How to Play CrossTalk

CrossTalk is a fun and challenging word game that is perfect for players of all ages. The game combines elements of classic word games like crossword puzzles and charades to create an exciting and interactive experience. In CrossTalk, players work together in teams to come up with the secret word chosen by the opposing team. The game requires teamwork, strategy, and quick thinking to outsmart your opponents and come out on top.

The Setup

To begin playing CrossTalk, you will need a game board, the game cards, a sand timer, and two team pawns. The game board consists of a grid with letters of the alphabet, where players can place markers to form words. Each team will have their own set of game cards, which include secret words that they must guess.

Once the game is set up, divide the players into two teams. Each team should choose a representative to be the Clue-Giver for the round. The Clue-Givers will be responsible for providing clues to their teammates to help them guess the secret word. The remaining players on each team will be the Guesser, who will try to guess the secret word based on the clues given by the Clue-Giver.

The Gameplay

Each round of CrossTalk begins with one team choosing a secret word from their game cards. The opposing team will not know what the secret word is. Once the secret word is chosen, the Clue-Givers from each team will take turns giving clues to their teammates to help them guess the word.

The Clue-Givers can only give one-word clues that are related to the secret word. They can’t use any part of the secret word, including derivatives or forms of the word, in their clues. For example, if the secret word is “banana,” the Clue-Giver can’t say “fruit” as a clue.

The Clue-Givers have a limited amount of time to give their clue. A sand timer is used to keep track of the time. Once the timer runs out, the Guesser on each team must make their guess. The Guesser can ask questions and discuss the clues with their teammates, but they cannot directly spell out the secret word.

After the Guesser on each team has made their guess or time runs out, the round is over. The secret word is revealed, and points are awarded based on which team guessed correctly. The teams then switch roles, and a new round begins with a new secret word.

Scoring and Winning

In CrossTalk, points are awarded based on the team’s performance in each round. If the Guesser on a team correctly guesses the secret word, their team earns a point. If the Guesser on both teams guesses correctly, no points are awarded. However, if neither Guesser guesses correctly, the Clue-Giver from the team that chose the secret word earns a point.

The game continues with alternating Clue-Givers and Guessers until a team reaches the agreed-upon point goal. The team with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

CrossTalk is a game that encourages communication, teamwork, and quick thinking. It challenges players to think creatively and come up with clever clues to guide their teammates to the secret word. Whether you’re playing with friends or family, CrossTalk is sure to provide hours of entertainment, laughter, and friendly competition.

Are you ready to put your word game skills to the test? Gather your team, set up the game board, and let the CrossTalk begin!

• 1 Six-sided Die
• 162 Keyword Cards
• 8 Dry Erase Markers
• 1 Public Clue Board
• 2 Private Clue Boards
• 1 Keyword Card Box 1 Sand Timer
• 2 Hint Boards
• 6 Chat Boards
• Instructions

Here’s Everything You Need

Get ready to discover CrossTalk, the ultimate party game that will challenge your subtle communication skills! With CrossTalk, two teams compete against each other to guess secret Keywords. Are you up for the challenge?

Let me explain how it works. In each round, both teams choose a clue-giver. These clue-givers are the only ones who know the secret Keyword for that round. Their job is to help their team guess the Keyword before the other team does. Sounds exciting, right?

Here’s the twist. The round starts with both clue-givers secretly writing a one-word clue to give to their own team. This clue should get their team thinking in the right direction. Once they’re ready, the clue-givers will take turns giving one-word clues to everyone. The catch is, they can’t be too obvious or give away the secret Keyword!

When my team gives a public clue, your team, and only your team, can take a guess at the Keyword.

I need to use my private clue to provide some background information for future clues. This way, I can sneak some hints past your team.

The round ends when your team correctly guesses the Keyword or if both teams run out of guesses. Each correct guess earns us 1 point, and the first team to reach 5 points wins.

Getting Started

1. We’ll split into two teams of similar size and skill. We need at least two players on each team to play. One team will be called Team Black, and the other will be Team Blue.
2. Each team will receive their Hint Board 1, Private Clue Board 2, Chat Boards 3, and dry erase markers 4 that match their team’s color.

I’ll start by checking if we have the necessary equipment for the game. First, I’ll shuffle the Keyword Cards and place them in the Card Box with the dice showing. It’s important to note that the Keyword Cards can be used on either side, but it’s best to stick with one side throughout the game for consistency.

This is what you need to do:

Put the die with the number 7 on it and the Public Clue Board in a place where you can reach them easily.

