Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the things people ask most. Anything missing, send it through the contact page.
What is Contact?
A free, browser-based multiplayer word game. One player picks a secret word and reveals the first letter. Everyone else cracks it by posting clues and racing to land on the same word as another player. Full rules are on the How to Play page.
Is it really free?
Yes. No paywall, no subscription, no premium tier. The site runs on light banner ads outside the game itself. There are no ads during an active round.
Do I need an account?
No. No signup, no email, no password. You type a display name and pick a character. The browser remembers them, so you don't re-enter them next visit.
How many people can play?
Three to ten per room. Best with four or five. Above eight, chat moves fast and the Master has a harder time keeping up. Some groups like that.
Can I play solo?
No. The mechanic depends on two contactors independently landing on the same word, so it doesn't work alone. Bring at least two friends.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. Any modern mobile browser. Typing is easier on a laptop, but phones are fully supported.
What if I disconnect?
Reloads and brief drops are saved with a per-browser ID. Come back to the same room code and you'll rejoin where you left off. Longer disconnects, the round keeps going without you.
How does the 3-second countdown work?
Two contactors hit Contact on the same clue. A 3-second countdown starts. Both players type a word during that window. At zero, the server compares them. Exact match, next letter revealed. Mismatch, nothing happens and the round continues.
What does the block button do?
During the countdown, the Master can type what they think the clue-giver intended. Right word before zero blocks the clue. No letter revealed.
Is voice chat built in?
No. The game is text-only on purpose. Keeps it lightweight and works on every platform. Most groups run Discord, FaceTime, or Zoom on the side. Voice makes it funnier. Text works fine.
Where did the game come from?
Contact is a folk word game with no single inventor. People learn it in dorms, summer camps, and on road trips. Variants go by different names. This site is a faithful online version of the rules most people know.
I found a bug. What do I do?
Open the in-game feedback form (link is inside the game) and include your room code. With the code we can usually pull the server logs. You can also reach us through the contact page.
Can I suggest a feature?
Yes. Most of what's on the site started as a player suggestion. Word categories, modes, teams, persistent scores. If you'd genuinely use it, tell us. Roadmap moves faster with real input.
Where's the privacy policy?
On the privacy page. Short version: no accounts, no email, nothing personal beyond what your browser sends. Game data lives in server memory only while your room is active. It's deleted afterwards.