Seat player uses this card, their question is instead asked of the player to the left. If that player gives 3 correct answers, they get to move forward, but if they fail, the original player moves forward instead.
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References
- ↑ https://www.playmonster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/5SecRules.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoryJ65k-j__kBTszvhowHMrYr0M1oTAJxKqOSQiU3981q9jI5cv
- ↑ https://youtu.be/htOXlTJWCCc?t=26
- ↑ https://www.playmonster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/5SecRules.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoryJ65k-j__kBTszvhowHMrYr0M1oTAJxKqOSQiU3981q9jI5cv
- ↑ https://youtu.be/B2heUYrOemI?t=117
- ↑ https://www.playmonster.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/5SecRules.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoryJ65k-j__kBTszvhowHMrYr0M1oTAJxKqOSQiU3981q9jI5cv
- ↑ https://youtu.be/B2heUYrOemI?t=149
- ↑ https://cdn.accentuate.io/6655137677497/632763187209/5-Second-Rule-Rules-v1627381531784.pdf
- ↑ https://cdn.accentuate.io/6655137677497/632763187209/5-Second-Rule-Rules-v1627381531784.pdf
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