Getting Ready

1. First, we need to choose one player from each team to be the clue-giver for this round. Both clue-givers will sit together on one side of the table, while the rest of their teammates will sit across from them.
2. Now, each clue-giver will receive their team’s Private Clue Board 2 and Hint Board 1.
3. For the remaining players, distribute their team’s Chat Boards 3 and dry erase markers 4. If there are more than 8 players, they can share Chat Boards and markers. The Chat Boards are used for communication between teammates, so the other team can’t hear what they’re saying. If there are only 4 players, the Chat Boards are not needed and can be put away.
4. The clue-givers will now draw a card from the Keyword deck 5, but make sure no one else sees it. They’ll look at the card together.

When it’s time to play Crosstalk, the first thing to do is agree on a Keyword. If you can’t agree, just roll a die to choose. But remember, both clue-givers have to use the same Keyword. And here’s an important rule: clue-givers can’t tell anyone about their Keyword, except through legal clues.

Once you have the Keyword, the round starts. It’s made up of private clues, public clues, and guesses. Each team gets one private clue, and they can share up to four public clues. They also have five guesses to try and figure out the Keyword.

It’s a fun game, but it’s not too complicated. Just pick a Keyword, give clues without using words from the Keyword, and guess what the Keyword is. And remember, the goal is to have a good time and challenge your friends without giving too much away. Happy playing!

When we play the game, both of us will start by writing down a secret clue on the Private Clue Board. We’ll keep it hidden from the other team.

Make sure your teammates can see the clue you wrote. Just remember, don’t share it with the other team.

Let’s Give Some Clues!

Next, we’ll take turns giving public clues. The clue-giver from the team that didn’t score last round gets to decide who goes first. If it’s the first round or if there was no score in the previous round, we’ll use the die to randomly choose the order.

Once you’ve picked a public clue, write it down on the Public Clue Board and say it out loud for everyone to hear.

Hey there, I’ve got a private clue for Team Blue: “SPORT”

Time to Take a Guess

So, here’s the deal. When one of us gives a clue to the whole group, it’s up to the other team (excluding their clue-giver) to figure out what the Keyword is. They can chat amongst themselves or write down their thoughts on their Chat Boards, just to keep things quiet and secretive.

But here’s the thing – while the other team is busy brainstorming, both clue-givers have to keep a poker face. They can’t show any reaction that might give away any hints. They’ve got to stay strong!

Oh, and just a heads up – the whole team can only make one guess per public clue. And remember, the Keyword might not always be just one word. So, gotta think outside the box!

Guess what? When my team manages to correctly figure out the Keyword in our game, we win a point! It’s like a victory dance in a single moment. We mark that point on the Public Clue Board with a hash mark and wipe away all the clues for that round. Talk about a clean slate!

Now, the cool thing is that there’s no penalty if we make an incorrect guess. We simply move on to the next public clue or guess. But here’s the twist – we get one extra guess compared to the number of public clues. So, even if we’re down to our last guess, we don’t get another public clue. It’s all or nothing! And if both teams miss the mark? Well, no points for that round. Tough luck!

Picture this: “FOUL” is the first public clue from Team Black.

When Team Blue combines the clues “SPORT” and “FOUL”, they guess the word “PENALTY” as their answer. Unfortunately, their guess is incorrect.

The game continues with Team Blue’s clue-giver creating a new public clue, and Team Black getting the next chance to guess.

Remember: You have the option to pass and skip your guess. It might be smart to pass if you don’t have enough information yet, as you could give away a hint to the other team.

On the other hand, if you choose to pass, you run the risk of the opposing team guessing the Keyword correctly before you do.

Rules for Clues

• Your clues can only be a single word. They can be made up of multiple words like “toothbrush,” but hyphens, spaces, and phrases are not allowed (like “high-tech,” “vice president,” or “kick the bucket”).
• Your clues must be real words, so avoid using things like “grrr,” “mhmm,” or any symbols (!, ?, >).

I have a puzzle for you to solve!

Let’s talk about clues. Clues are like secret messages that give you hints and help you solve a puzzle. They can be tricky, but when you figure them out, it feels so satisfying!

Clues come in different forms. Sometimes they are words that are related to the puzzle, or they can be pictures or symbols that give you a clue about what to do next.

When you are trying to solve a puzzle, it’s important to pay close attention to the clues. They can lead you in the right direction and help you find the solution.

But clues can be a double-edged sword. They can either help you or confuse you even more. Sometimes, they might seem obvious, but they actually lead you astray. So, it’s important to be careful and think critically when interpreting clues.

