The Bomb: The Pass-the-Bomb Party Game
The Bomb is a pass-the-bomb party game on one phone. The screen shows a category, you say an answer that fits, and you pass the phone. The fuse is hidden. Whoever is holding the phone when it blows takes the penalty.
Rounds last 15 to 45 seconds, nobody knows exactly when, and the categories run from "A pizza topping" to "A famous rap beef". Seven packs, 350 categories, any number of players, free in the Dronk app.
iPhone · Free · No account · English & Danish
| Players | 3 or more, no upper limit |
|---|---|
| Round length | 15–45 seconds, random and hidden |
| Equipment | One iPhone |
| Packs | 7 packs · 50 categories each · 350 total |
| Free pack | Classic (50 categories) |
| Premium packs | Spicy · Sports · Pop Culture · Geography & Travel · Food & Drink · Music |
| Who loses | Whoever holds the phone when it blows |
| Free to play | Yes, in the Dronk app |
01 — DefinitionWhat is The Bomb?
The Bomb is Dronk's version of the classic pass-the-bomb game, sometimes called hot potato or the ticking bomb game. One phone goes around the circle. It shows a category, each player has to say something that fits before passing it on, and a hidden timer decides when the round ends. The person left holding the phone loses the round and takes the penalty the group agreed on.
The trick is that the fuse is invisible and never the same length twice. Sometimes it blows after 15 seconds, sometimes it drags on for 45, so a slow player is dangerous to everyone downstream of them. Categories are broad enough that everyone can answer ("A color", "A country in Africa") but run out faster than you think when eight people have already gone.
It is the fastest game in Dronk to explain and the loudest to play, which is why it works as the opener between Imposter rounds or while you wait for people to arrive.
02 — RulesHow to play The Bomb (step by step)
Three screens, and the last two loop until the group is done.
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1Pick a pack and agree on the penalty
Classic is free and checked by default: broad categories anyone can play. Spicy, Sports, Pop Culture, Geography & Travel, Food & Drink and Music unlock with Premium. Agree on the penalty (a dare, a song, a story), then tap Start the Bomb.
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2Say an answer, pass the phone
The screen shows the category, "A song everyone knows", with the bomb wobbling underneath and the hidden fuse already burning. Say a valid answer nobody has used this round and hand the phone to the next player. There is no button to tap: say it and pass it on.
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3BOOM: whoever holds it takes the penalty
Somewhere between 15 and 45 seconds in, the bomb goes off: "BOOM! You were holding the bomb — take a penalty!" Whoever has the phone loses the round, even mid-word. Tap Next round for a new category, starting with the player who blew up.
Play "no passing on a fresh category": the first player must give two answers before the phone can move. It stops the person who reads the category from dumping it instantly on their neighbor.
03 — CategoriesPacks and real categories from the app
Every pack has 50 categories. Here is what each one is about, with real examples pulled straight from the English content.
Classic
Broad categories anyone can play. Free.
Spicy
Adult and dirty. For the brave only. Premium.
Sports
Sports only. From soccer to Formula 1. Premium.
Pop Culture
Movies, shows and celebrities. Premium.
Geography & Travel
Around the world on one phone. Premium.
Food & Drink
The kitchen and the bar in one game. Premium.
Music
Anything with sound, rap to classical. Premium.
Classic (free)
Sports
Pop Culture
Geography & Travel
Food & Drink
Music
Spicy
Spicy is exactly what it says, so check the room before you pick it. Everything else plays fine with a mixed table.
04 — TipsHow not to blow up
Answer fast, not well
The table only checks that your answer fits and hasn't been said. "A color": say red, not the shade you saw at a paint store once. Every second you spend being clever is a second closer to the bang.
Have a second answer ready before the phone reaches you
Listen to the answers going around and pre-load two of your own. When the person before you steals your first one, you still pass instantly.
Watch the round length
The fuse is random, but 15 seconds is the floor. If the phone has already been around the circle twice, everyone is in the danger zone and the game gets very quiet very fast.
05 — FAQThe Bomb: frequently asked questions
What is The Bomb?
The Bomb is a pass-the-bomb party game in the Dronk app. The phone shows a category, you say an answer and pass the phone, and whoever is holding it when the bomb blows takes the penalty. Rounds last 15 to 45 seconds and the timer is hidden.
How long until the bomb explodes?
Somewhere between 15 and 45 seconds, drawn at random every round. The countdown is hidden, so you never know if you have time for one more answer.
How many players do you need?
Three or more works best, and there is no upper limit because the phone just keeps going around the circle. With two players it turns into a rapid-fire duel.
Can you repeat an answer?
House rule: no. An answer that has already been said in the round doesn't count, and the player has to come up with another one before passing. The table is the judge.
Which category packs are in The Bomb?
Seven packs with 50 categories each: Classic (free), Spicy, Sports, Pop Culture, Geography & Travel, Food & Drink and Music (Premium). That is 350 categories in English.
Is The Bomb free?
Yes. The Bomb is free to play with the Classic pack, no account and no ads. Dronk Premium unlocks the other six packs and premium content across all 14 games.
Is The Bomb a drinking game?
It belongs to the pass-the-bomb family that people often play as a drinking game, but the app itself only decides who lost the round. What the penalty is, a dare, a song, a story, is up to your group.
Don't let it blow up in your hand
The Bomb is free in Dronk. One phone, 350 categories, a fuse nobody can see.
Get Dronk freeiPhone · iOS 17+ · Free · English & Danish