Overview

Outburst! is a fast-paced team party game of “verbal explosions” where teams shout out answers matching a list of 10 Target Answers on a topic card. Each card has a topic and 10 Target Answers printed on both sides (800 topics total). Teams race to be the first to score 60 points. Designed by Brian Hersch, published by Hersch and Company.

Components

• Topic Cards (printed on both sides, 800 topics total)
• Card Viewer (with sliding buttons for tracking correct answers)
• 3 dice (2 black dice, 1 green die)
• 3 Pass Chips per team
• 1 Scoring Peg per team
• Scoring track board
• Main well for cards

Setup

1. Divide into 2 teams. Teams should sit together.
2. Remove game components from the box.
3. Each team takes 3 Pass Chips and 1 Scoring Peg.
4. Place Scoring Pegs at START on the scoring track.
5. Unwrap and place Topic Cards in the main well, fanned front to back.
6. One player is selected as Master of Ceremonies (M.C.) – keeps order, maintains topic selection, scoring, etc.
7. The M.C. takes the Card Viewer and slides all 10 red buttons outside to start position (away from center so ovals are blank).

Turn Structure

1. Roll for first turn: Each team rolls the 2 black dice. Higher roll goes first.
2. M.C. reads the topic: Selects a Topic Card from the front of the box and reads the topic aloud. The M.C. asks the playing team “Play it? or Pass it?”
3. Passing a topic (optional): If the team passes, place 1 Pass Chip out of play. The M.C. draws a replacement topic which must be played immediately. You cannot pass a topic that was passed to you. (3 passes per game per team.)
4. Determine bonus: Someone from the playing team rolls all 3 dice. The combined total of the 2 black dice gives the Target Answer number that earns a bonus. The green die shows how many Bonus Points are at stake.
5. M.C. sets up the Viewer: A member of the opposing team (scorekeeper) receives the Topic Card and Viewer. They insert the card into the Viewer so the Target Answers are visible only to them.
6. One minute to answer: Timer is started. The playing team has 1 minute to shout out answers matching the 10 Target Answers.
7. Scorekeeper tracks: Each time a team member yells a correct answer, the scorekeeper says “yes” and slides the button; “no” for incorrect.
8. Scoring: When time runs out, the scorekeeper announces how many Target Answers were identified. Score = 1 point per correct Target Answer (red ovals) + Bonus Points if the bonus Target Answer was among those guessed. Move the Scoring Peg accordingly.
9. Review answers: The opposing player reads aloud the answers that were not correctly identified.
10. Pass the Card Viewer to the other team for their turn.

Actions

• Shout answers: All team members simultaneously yell potential answers during the 1-minute timer.
• Pass a topic: Spend 1 Pass Chip (max 3 per game). The opposing team will play the passed topic after the current team plays the replacement topic.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• 1 point per correct Target Answer.
• Bonus Points (green die value) if the specific Target Answer indicated by the black dice was guessed.
• First team to reach 60 points wins. The first team to travel around the track twice and accumulate 60 points wins. If the second team still has a chance to tie, they play their turn.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• “This game is unfair!” – It is possible for there to be more than 10 appropriate answers. Answers not on the list do not count.
• An average score of 5 per topic is quite good.
• All team members should shout answers at the same time (adds to brainstorming and annoys opponents).
• If a team cannot get started, the scorekeeper may read the #1 answer as a clue, but no point is awarded for it.
• The final decision on whether an answer is close enough is up to the group.
• After scoring, buttons and Viewer are reset for the next team.

Player Reference

Turn: M.C. reads topic → Team accepts or passes → Roll for bonus → 1 minute to shout answers → Score

Scoring: 1 point per correct answer + bonus (green die) if bonus number is hit

Win: First team to 60 points

Passes: 3 per team per game (cannot pass a passed topic)