So, how do you interpret clues? Well, there are a few things you can do to make it easier.

First, take a moment to really look at the clues. Pay attention to details and try to find any patterns or connections. Sometimes, the smallest detail can hold the key to solving the puzzle.

Next, think about what the clues are trying to tell you. Put yourself in the shoes of the person who created the puzzle. What would they want you to focus on?

Lastly, trust your instincts. Sometimes, your gut feeling can guide you in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith and try something that might seem unconventional.

Remember, solving a puzzle is all about thinking outside the box. So, don’t be afraid to get creative and think differently.

Now, I have a challenge for you. Can you solve this puzzle? Take a look at the clues and see if you can find the hidden message.

Clue Rules:

• Clues are not in a different language unless that word is also standard English.
• Clues are not words that are always capitalized.
• Clues are not contained within the Keyword.
• Clues are not homophones of the Keyword.
• Clues are not acronyms.
• Extra communication about the clue is not allowed.

Clue Advice:

Hey there! Before we start playing CrossTalk, let’s talk about some important strategies. It’s crucial to be careful about the hints you give to the opposing team. They get a shot at guessing before your team, so it might be a good idea to be a little sneaky and guide your teammates towards the keyword using unexpected clues.

Pro tip: When choosing your private clue, think about giving your teammates some context for future clues you’ll give them in public.

The Hint Board

Note: If you’re new to CrossTalk, we suggest playing a few rounds without the Hint Board first. Once you’re comfortable with the game’s flow, you can introduce it.

The Hint Board is an amazing tool for clever clue-givers. It lets you secretly convey ideas like opposites, things to ignore, emphasis, or combining concepts related to public and private clues and guesses. It’s a game-changer!

When playing the game, I can only use the symbols on the Hint Board to give hints to my team. You can see an example of how this works on page 6.

Remember: I can draw a combination of symbols on the Hint Board.

I can only show the Hint Board to my teammates after they have made a guess or chosen to pass. Once I show them the Hint Board, I cannot change it.

The Hint Board is private and should only be seen by members of my team.

Ending the Game

Each team should take turns being the clue-giver. It’s a good idea to switch clue-givers after each round.

Continue playing and drawing new cards until one team reaches 5 points and wins the game.

Here’s an example of how the gameplay might look:

Hey there! Let’s dive into the game of deduction. The dice is rolled, and it reveals a thrilling Keyword for this round: “WILD GOOSE CHASE”.

Now, both of us clue-givers will jot down our secret clues on our Private Clue Boards, and then pass them to our teammates. Keep those clues hidden from our opponents, though!

By the way: While “Maverick” is a name from the famous movie Top Gun, it doesn’t always start with a capital letter. So, don’t worry, it can be a totally valid clue!





Okay, listen up! I’ll tell you how this game works. Team Black goes first, and their clue-giver has to write down a single word on the Public Clue board. They decide to go with “WINGMAN”. They hope this word will lead their teammates to their private clue, “MAVERICK”. Pretty clever, right?

Now it’s Team Blue’s turn. They have a chance to guess, but they decide to pass. Maybe they’re not quite sure what “WINGMAN” has to do with “MAVERICK”. And that’s okay because this game is all about making connections and figuring things out.



Hey there! It’s time for Team Blue’s clue-giver to share the first public clue. And my word of choice is “BIRD”.

Now Team Black takes a guess and goes with “GOOSE”, but unfortunately, they missed the mark. But no worries, the game goes on!

Now it’s Team Black’s turn to give a clue. Their clue-giver picks “TAME” as their second public clue. But when Team Blue guesses “SWAN”, it’s not right either. The excitement continues!

1. Now it’s back to Team Blue’s clue-giver, and she decides to utilize her Hint Board. Here’s what they came up with:
2. Emphasis: Combine Goose and Pursuit. That’s Team Black’s first guess and their private clue.
3. Opposite: Tame. That’s Team Black’s second public clue.
4. Ignore: Book. That’s Team Blue’s second public clue, but we haven’t revealed it yet.

Team Blue’s clue-giver passes the Hint Board to her teammates, who take a look at it, making sure to keep it hidden from the other team.

So, here’s the situation: I’m on Team Blue, and it’s my turn to give a clue. I decide to choose the word “BOOK” to keep Team Black guessing. I’ve already given my teammates a heads up to ignore this clue on the Hint Board. Team Black takes a shot and guesses “GOOSEBUMPS,” but unfortunately, they’re way off. And so, the game goes on.