About Sidestep

Sidestep is a free party word game for 2 to 5 teams. One player describes a word on screen without saying any of the forbidden words, and their team has to guess it before time runs out. Pick your categories, choose from easy 100-point words up to a 500-point stretch, and race the clock.

It runs in your browser on a single phone, tablet or laptop that you pass between teams. There is nothing to download and no account to make. You can also upload your own category as a CSV file to play with words from your own life, classroom or office.

Sidestep is made by Periculum Games Limited.

How to play

  1. Choose how many teams are playing, name them, then set the game options and pick the categories.
  2. When it is your team's turn, one player presses Start. A player from another team sits beside them as the referee.
  3. Tap a tile. Harder words are worth more points. The word and its forbidden words appear on the card.
  4. Describe the word without saying it, any of the forbidden words, or their derived forms. If "eat" is forbidden, so are ate, eaten, eating and eater. If the Utility word option is on, each card also bans one extra everyday word, shown in gold.
  5. When a teammate guesses it, press Right to score. Press Skip to move on, but a skip costs half the word's points.
  6. When time is up, review the words, fix any mistakes, confirm the score and pass the device to the next team.
  7. After the last round, the team with the most points wins.

Can I add my own words?

Yes. Upload a CSV file for a category. The help under the upload button shows the format. A category file needs at least 20 words, including 6 at 100 points, 6 at 300 and 3 at 500. The more words it has, the more turns you can play without repeats.

Does it cost anything or need an account?

No. Sidestep is free and works without signing in.

Are my team names or word files saved anywhere?

No. They stay in your browser and are cleared when you close or reload the page.

Privacy policy

Last updated 9 October 2026

Who we are

Sidestep is operated by Periculum Games Limited ("we"). You can reach us at info@periculumgames.com.

The short version

Sidestep does not ask you for an account, your name or your email address. The game does not collect personal information.

What the game handles

Team names and any category files you upload are processed in your browser only. They are never sent to our servers, and they disappear when you close or reload the page.

Cookies and storage

The game itself does not set cookies or save anything on your device.

Third-party services

Fonts are loaded from Google Fonts, so Google receives your IP address and browser details when the page loads. Our hosting provider may also keep standard server logs.

Advertising

This site may show ads served by Google and its partners. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your previous visits to this and other websites. Google's advertising cookies let it and its partners serve ads to you based on your visit to this site and other sites on the internet.

You can opt out of personalised advertising in Google Ads Settings, or at aboutads.info. Where the law requires it, such as in the UK and the European Economic Area, you will be asked for consent before personalised ads are shown.

Children

Sidestep is a family game, but it is not aimed at children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect information from them.

Your rights

If you have questions about your data, or want to exercise your rights under data protection law, email us at info@periculumgames.com.

Changes

We may update this policy from time to time. The date above shows when it last changed.

Terms of use

Last updated 9 October 2026

Using the game

Sidestep is provided free of charge by Periculum Games Limited for personal, non-commercial entertainment. By using it you agree to these terms.

No warranty

The game is provided "as is", without promises that it will always be available, error-free or suitable for a particular purpose. Use it at your own risk.

Your content

If you upload a category file, it stays on your device and you are responsible for having the right to use its contents. Please do not upload anything unlawful, hateful or harmful.

Ownership

The design, code and built-in word lists of Sidestep belong to Periculum Games Limited. You may not copy or resell them without permission. Sidestep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of any commercial game, or by the creators or owners of any book, film, TV series, video game, sports club or other franchise mentioned in a category. All names belong to their owners.

Liability

To the extent the law allows, we are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of the game.

Changes

We may change these terms or the game at any time. Continued use means you accept the updated terms.

Contact

Questions, bug reports, privacy requests or ideas for new categories? Email us at info@periculumgames.com

We read every message and aim to reply within a few days.

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Periculum Games Limited