15 Words or Less
A list of secret words. A budget of clue words. Spend them wisely.
15 Words or Less
How to play
The clue-giver takes the phone and deals a list of secret words. Their job is to get their team to guess every word on the list — but they can only say fifteen words in total, across the whole list. Tap +1 for every word you say, and tap a secret word to tick it off when someone guesses it.
No saying the secret words, no gestures, no sound effects, no spelling. When the counter hits zero, your team gets one last guess. Then it is the next player's turn.
What is 15 Words or Less?
15 Words or Less is a word guessing game with a twist: you are not racing a clock, you are spending a budget. The clue-giver gets a short list of secret words — penguin, pizza, airport, karaoke, dragon — and fifteen spoken words to get their team to guess all of them. Every word counts, including the little ones. Say "it's a bird that can't fly" and you have already spent six.
The idea goes back to word-limit party games like 25 Words or Less, but the fifteen-word version took off on TikTok, where couples and friends film themselves trying to clear a list with the fewest words possible. It is a perfect quick game: a round takes two minutes, it works with just two people, and the tension of watching your word count drop is surprisingly intense.
Strategy: how to spend 15 words
With five secret words and fifteen to spend, you have three words per target on average. That sounds like a lot until you try it. The best players think in single-word clues that do all the work on their own.
- Lead with your strongest clue. For penguin, "tuxedo" or "Antarctica" will often land on its own. "Bird" will not.
- Drop the filler. "It's a kind of" costs four words and says nothing. Just say the clue.
- Bank words on easy targets. Get the obvious ones in a single word each, so you have spare words for the hard one.
- Pick your order. You do not have to go top to bottom. Start with the target you are most sure about to build momentum.
- Use your team's history. A shared memory — "Barcelona" for airport, if that trip went badly — can be worth five ordinary words.
Ways to play
- Couples. Take turns as clue-giver and guesser. Whoever clears a list with the fewest words wins.
- Teams. Two teams alternate clue-givers. A point for every target guessed, and a bonus point for clearing the whole list.
- Hard mode. Drop the budget to 10 words, or raise the list to 8 targets on 15 words.
- Kids' mode. Raise the budget to 25 or 30 words and play the Animals and Food categories.
15 Words or Less word list
Every secret word the game can deal, by category. Switch categories on or off on the setup screen.
Everyday
Toothbrush, Umbrella, Pillow, Key, Mirror, Wallet, Sunglasses, Candle, Clock, Ladder, Scissors, Backpack, Blanket, Lamp, Phone charger, Remote control, Towel, Fridge, Bicycle, Doorbell, Shoelace, Stapler, Calendar, Kettle, Socks, Shower, Envelope, Battery, Window, Hammer
Food
Pizza, Pancakes, Sushi, Popcorn, Watermelon, Spaghetti, Taco, Ice cream, Banana, Cheese, Burger, Croissant, Coffee, Chocolate, Avocado, Donut, Lemonade, Sandwich, Soup, Birthday cake, Bacon, Pineapple, Cereal, Hot dog, Strawberry, Peanut butter, French fries, Honey, Salad, Pretzel
Animals
Penguin, Giraffe, Elephant, Kangaroo, Octopus, Shark, Owl, Hamster, Crocodile, Panda, Dolphin, Snail, Flamingo, Camel, Bee, Lion, Sloth, Horse, Frog, Parrot, Tortoise, Wolf, Squirrel, Jellyfish, Bat, Zebra, Spider, Peacock, Koala, Goldfish
Places
Beach, Airport, Hospital, Library, Zoo, Cinema, Supermarket, School, Gym, Museum, Campsite, Bakery, Swimming pool, Train station, Castle, Desert, Volcano, Farm, Restaurant, Theme park, Ski slope, Dentist, Bowling alley, Hotel, Jungle, Igloo, Lighthouse, Prison, Church, Space
Activities
Swimming, Camping, Karaoke, Yoga, Fishing, Skydiving, Knitting, Gardening, Baking, Surfing, Bowling, Painting, Juggling, Snowboarding, Hiking, Dancing, Sunbathing, Road trip, Sleepover, Picnic, Wedding, Birthday party, Job interview, First date, Hide and seek, Video games, Shopping, Sleeping, Laundry, Moving house
Fantasy & fun
Dragon, Wizard, Mermaid, Vampire, Ghost, Unicorn, Pirate, Robot, Alien, Superhero, Zombie, Fairy, Knight, Ninja, Dinosaur, Werewolf, Treasure, Magic wand, Time machine, Haunted house, Genie, Giant, Troll, Crystal ball, Flying carpet, Santa Claus, Tooth fairy, Snowman, Rainbow, Fireworks
Frequently asked questions
How do you play 15 Words or Less?
One player is the clue-giver. They get a list of secret words — five by default — and have to get their team to guess every one of them by saying 15 words or fewer in total. Every word spoken counts against the budget, so the clue-giver has to choose each one carefully. If the team guesses the whole list before the words run out, they win the round.
What counts as a word?
Every word the clue-giver says out loud counts, including small ones like 'a', 'the' and 'it'. You may not say any of the secret words, part of them, or a rhyme. Gestures, sound effects and spelling are not allowed — only spoken words. Agree any house rules (for example whether 'yes' and 'no' count) before you start.
How does the word counter work?
Tap the big +1 button every time you say a word. The counter shows how many you have left, and the bar fills up as you spend them. If you tap too many by mistake, the − button takes one back. When a teammate guesses a target, tap it in the list to tick it off. When the counter hits zero, your team gets one final guess, then tap Finish.
Can I change the number of words or the list size?
Yes. On the setup screen you can choose between 3 and 10 secret words per list, and a clue budget anywhere from 5 to 30 words. Five secret words with 15 clue words is the standard game; ten secrets with 20 words is a serious challenge for experienced players.
How many people do you need?
Two is enough — one gives clues and the other guesses — which makes it a good game for couples. With more people, split into teams and take turns, comparing how many targets each team got and how many words they used.
Is 15 Words or Less free?
Yes. It runs in any browser on a phone, tablet or computer, with no sign-up and no download.
More games to play in the browser
Try the Imposter Game for a game of bluffing, act it out with the Charades Generator, sketch with the Pictionary Word Generator, or browse all our games.