'Wheel of Fortune' viewers call this Bonus Round category a trap — and they may be right
A long-running debate among 'Wheel of Fortune' viewers has resurfaced. And this time, fans seem closer than ever to agreeing on which Bonus Round categories are the most painful, and which ones give contestants the best shot at walking away with a big win. For years, loyal watchers of the iconic game show have analyzed every spin, solve, and stumble. While contestants have no control over the puzzle itself once they reach the Bonus Round, they do get to choose the category and select four additional letters to accompany the standard RSTLNE. That choice alone, fans argue, can make or break the final moments of the game.
The Bonus Round, which takes place after a contestant wins the main game, is often the most suspenseful part of the episode. The finalist blindly selects an envelope containing either a cash prize or a vehicle, as per the Yakima Herald-Republic. If they can correctly solve the puzzle within the allotted time, they take home that bonus on top of everything they've already earned. Miss it, and the prize slips away, sometimes by just a single letter. Common Bonus Round categories include Phrase, Thing, Person, Place, Event, Food & Drink, What Are You Doing?, Living Thing, and On the Map. While all of them appear regularly, fans believe not all categories are created equal.
According to a recent discussion on Reddit, viewers overwhelmingly narrowed the "worst" categories down to two: Thing and Phrase. Many fans expressed frustration with how vague and unpredictable these puzzles can be, especially under the pressure of the Bonus Round clock. "When a contestant picks 'thing' as their bonus round category," a Reddit user wrote, along with a photo of a man looking down and holding onto his forehead in frustration. Other fans quickly chimed in with similar reactions. "I always love hearing the audience gasp when they pick that category," one Reddit user said, suggesting that even those in the studio know trouble may be ahead.
Another fan added, "It will never be anything logical." Still, not everyone agreed that 'Thing' deserves the top spot on the frustration list. Some fans argued that "Phrase" is even more unforgiving, largely because of how loosely the category is defined. "PHRASE is the absolute worst! I think the producers or whoever comes up with the puzzles have a pretty broad definition of what counts as a phrase," one Reddit user commented. Another longtime viewer backed that up, saying, "Phrase is the worst. The success rate is pretty poor."
Despite the disagreements over which category is the most brutal, fans were nearly unanimous when it came to identifying the easiest ones. Categories like "What Are You Doing?" and "Food & Drink" were widely praised for being more straightforward. These puzzles tend to follow familiar patterns, making it easier for contestants and viewers at home to fill in the blanks quickly. Many fans believe that if more players avoided the risky categories and leaned into these safer options, the show might see more Bonus Round victories.
