Alias is one of the most popular party word games in the world, and Bardak brings it to your phone with a modern twist. If you've never played, don't worry — this guide covers everything you need to know, and you'll master the rules in a single round.
What is Alias?
Alias is a team-based word-guessing game. Players split into teams, and on each turn one person describes words shown on the screen while their teammates race to guess them — before the timer runs out. The one rule that makes it so much fun: you can't say the word itself, or any part of it.
It's simple to learn, impossible to put down, and works for everything from a quiet night with your partner to a loud house party.
How to set up a game
Getting started in Bardak takes less than a minute:
- Gather your friends and create 2 to 4 teams.
- Pick a timer length — we recommend 60 seconds per round to start.
- Choose a word pack and set the score needed to win.
- Pass the phone to the first describer and hit start.
That's it. No pen, no paper, no setup — and once you've downloaded your word packs, the whole game works fully offline.
The two ways to play
Bardak gives you two distinct Alias game modes:
Classic mode
The timeless team game. The describer sees a full card of words and explains them one by one — clear the entire card to draw the next one. It's fast, energetic, and perfect for building a big score.
One Word mode
A trickier, more tense twist: you see one word at a time and describe it with a single clue. You can skip a word if you're truly stuck — but each skip costs you a point, so choose wisely. This mode turns even quiet friends into legends.
How scoring works
Scoring in Alias is refreshingly simple:
- Each correctly guessed word earns one point.
- In One Word mode, skipping a word costs a point, so don't skip lightly.
- The first team to reach the target score wins the match.
Keep the energy high, keep teams roughly even, and the lead will swing back and forth all night.
Pro tips to win more rounds
- Use gestures and sound effects — they're allowed, and they're often hilarious.
- Start with the easy words to bank quick points before the clock pressures you.
- Describe the category first ("it's an animal…") to point your team in the right direction fast.
- Agree on shortcuts with your team — "sounds like" and "rhymes with" save precious seconds.
Pro tip: the best describers paint a picture, not a definition. Don't explain what a word means — explain how it feels.
Ready to play?
Now that you know how to play Alias, the only thing left is to grab some friends. Download Bardak free and start your first game in under a minute — it's 100% free, with no ads and no in-app purchases.
Want more ideas for your next game night? Check out our roundup of the best party games to play with friends, or learn why word games are secretly good for your brain.