Overview

Perfect Words is a cooperative word association game where players build a crossword puzzle grid together, then secretly write down associations for each word alignment. Points are earned when multiple players think of the same association. The team tries to earn as many seashells as possible to reach medal thresholds.

Components

• 247 Word cards (double-sided, 494 words)
• 47 Crab cards
• 200 Sea cards
• 7 numbered Arrow tiles (some with double arrows)
• 2 Double and Nothing tiles (“x2” and “X”)
• 10 Seashell tokens (1-seashell side / Perfect side)
• 1 notepad
• 6 pencils

Setup

1. Take 30 Sea cards and 10 Crab cards; shuffle together to form the word deck.
2. Deal 9 cards face up as a market beside the deck (the top card of the deck is also available, making 10 words total).
3. Stack Arrow tiles in numerical order (1 on top, then 2/3, then 4, etc., with 10 on the bottom).
4. Set aside Seashell tokens, “x2” tile, “X” tile, and notepad.
5. Choose a first player.

Turn Structure

The game has three phases:

Phase 1: Creating the Crossword Grid

Players take turns clockwise. On your turn:

1. Place a word (mandatory): Choose one of the 10 available words and place it adjacent (not diagonally) to any card or tile already on the table.
2. Refill the market with a card from the deck (unless you took the deck’s top card).
3. Place an Arrow tile if your word creates an alignment of 2+ unarrowed words. Take the top Arrow tile and place it at one end of the line, pointing toward the words. If a double-arrow tile, choose which arrow to use; the other arrow may not point to an adjacent Arrow tile or an already-arrowed line.

Grid creation ends when Arrow 10 is placed AND every arrow points to an alignment of at least 2 words.

Actions

On your turn during Phase 1, you must place one word from the 10 available words adjacent to the existing grid. If this creates a new alignment of 2+ unarrowed words, place an Arrow tile. During Phase 2, all players simultaneously write associations. During Phase 3, associations are revealed and scored.

Phase 2: Write Down Associations

Each player secretly writes one association for each of the 10 arrows on their notepad sheet. Associations must all be different. Associations cannot share a root word with any word in the corresponding alignment.

Double and Nothing: Before revealing, players discuss (without mentioning their associations) and collectively place the “x2” tile (doubles that arrow’s score) and “X” tile (cancels that arrow’s score) in front of chosen arrows.

Phase 3: Scoring

Reveal associations one arrow at a time. For each arrow, check how many players wrote the same association:

Players	Minimum for 1 Seashell	Minimum for Perfect (2 Seashells)
2	N/A (never 1 seashell)	Both match
3-4	2 match	3+ match
5-6	3 match	4+ match

• The “x2” arrow doubles its seashell tokens.
• The “X” arrow scores nothing.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Count total seashells across all 10 arrows (Perfect tokens = 2 seashells each).

Score	Medal
6-7	Bronze
8-9	Silver
10-11	Gold
12-13	Platinum
14-16	Diamond
17-20	Champion

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Players may freely communicate during grid creation and Double/Nothing placement, but must NEVER mention their actual associations.
• Crab cards have special effects when drawn (mixed into the word deck).
• If a word creates multiple alignments simultaneously, only one may be arrowed.
• If an alignment cannot be arrowed (no room on either side), it is skipped.
• Associations can be words, compound words, titles, brand names – anything except words sharing a root with the alignment’s words.
• All 10 associations on a player’s sheet must be different from each other.

Player Reference

Phase	Action
1. Grid Building	Place a word, refill market, place arrow if applicable
2. Writing	Secretly write 10 associations, then collectively place x2 and X tiles
3. Scoring	Reveal associations; award seashells for matches

Key restriction: You cannot say or hint at your written associations during discussion.