How to play Bileteles - online paper slips & charades

• The room host: Tap the create button to instantly get a short room code. You can copy the room link to share with friends; when they open it, the code fills in automatically.
• The players: Everyone else joins by entering the room code and a nickname.
• Duplicate names: If two players pick the exact same name, the system automatically adds a number to keep things clear.
• Player limit: A single room can hold up to 16 players.
• Host migration: If the host leaves the room, the host role automatically passes to another active player.

Before starting, every player completes two simple steps:

• Pick a team: Teams take turns one by one during the rounds.
• Add secret words: Write down your secret words. They stay completely private at this stage and can be edited anytime while you are still in the lobby. Once the game starts, all the words are shuffled into one shared virtual bowl.

Host settings - the host can tailor the match with these options:

If the teams are uneven, the game shows you a friendly heads-up, but it won't block you. It's just a nudge to keep the match fair.

Start requirements: The game can only begin with at least 2 players, everyone having written their words, and at least 2 active teams (empty teams are simply skipped).

The host can pick the right format based on how your group is talking to each other:

• When to choose Voice + Chat? When you are physically together or on a voice call.
• When to choose Chat? When you want a quieter, purely text-based game where typing speed makes the difference.

Every round uses the exact same set of words from the shared bowl, but the task gets harder each time:

• Round 1 - Describe: You can use up to 3 words to describe the current slip. Translations into other languages, parts of the word itself, and gestures are all off-limits.
• Round 2 - One word: You may say only one word as a clue, and your team gets a single guess. Lean on the associations and jokes you built in the first round!
• Round 3 - Mime (Voice mode only): Total silence. You rely purely on gestures, facial expressions and body language - no sounds, no whispers.

⏱️ The host can skip the final round (mime) if you want to wrap up the game early.

1. The host starts the round, and the person chosen to give clues taps "Start" when ready.
2. The timer starts in real time for everyone (45 seconds by default).
3. The describer sees the secret word and gives clues; teammates try to guess.
4. Each correct answer scores 1 point for the team and shows the next word.
5. The "Skip" button moves to the next word with no penalty (if the host enabled it). The "Undo" button takes back the last point if it was marked by mistake.
6. When time runs out (0 seconds), the turn ends and play passes to the next team.

Leftover slips (skipped, undone, or not guessed when time ran out) go right back into the shared bowl to be drawn later.

• Team score: Every correct guess adds a point for the active team. Points carry over from one round to the next.
• Individual score: Alongside the team ranking, there is an individual leaderboard. In Voice mode, the describer marks who guessed. In Chat mode, the point goes automatically to whoever typed the correct word first.
• Key rule: You cannot score a point for your own word (the one you added in the lobby); in Voice mode, the describer can only credit a teammate.
• Corrections: Hitting "Undo" instantly removes the point from both the team score and the player score.

Every room has a chat, active in both game modes. Messages are protected by a gentle anti-flood limit to prevent spam. Recent history is kept when you reconnect, but the chat clears completely at the start of each new round so old answers do not act as spoilers.

Specifics for Chat (text) mode:

• During a turn, only members of the active team can type in chat.
• The system ignores capitals and accents automatically (e.g. "father", "Father" and "FATHER" all count the same).
• When someone guesses the word, their message is hidden automatically so it does not spoil the surprise, the point is awarded, and a short celebratory pause plays before the next word.
• If you are very close to the answer (off by 1-2 letters), the game sends a discreet hint: "so close!".
• Automated platform messages are clearly marked with a [SYSTEM] label.

• Manual pause: Any player can pause during an active turn. Resuming comes with a short 3-2-1 countdown so everyone is ready. You cannot pause again right after a resume (anti-abuse). If a turn is left paused for several minutes, it resumes on its own.
• Pause vote (disconnects): If a teammate loses connection mid-turn, an alert appears: "{Name} disconnected - pause until they return?". The vote stays open for about 30 seconds. If the majority votes yes, the timer freezes and stays frozen until the player comes back - the game auto-resumes with the 3-2-1 countdown the moment they reconnect. (If they never come back, it resumes on its own after a few minutes.)
• Reconnecting: If you refreshed by accident or your internet dropped, the game holds your seat for a few minutes. Your session is tied to the browser tab - if you close the tab you lose the session, but you can come back using the original room code.
• Describer dropouts: If the person describing drops, the game does not wait - it passes the turn straight to the next team (there is no one left to give clues). The pause vote above is for when a guessing teammate drops, not the describer.
• New players: You can only join a room while it is still in the lobby. Once the host hits Start, the room closes to new players.

A small toolbar always sits in the corner of your screen:

• Sound: Turn the sound effects on or off (your choice is saved).
• Language: Switch instantly between English and Romanian. The choice is saved in the page URL, so shared links keep their language.
• Pause: Freeze the timer in tense moments during a turn.
• Leave: Exit the room (with an extra confirmation step).

• ❌ You do not score a point for guessing your own secret word.
• ❌ You cannot start the match without at least 2 players, 2 active teams, and everyone having written their words.
• ❌ You cannot use "Skip" if the host turned it off in the settings.
• ❌ You cannot join a match that has already started.
• ❌ You cannot pause outside an active turn, or right after a resume.
• ❌ In Chat mode, you cannot type during another team's turn.

• 💡 Remember the words: Round 2 and Round 3 use the exact same words as the first round. Pay close attention to the round 1 descriptions, because they become your only lifeline when you are down to a single word or miming!
• 💡 Pick accessible words: Try to write terms, characters or phrases your group definitely knows. Words that are too obscure ruin the flow of the game.
• 💡 Balance the teams: Even though the game does not block you, follow the warning and keep the teams equal in size for a close match.
• 💡 Quick game: In a hurry? Lower the words per player or shorten the seconds per turn straight from the lobby settings.