01Choose
Two words, ten seconds
Choose the word that matches the theme. Builders see letters, then a mix of letters and symbols; the Misunderstood see everything in code. Running out of time counts as a mistake.
A game by baræ
Babel
A word game.
Two sides.
Who gets you?
Does anyone still understand you?
The tower rises.
The language slips away.
One theme, two words and 10 seconds to choose in secret. A Misunderstood player is already hiding among you. Mistakes replace letters with symbols, and players can switch sides. After the recap, discuss and vote.
Want a sneak peek?
1 / 4 — Home screen
Swipe to explore · Autoplay with pause
4–10players
2sides
1phone
The idea
How does it work?
Building together sounds simple. First, you need to speak the same language.
02Decode
Mistakes spread
Construction flaws gradually replace letters with symbols until only one readable letter remains. Each symbol stands for the same letter throughout the game.
03Vote
Discuss, then decide
After the recap and any change of sides, discuss without revealing words or describing your screen. Vote by a show of hands: the chosen player leaves the building site and reveals their side.
Made to share
Build together.
Trust each other a little less.
Babel turns a word choice into a social deduction game. Mistakes raise doubts, discussions matter and players can change sides. The tower keeps a record of the building work; it never collapses.
For groups of 4–10 players
Pass the phone around the circle. Everyone checks their screen in secret, then the whole group discusses and votes.
Two sides, two goals
Builders win by voting out every Misunderstood player. The Misunderstood win when no builders remain on the site.
Your turn
Get a game ready
in three steps.
Gather your builders
Get 4–10 players together around one phone and sit in a circle.
Enter your names
Add players in the order they sit around the circle, then start building.
Keep your screen private
The first player chooses a word away from prying eyes. They discover their language at that moment, then pass the phone.
Good questions
Before you
get started.
The rules and practical details for enjoying the game together.
How do you play Babel?
Each player secretly chooses a word matching a theme within ten seconds. Mistakes and timeouts damage the next players’ words. The floor recap comes before the discussion and vote to remove someone from the building site.
What is the difference between a builder and a Misunderstood player?
Builders see a readable theme and words that become increasingly encoded as mistakes build up. The Misunderstood see both the theme and the two words entirely in code. One Misunderstood player is hidden in the group from the start.
Do the symbols change with every word?
No. Each symbol represents the same letter for every player throughout the game. The alphabet changes when a new game starts. Accented letters are treated as their unaccented equivalent.
When does a player lose the shared language?
When construction flaws reach half the remaining players, rounded down, one builder becomes Misunderstood: for example, two flaws with five players. Only one conversion can happen per floor. The new language appears on their next choices.
What happens on the next floor?
Words become readable again for builders, the Misunderstood keep their coded language and the starting player changes. The tower keeps a record of the flaws; it does not collapse.
How do you win, and how are tied votes resolved?
Builders win as soon as no Misunderstood players remain; the Misunderstood win when no builders remain. If the vote is tied, select the tied players: the game randomly chooses who leaves the site.
What can you say during the discussion?
Talk about behavior and suspicions without naming the theme or words, spelling them out or describing your screen. A mistake does not prove that someone is Misunderstood.
Do you need to know the Bible story of Babel?
No. The setting evokes the Tower of Babel, but the game is about words, discussion and bluffing. It is free to play in your browser with 4–10 people around one phone.
Shall we get together?
Shall we build
what comes next together?
One phone. Your group.
What happens next is up to you.