Which Words to Explain?
Each word card contains eight numbered
words. The spaces on the game board have the
same numbers, so the location of your pawn
determines which word(s) you are to explain.
Start Explaining!
After the Sandglass has been turned it is time
to explain! When the guessing player says the
right word, place the card on the table, draw a
new one and start explaining a new word (with
the same number).
What is the Game About?
In FAMILY ALIAS you have to explain words using other words. Use synonyms, opposites
or clues to help your partner guess as many words as possible. Once the sand stops
flowing, the number of correctly guessed words is checked. The explainer and the
guesser get to move forward on the board according to this number.
The first player to reach the Victory space is the winner!
What If I Make a Mistake While
Explaining?
Explanation Guidelines
• You must not mention any part of the
explained word. If the word is “hand bag”,
you cannot say “a bag that women carry”.
• The guessing player must say the word in the
same form as it is written on the card. If the
word is “swimming”, the word “swim” is
incorrect.
• If you mention any part of the word you
are explaining, the word card is placed
face down on the table to mark a minus
point.
• If you put a word card aside without
explaining it, you also get a minus point.
• If the guessing player is no closer to
finding the correct answer after 10
seconds of explaining, the word can be
skipped without minus points.
• Younger players can be allowed to put
difficult word cards aside without
minus points.
Before the Game Begins
Place the game board and the three card decks on the table. You don’t have to place
all of the word cards on the table (for if you do, the tall decks might just fall over…).
Ending a Turn
There’s a Spinner in the Game!
Once the sand has stopped flowing, the
other players say “STOP”. If the word you
are explaining has not been guessed yet,
all players can join in on the guessing. The
first player to guess the word correctly
gets to move one space forward on the
board.
Attach the Spinner arrow to the Spinner base, and place the Spinner in the centre of the
board.
All Players Play for Themselves!
Each player takes a pawn and places it in the Start space.
How to Begin
The youngest player begins and the turns pass clockwise. The player in turn
is always the explainer. The explainer begins by spinning the Spinner to find
the guessing player.
Family Card
Adult Card
Finding the Guessing Player with the Spinner:
Spin the Spinner and look to whom the arrow points (ignore the sectors at
this point). This player will be the guessing player for the turn. If the arrow
points to you, all players will guess.
Moving Your Pawn on the Board
How many words were guessed correctly? The explaining and the guessing
player get to move their pawns as many spaces as there are correctly guessed
words. If all players guessed, you, as the explainer, get to move one space for
each correctly guessed word while the guessing players only get to move for
each word they guessed correctly.
After the pawns have been moved, it is the next player’s turn.
There are Two Types of Word Cards…
• When a child is either explaining or guessing, the Family Cards
are used. They are also used when all players guess.
• When an adult is explaining to another adult, the Adult Cards are
used.
…and WILD! Cards, which the Adults Dislike but the
Children Love!
When an adult is explaining to another adult, the explaining adult
spins the Spinner again.
• If the arrow lands on a sector with a WILD! Card symbol, the
adult will draw the topmost WILD! Card and act according to the
given guidelines.
• If the arrow lands on a neutral sector, the turn will be played
without WILD! Cards.
If only one adult is playing, the WILD! Cards are not used at all.
Scoring Example (Two Players)
The Rules Change on the Finish Zone!
After you have entered the Finish Zone you no longer explain words or become anyone’s guessing partner.
Instead, you try to “steal” words while other players are in turn. Try to guess the explained word before the
guessing player and you get to move forward on the board. If the Spinner arrow points to you, all players will
guess the words. NOTE: After a child has reached the Finish Zone, the other players will always use Family
Cards when explaining.
On your turn, you explain eight words. The guessing player guesses six of
them correctly and you make two mistakes. Your partner moves their pawn
six spaces forward while you only get to move four spaces (6 correct words –
2 mistakes = 4 spaces).
When a Player Reaches the Victory Space…
The game ends and this player wins!
Moving is Different on the Finish Zone!
When All Players Reach the Finish Zone…
Players whose pawns are on the Finish Zone move their pawns forward immediately if their guess is accepted
(instead of moving at the end of each turn).
The game ends and the player closest to the Victory space
wins! If more than one player is in this space, the player who
got there first wins the game.
Last Player outside the Finish Zone
Contents: 300 Family Cards, 180 Adult Cards, 20 WILD! Cards, 1 Sandglass, 8 Game
pawns, Game board, Spinner base and arrow
If you are the last player outside the Finish Zone, you must explain words until you too enter the Finish
Zone (or until another player lands on the Victory space).
UK
7+
Quick Rules
1. The player in turn is the explainer and spins the spinner to find the guessing
player. If the arrow points at the explainer, all players guess.
2. Family cards: used when the explainer or one of the guessers is a child.
3. Adult cards: used when two adults are partners. Additionally, the explainer
spins the spinner to see if the pair should use a WILD! Card.
4. The number beneath the explainer’s pawn tells which words are to be
explained from the cards.
5. The number of correctly guessed words = the number of steps on the
board.
6. The number of mistakes and skipped words = the number of backward
steps for the explainer (does not apply to children).
7. Everybody guesses: the explainer moves for each correctly guessed word
(minus mistakes), others move for each correct guess they made.
8. Finish Zone = you no longer explain or become anybody’s partner. Instead,
you guess during other players’ turns, and move only if you are the first
player to guess correctly.
9. Winner = the player who is closest to the Victory space when all have
entered the Finish Zone, or the player who reaches the Victory space
before that.
Manufacturer: Nelostuote Oy, P.O.Box 4444,
Raumanjuovantie 2, FIN-28100 Pori
40483 A
3–8
45+
Victory Space