Bonedoggle

How to play Bonedoggle

Find the Mystery Bone by using the articulation distance reported after each guess.

  1. 1

    Make your first guessEnter the name of any bone in the human body.

  2. 2

    Read the distanceBonedoggle tells you the minimum number of articulations between your guess and the Mystery Bone.

  3. 3

    Find the answerUse the distances from your previous guesses to trace a path through the skeleton until you find the answer.

Try sample guesses

Add the sample bones to see separate groups join at the answer. The number counts articulations, not on-screen space.

No sample guesses yet.

Bones added

0 bones

No bones added yet.

Search shortcuts

Search ignores capitalization and matches each term you enter. You can combine the shortcuts below with any part of a bone’s name to narrow the results.

L or R
Use a single letter for the side. For example, R ulna finds the right ulna.
R1 or 1R
Combine a side and number in either order. R1 shows right-side first and digit-1 bones; add rib to isolate the right first rib.
1 through 12
Use numbers instead of written ordinals. For example, 8 thoracic finds the eighth thoracic vertebra.
Finger and toe numbers
Use 1 for thumb or big toe, 2 for index finger or second toe, through 5 for little finger or little toe. pinky also finds little-finger bones.

Combine terms in any order, such as R distal index. Use ↑/↓ and Enter to choose from the results. When only a left/right pair remains, ← or → submits that side.

How articulation distance works

An articulation is a place where two or more bones meet. Some allow a wide range of movement; others trade movement for stability.

Follow the connections

Bones that touch the selected bone at a joint are one articulation away. From there, each new joint adds another step through the skeleton.

Read the shades

The selected bone is white. Every other bone becomes a darker grey as its shortest articulation path gets longer. Bones with no joint path are the darkest.

Click or tap a bone to examine its articulations.

Distance examples

Articulations away
  1. right hip bone1
  2. sacrum2
  3. fifth lumbar vertebra3
  4. fourth lumbar vertebra4
  5. third lumbar vertebra5
  6. second lumbar vertebra6
  7. first lumbar vertebra7
  8. twelfth thoracic vertebra8
  9. eleventh thoracic vertebra9
  10. tenth thoracic vertebra10
  11. ninth thoracic vertebra11
  12. eighth thoracic vertebra12
  13. seventh thoracic vertebra13
  14. sixth thoracic vertebra14
  15. fifth thoracic vertebra15
  16. fourth thoracic vertebra16
  17. third thoracic vertebra17
  18. second thoracic vertebra18
  19. first thoracic vertebra19
  20. left first rib20

Now tracing

right femur

Rotate the skeleton to explore it, then click any bone to start a new path.

Daily and practice games

The daily game provides one shared mystery bone each day. Practice games can be replayed whenever you want and do not affect the daily result.

Play today's game