Best word game board games

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Are you a word geek
looking for new word board games to play?

Or are you simply
searching for something new to amuse you and your friends on game night?

Perhaps are you a parent
seeking games for your partner and kids that are both educational and entertaining?

If so, you have landed
on the right page! In this post, we share the 9 best word board games for you and the crew. We picked these games
based on the number of positive reviews and high ratings they got from
satisfied consumers.

Instead of mindlessly
scrolling through your social media accounts and wasting valuable time, it’s
probably time to consider other hobbies like playing board games. You’ll might
be surprised how much this activity can be beneficial to your soul, mind, and body.

Without further ado, let’s check out our list of the best word board games!

1. Bananagrams

Bananagrams is an excellent choice for parents who are looking to play
word board games with their children. In addition to fun and entertainment, this anagram game promises an
educational experience for kids, especially those who are starting to learn
more complex words.

The rules are simple and
easy to understand. First, you need to distribute the tiles among all players
(maximum of eight players) facedown—21 tiles each for two to four players; 15
tiles each for five to six players; and, 11 tiles each for seven to eight
players. Start the game by saying “Split!” and everyone turns their tiles over.

The objective of this
game is to be the first person to use all their letters. You may form words
horizontally from left to right, or vertically from top to bottom. You may also
rearrange your grid any time you want. After placing your last letter in your
grid, call out “Peel!” and everyone has to take another tile from the “Bunch.”

One rule to remember is
that you can put one of your letters back, face-down in the Bunch, by saying “Dump!”
However, you have to take three more tiles in exchange for that one letter. You
may do as many “dumps” as you like.

Whoever is the first
person to use all their letters once the Bunch is empty is the winner. But he
has to shout “Bananas!” to let the others know. The competitors should then
inspect his grid to see if there are misspelled words, proper nouns, or any
other unacceptable words. If there are, then they have to shout “Rotten
Banana!” to kick the false winner out of the game.

2. Quiddler

If you are looking for a fast-paced, short-duration word board game,
then Quiddler is the answer. This
game exercises both your vocabulary and spelling skills, and is most suitable
for children six years old and above. There can be 1 to 10 players, and the one
with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.

In this game, each
player is required to create words from the cards in their hands. You have to
be cautious, however, since the number of cards increases every round. There
are eight rounds to deal with, and you can have as many as 10 cards on the last
round. Every card has its corresponding value, so if you have the most number
of words formed with high-value cards by the end of the game, you will have the
most number of points.

This word board game
allows you to form even the simplest of words like “at,” “of,” “zoo,” and a lot
more. This is why it is recommended to kids. There are bonuses, too. For
instance, the player with the most words formed and the player who forms the
longest word get additional points. In the case of a tie, no one receives the
bonus points.

Quiddler has a high
rating on online stores, with almost a perfect store, as well as lots of
positive feedback. If you are looking for a game you can play with your
children, then we highly recommend this one.

3. Hasbro Scrabble

The game Scrabble was created
by Alfred Mosher Butts in 1938, and since then has became a popular way to
spend fun nights with friends, colleagues, and family members.

This particular version
of Scrabble is from Hasbro Gaming, which is one of the largest companies in the
world that makes toys and other means of entertainment. The goal of the game is
to form words on the board and gain points.

For every tile you use
to create a word, you have to draw a replacement from the bag. The game ends
once there are no more tiles, and the player with the most number of points
wins. To determine who has the most points, you’ll have to record your score on
each turn with pen and paper, and then add them up at the end.

Scrabble may be played
solo, with two to three players, or with a group of friends. You need a bit of
luck, as you have to draw tiles blindly, but the game also rewards those with
good strategy and extensive vocabularies.

4. Big Boggle

Big Boggle is an excellent choice for those seeking a word game with a
bit of pressure. The goal of
the game is to list as many words as you can from the randomly assorted letters
given to you at the start. However, you only have three minutes to do so, which
means you have to think and write quickly.

This board game comes with
25 standard letter cubes, one double letter cube, a cube grid with a dome, and
a three-minute sand timer. At the beginning of the game, each player takes a
pen/pencil and paper to list their words. The cube grid is then prepared by
shaking the cubes until they fall into place.

Once the timer starts,
all players should use the assorted letters and come up with words of four or
more letters. Write down every word you can think of until the time runs out.
Words must be formed from adjoining letters on the grid.

When the timer stops,
all players compare their lists of words with one another. All words that have
been played by multiple people are not scored. The remaining words are scored,
the one who earns the most points is the winner.

5. Tapple

Tapple is a fast-paced word board game that is most suitable for
families who like playing games during holidays, parties, and family
gatherings. It is also easy to
store and carry, and therefore can be packed during vacations, trips, and long
getaways.

This board game comes
with a portable Tapple wheel and 36 topic cards with 144 categories. The goal
is simple: You have to produce an answer to the category cards using only the letters
available on the wheel. Aim to be the last player left in each round to get a
score, then collect three topic cards and you win.

