The classic party game for phones: put the screen on your forehead, let your friends shout clues, and tilt down when you guess the word or tilt up to pass. Choose from 10 family-friendly decks or type your own words.
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Add at least 5 words. They are saved in this browser only.
Controls
Ready to play1:000 correct
Sample card
Penguin
Hold the phone sideways on your forehead, screen facing your friends. They give clues; tilt down when you guess right, tilt up to pass.
3Place the phone on your forehead
Time's up!
0
Keyboard: ↓ or Space correct, ↑ pass, Esc end round.
Recent rounds
Your scores appear here after each round.
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How to use the Forehead Guessing Game
Pick your decks: tap one or more categories, or choose My words and type your own list.
Choose the round length and controls: Tilt phone for playing on a phone, Tap buttons for a computer or tablet.
Press Start round and place the phone sideways on your forehead during the 3-2-1 countdown, screen facing your friends.
Listen to the clues: tilt the phone down (screen to the floor) when you guess the word, or tilt it up (screen to the ceiling) to pass. Bring it back upright before the next word.
When time runs out, see your score and the list of words, then hand the phone to the next player.
Clue-giving styles and house rules
The fun of a forehead guessing game comes from how the clues are given. Pick a style before you start, or switch styles every round to keep things fresh.
Style
How clue-givers help
Works best with
Describe it
Talk about the word without saying it or any part of it
Food, Things at Home, Places
Act it out
No talking, only gestures and sound effects
Actions, Animals, Sports & Games
Sound effects only
Noises and humming, no real words
Animals, Nature & Weather
One-word clues
Each clue-giver may say just one word at a time
Older kids and adults, any deck
Rhymes
Give words that rhyme with the answer
Kids (easy), short words
Scoring for teams
Classic: 1 point for every correct word in a round; passes score nothing. Each player takes one round per turn.
Penalty pass: subtract half a point for every pass to discourage skipping.
Team relay: split into two teams, play one round per player and add up the team totals at the end. The round history below the game keeps each score for you.
Kids rule: younger players get 30 extra seconds or may ask for one free hint per word.
Tips for smooth tilting
Hold the phone sideways (landscape) with both hands, screen pointing out, and keep it upright between words.
Make a clear nod-sized tilt, about 45 degrees, then come back to upright. Tiny wobbles are ignored on purpose.
Turn the screen brightness up and silence notifications so nothing pops over the word.
If your browser asks for motion access, allow it; otherwise use the big Correct and Pass buttons.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the forehead guessing game?
One player holds the phone against their forehead so they can't see the word but everyone else can. The other players give clues by describing, acting out or singing about the word, without saying it. The guesser tilts the phone down for every correct guess and up to pass, trying to get as many words as possible before the timer ends. Then the phone goes to the next player.
Why doesn't tilting work on my phone?
Tilt controls need the phone's motion sensor. On iPhone and iPad, Safari asks for permission to use motion and orientation the first time you press Start round, and you must tap Allow. Some browsers turn the sensor off on non-secure pages or in privacy modes. If no sensor is found, use the on-screen Correct and Pass buttons, which always work.
Which way do I tilt for correct and pass?
Start with the phone upright on your forehead. Tip the top of the phone forward so the screen faces the floor for correct, and tip it back so the screen faces the ceiling to pass. Return to upright before the next word. If it feels backwards on your device, tick Swap tilt directions.
Is this the official Heads Up! app?
No. This is an independent, free browser game inspired by the same kind of forehead guessing party game. All the word decks are original and it needs no app download, account or payment.
How long should a round be?
60 seconds is the classic length and works well for most groups. Use 90 seconds or 2 minutes for younger kids or harder decks, and 30 seconds for a fast speed round.
Can I add my own words?
Yes. Select My words and type words or phrases, one per line or separated by commas, such as family inside jokes, class vocabulary or holiday themes. They are stored only in this browser. You can mix your words with the built-in decks.
Is it suitable for kids and classrooms?
Yes. Every deck is family-friendly, and the Kids (easy) deck has simple words young players know. Teachers can use My words to review vocabulary: the class gives clues while one student guesses.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.