Games like Balderdash you can play online
The short answer: for the real Balderdash feel, a real obscure word that everyone fakes a definition for, try Fictionary Frenzy or Word Wizard's Dictionary Game: both are free in a browser, on each player's own phone. For a polished party game, Fibbage 4 (Jackbox) bluffs trivia facts instead of words and costs money. Playing solo or with kids? Wordfib is real meanings against written fibs, no group needed.
By Wordfib. We make one of the games on this list, so it isn't ranked first, and it gets a drawback like every other. Prices and details were checked on each game's own page on November 11, 2026.
Is there an official Balderdash online?
Balderdash is a Mattel board game for 2 to 6 players. We couldn't find an official online or app version on Mattel's site, so these are the closest online options.
How we sorted them
The classic version of Balderdash has three parts: a real word, fake definitions written by the players, and a vote for the real one. Current Mattel editions also include categories like famous people, initials, laws and movies. Most "games like Balderdash" lists mix in drawing and trivia games. We say plainly which parts each game keeps, and what you need to play it: money, a shared screen, an account, and how many people.
| Game | Real words? | You write the fakes? | Price | Players | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fictionary Frenzy | Yes | Yes | Free | 2–25 | Browser, own phones |
| Dictionary Game (Word Wizard) | Yes | Yes | Free | Not stated | Browser |
| Fibbage 4 (Jackbox Party Pack 9) | No, trivia facts | Yes | $29.99 pack | 2–8 | Consoles, PC, TV boxes; phones as controllers |
| Wordfib | Yes | No, the fibs are written for you | Free | 1 at a time | Browser |
| Jackbox Party Essentials (Netflix) | No, trivia facts and drawings | Yes | Included in Netflix plans | 3–8 | Netflix on TVs and browsers |
| Bluffalo | No, trivia | Yes | Free | 3 to 12+ | Browser |
| Dictionarium (Jackbox Party Pack 6) | No, made-up words | Yes, funniest wins | $29.99 pack | 3–8 | Consoles, PC, TV boxes |
| Psych! Outwit Your Friends | Some decks (Word Up) | Yes | Free with in-app purchases | Not stated | iPhone and iPad |
1. Fictionary Frenzy
The closest thing to Balderdash in a browser. Players get a real obscure word, write a convincing fake definition in 60 seconds, then vote for the real one. With fewer than 4 players, real definitions of other words are added as decoys.
- Price: free ("Players always play free: no app, no account").
- Players: 2 to 25, each on their own phone; a TV view can be opened in any browser.
- Audience: described as family-friendly; no formal age rating.
- Drawback: the host has to sign in to create a room, and the page describes no content settings beyond "family-friendly".
Checked on November 11, 2026: gamesocial.io/our-games/fictionary-frenzy/
2. Dictionary Game (Word Wizard)
The classic dictionary game, online: everyone sees the same rare word, writes a fake definition, and votes on the real one, scoring for right guesses and for fooling others.
- Price: free ("Play Free with Friends").
- Players: not stated on its page.
- Audience: "fun for all ages", presented as educational.
- Drawback: the page leaves a lot out: no player count, and its account and invite questions show no answers.
Checked on November 11, 2026: wordwizard.app/dictionary-game
3. Fibbage 4 (The Jackbox Party Pack 9)
The best-known bluffing party game. Instead of words, players see a true fact with a key word blanked out, write a lie to fit it, and score by spotting the truth and by fooling the others.
- Price: sold only inside The Jackbox Party Pack 9, $29.99 on Steam, Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, Apple TV & iPad, Fire TV and Epic.
- Players: 2 to 8, using their phones as controllers (at jackbox.tv); only the host needs to own it, and everyone must see the host's screen. An audience of up to 10,000 can play along.
- Age rating: ESRB M 17+ on its game page; an optional family-friendly setting is listed on the pack page.
- Drawback: it's a five-game pack at $29.99, and for remote play the host has to share their screen on something like Zoom or Discord.
Checked on November 11, 2026: jackboxgames.com/games/fibbage-4, jackboxgames.com/games/the-jackbox-party-pack-9, jackboxgames.com/how-to-play
4. Wordfib
Balderdash's vote without the writing: each word shows its real meaning and three convincing fibs written for the game, and you pick the real one. You can hear the word said, see it in a sentence, and read where it comes from. Daily games include a Word of the Day with seven meanings to choose from.
- Price: free. One round with no sign-up; after that, a free family account.
- Players: one at a time; several players can share a device, each with their own level.
- Ages: five levels, from Bookworm (ages 7 to 9) to Lexicographer (word lovers), 7,500 words.
- Drawback: it isn't a party game. You don't write fibs or fool your friends; you only spot the real meaning, on your own. It's web only for now.
Checked on November 11, 2026: wordfib.com/about, wordfib.com/how-to-play
5. The Jackbox Party Essentials on Netflix
Fibbage 4 plus Drawful 2 (draw a prompt, then pick the real title from the decoys) and Quiplash 3, inside Netflix.
- Price: "included in all Netflix plans, starting at $8.99".
- Players: 3 to 8, each on their own phone with Netflix's Game Controller app.
- Age rating: 13+ (crude humor, language, and tobacco, drug and alcohol references).
- Drawback: you need a Netflix subscription, a TV or browser that shows Netflix games, and the controller app on every phone.
Checked on November 11, 2026: netflix.com/games/82089527, jackboxgames.com/blog/play-the-jackbox-party-essentials-on-netflix
6. Bluffalo
A free browser version of the bluffing idea with trivia questions: everyone writes a fake answer, then votes on which of the shuffled answers is real.
- Price: free, "no download, no sign-up".
- Players: at least 3, up to 12 or more (best with 4 to 8), each in their own browser with a room code; optional built-in video chat.
- Age rating: not stated on its page.
- Drawback: trivia rather than words, at least 3 players, and no age rating or content filter stated.
Checked on November 11, 2026: gamebuddies.io/games/bluffalo
7. Dictionarium (The Jackbox Party Pack 6)
Players define "hot, fresh, never-seen-before words", vote for the best definition, then write a synonym and use the word in a sentence.
- Price: inside The Jackbox Party Pack 6, $29.99.
- Players: 3 to 8, phones as controllers.
- Age rating: ESRB M 17+ on its game page; optional family-friendly setting on the pack page.
- Drawback: the words are made up and the funniest answer wins, so there's no real definition to find, and it needs 3 or more players and the $29.99 pack.
Checked on November 11, 2026: jackboxgames.com/games/dictionarium, jackboxgames.com/games/the-jackbox-party-pack-6
8. Psych! Outwit Your Friends
A phone app where players write fake answers to real trivia questions in categories like Word Up and Movie Bluff, scoring for finding the real answer and for every friend who falls for their fake.
- Price: free with in-app purchases (for example Remove Ads $2.99, Party Pack $2.99, Adults Only $1.99).
- Platforms: iPhone and iPad (iOS 12 or later).
- Age rating: 13+ on the App Store.
- Drawback: last updated August 25, 2023, and its own website address no longer works; ads unless you pay to remove them.
Checked on November 11, 2026: apps.apple.com/us/app/psych-outwit-your-friends/id1005765746
Which one should you pick?
- A Balderdash night with friends, free: Fictionary Frenzy.
- A party with a big screen and some budget: Fibbage 4.
- You already pay for Netflix: The Jackbox Party Essentials.
- Practicing alone, or with kids between game nights: Wordfib, which gives you the real meaning, the fibs, the pronunciation and the word's story, at five age levels.
Balderdash is a trademark of Mattel. Wordfib isn't affiliated with Mattel or any other game on this list.