Tapple is a
time-pressure and elimination game. You only have 10 seconds to answer every
round, and if you fail to do so, you get kicked out for that round. If you give
an answer that does not match the category, you get eliminated. The last person
standing gains the point and is declared the winner for that round.

Remember that when you
give your answer, you have to press the first letter of the word and then reset
the timer to pass the turn. Otherwise, you are disqualified. Likewise, keep in
mind that once a letter has been used, the others can no longer press that
letter for that round.

6. Word on the Street

If you are searching for a very competitive word board game, then you
should include this one on your list. Word on the Street is a tug-of-words type of game where each team fights
for its desired letters to form high-scoring words. The first team to get the
eight letter tiles becomes the winner.

There are two teams in
this game, and they take turns “on the street,” or on the board. The letter
tiles are put in their corresponding place on the middle lane of the board
called the “Median Strip.” There are different rules with regard to turns, but
the main objective is to capture all eight letter tiles before the other team
does.

The key to winning this
game is to brainstorm with your teammates while the other team is making its
move. You all must agree on one word, and pull the letters of that word closer
to your side of the street before time runs out, and before the other team does
the same. Word on the Street is not just a vocabulary game, but also a game of
speed and strategy.

7. Pairs in Pears

Pairs in Pears is somewhat similar to Bananagrams, so if you are looking
for an alternative to the latter, then this word board game is a good fit. In this game, the goal is to make as many
pairs as possible, but they have to be matching suits.

The game comes with 104
tiles, and the number of tiles you can take depends on the number of players
there are. Similarly, the number of pairs needed to win also depends on the
number of players. There are, however, other ways to play this game, and they
are all explained in the game’s guide.

Pairs in Pears is a
racing and counting game in which you try to be the first to produce as many as
possible pairs with matching suits. It is a great way for children (and adults)
to improve their memory retention and cognitive skills, and is also a means to
develop pattern recognition and vocabulary.

8. Dabble

If you are a fast thinker and can come up with an answer in less than a
minute, then Dabble might be the word board game for you. This game tests not just your vocabulary skills,
but also your speed and agility.

The board game includes
all the letters of the Spanish and English alphabets, so it can be played in
both languages. It is appropriate for two to four players, ages 10 years old
and up, and you can even play it in teams.

The rules of the game
are simple. All players must pick 20 tiles from the bag without looking, and
then place their tiles face down. When the game starts, they all turn their
tiles and start the timer, then create five words (a two-letter word,
three-letter word, four-letter word, five-letter word, and six-letter word).
Points are recorded every round, and the first to reach 500 points is the
winner.

Other players may
challenge words if they have been misspelled or if they are not words at all.
You will need to have a dictionary on hand for challenges. Unlike Scrabble,
however, some words (e.g., foreign words, archaic words, colloquial words,
etc.) are accepted in Dabble.

9. Upwords

Upwords is a great game
if you are searching for a high-stacking, word-building game. In this game, you
don’t just think of words to form, but you also stack tiles to change words.
Your score is not based solely on the number of words you form, but also on the
level of tiles you stack—the higher you stack, the higher your score is.

Similar to Scrabble, the
game begins by each player drawing seven tiles from the bag. The first player
starts the game by placing a word on the board, and then drawing new tiles from
the bag. Every player who comes next forms a word by adding letters to the
previous tiles on the board.

Unlike Scrabble,
however, you can place your letters on top of the other letters that are
already on the board. For instance, if the word is “HAT,” you can use the
letters T, R, E, S, and S to add to the end of the word, and then cover H with
M to form the word “MATTRESS.”

There are a few other rules
to consider in this game that are not in Scrabble. One example is the points
system, as Upwords’ letter tiles all have one point each. There are also no
double or triple letter word scores for additional points.

If you are looking for a
Scrabble-like game with a bit of a twist, you might want to consider checking
out this game.

Final Thoughts on Word and Vocabulary Board Games

We highly recommend
these word board games for those who are looking for a bit of fun and a great
way to help their children learn. After all, these types of games have shown to
be beneficial for a person’s brain development and cognitive skills. And while
your children are learning and having fun, you get to be a part of their
experience.

We also suggest these
games for those who have gotten tired of playing the usual mystery, roleplaying, and deck-building board games. You might want to try changing the flavor of
your game night and see how well you do in other types of board games.

Whatever your reason is
for checking out this post, we hope that we were able to help you find a game
that suits your tastes.

Have you already tried
playing one or more of these board games?

Let us know which one by
sharing your story in the comment fields below. We’d love to hear about your
experience!

If you’re a wordsmith, a word-wiz, or just enjoy a little wordplay, these word board games are right up your vocabulary alley. Word board games can be used as an educational tool, as a hilarious party game, or simply as a way to keep your wordy wits about you. If you’re not into word games, don’t fret, word unscrambling tools can give you an assist in any word game while improving your vocabulary.

