Turn structure
Each round uses a card showing a letter combination that all words must contain.
At the start of each round, the active player flips the top card from the draw pile. This card displays a letter combination (e.g., 'ST', 'ING', 'OUN'). Every word spoken during that round must contain this exact sequence of letters. The combination can appear anywhere in the word — at the beginning, middle, or end.
Restriction
A valid word must contain the exact letter combination shown on the card.
To pass the bomb, a player must say aloud a real word that contains the exact letter combination shown on the active card. The letters must appear consecutively and in the same order as shown on the card. Proper nouns (names of people, places, brands) are generally not allowed unless agreed upon before the game. The same word cannot be used twice in the same round.
Turn structure
After saying a valid word, the player immediately passes the bomb to the next player.
As soon as a player successfully says a valid word containing the round's letter combination, they must physically pass the bomb device to the next player in clockwise order. The next player must then say their own valid word (not previously used this round) and pass it onward. There is no pause between passes — the bomb continues ticking throughout.
Special
The bomb timer runs continuously and explodes at a random time.
The bomb's timer is activated at the start of each round and counts down for a random amount of time (the exact duration is unpredictable). It will 'explode' (make an explosion sound) at any moment. The randomness ensures no player can calculate when it is safe to hold the bomb.
Scoring
The player holding the bomb when it explodes takes a penalty card.
When the bomb explodes, the player currently holding it loses the round. That player takes one penalty card and places it face-up in front of them. The player with the most penalty cards at the end of the game loses (or, conversely, the player with the fewest penalty cards wins).
Restriction
Saying an invalid word or hesitating too long means you may not pass the bomb.
If the other players agree that the word spoken does not contain the required letter combination, is a proper noun, or has already been used this round, the word is rejected. The player cannot pass the bomb until they say a valid word. They must continue holding the ticking bomb while they think of a new word.
Restriction
Each word may only be used once per round.
Within a single round (one letter-combination card), no word may be repeated. If a player says a word that has already been used in the current round, it is invalid and they must say a different word before passing the bomb.
Turn structure
A round ends when the bomb explodes; the next player flips a new card to start a fresh round.
A round ends immediately when the bomb explodes. The player who was holding it takes a penalty card. The bomb is reset/reactivated, a new card is flipped from the draw pile by the next player in clockwise order, and a new round begins.