So on-words and up-words, here are our top 20 best word board games!

Like Word Games? Why not also check out our list of Puzzle Games and Trivia Games that keep you mentally active, while still having fun?

🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Word Board Games

In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.

04/11/2023 05:30 pm GMT

When I Dream

Players: 4-10
Playing time: 20-40 min

Put on your sleep masks and try to decipher your dreams!

When we fall asleep and enter a dream world, the imagination and imagery can be truly magical. When I Dream turns players into dreamers. Be careful when entering the magical world of dreams because the Dream Spirits want to have fun!

When I Dream is an innovative game that puts a focus on creativity and player imagination. Put on your sleep mask and try to interpret the Dream Spirits messages. With fairies, naughty spirits, and even the Boogeyman, the game has an array of characters that make it challenging and that give the game depth. 

This is an excellent fast-paced party game that’ll have you storytelling before the Boogeyman wreaks havoc!

What we liked

When I Dream offers some new unique mechanics that give the word game genre something to think about. Combine that with the gorgeous artwork and you get a really pretty and fun game. 

What could be better

With the timer included, it can rapidly descend into chaos.

Werewords

Players: 4-10
Playing time: 10 min

Guess the magic word!

In Werewords, players must guess a secret word by asking ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. Be careful, time catches up to you! Like in most games, there’s always a villain looming and trying to interrupt play. In Werewords, one player is secretly a werewolf.

Not only is this player working against you, but they also know the Magic Word. Even if you don’t guess the word in time, you still have the chance of exposing the werewolf and winning the game!

What’s cool about this word game is that it comes with an iOS/Android app that’ll provide thousands of words in hundreds of categories giving the game-high replayability. 

What we liked

It’s like One Night Ultimate Werewolf but combined with a word game. It’s a weird combination that seems to work very well. 

What could be better

Like the original Werewolf, Werewords suffers from similar role management. There are only a handful of roles that are really fun to play, but most players end up as villagers.

Will you figure out the word or will the werewolf get you? Better get your top wordsmith on the case.

Trapwords

Players: 4-8
Playing time: 30-45 min

You know the secret word your teammates must guess. You’ll give clues to help but the other team has other plans in mind. They’ve set a list of ‘trapwords’. You can’t say them or you’ll end up trapped in dungeons with terrifying monsters. Easy enough? Oh, there’s also a time limit. 

Trap words is a fast-paced party game that seems like a simple task of giving clues but gets more challenging by not knowing which words can be said. 

If you’re looking for a word game with a fantasy theme, Trapwords takes you into the fantasy world of dungeons and monsters.

What we liked

Trapwords is a fun fantasy variation of Taboo. The rules are changed enough to make it more interesting to play than Taboo.

What could be better

The timer can be tricky, especially for younger players.

Decrypto

Players: 3-8
Playing time: 15-45 min

Decrypto has a fun vintage aesthetic, surely making it a favorite among the hipster community. But really, this word game blends decoding and player interaction through interesting mechanics.

In this game, teammates try to transmit secret codes without letting the opposing team intercept them. Using clever graphic anaglyph components, players slide cards into the screens to decode the words.

The communication limits make Decrypto a fun and challenging word game to play, plus you’ll feel like a code breaker sending secret messages.

What we liked

The option to guess the other team’s words and clues adds another level to a fun word game. 

What could be better

I’m not sure why, but I had trouble with Decrypto’s rules. It took me far longer than it should have to understand everything and teach it to my gaming group. It could have just been me, but it did give me trouble.

Letter Jam

Players: 2–6
Playing time: 45 min

Your friend gives the clue. Can you guess your secret letter? 

Letter Jam is a cooperative word game where players work together to compose meaningful words from letters around the table. But the twist is only the other players can see your letter cards, not you. 

Letter Jam combines team-based play and players’ deduction skills. Pull together as a team, find the clues, and reap the fruits of cooperation!

Jam out at the next game night and decipher the codes!

What we liked

Under its simple exterior, Letter Jam offers a cerebral word game that delivers more gameplay the longer you play. 

What could be better

It’s played best with more players and is all but obsolete at 2-players.

Bananagrams

Players: 1-8
Playing time: 15 mins

A fun game for everyone that’ll drive you bananas.

Gather your friends and family and race against each other to build crossword grids. Bananagrams is an educational and entertaining game with which you can teach kids how to spell words all while having fun at the same time. 

In Bananagrams, players have to build their words with letters as fast as they possibly can. A race to finish, speed, and a great vocabulary make the game super exciting. 

What we liked

The game is in a case that’s shaped like an actual banana, making it a great travel game. It can fit in any bag and it comes in a cute package. What’s not to like?

What could be better

If you have trouble with words then the real-time movements and actions can be tricky to deal with.

Blank Slate

Players: 3-8
Playing time: 20-35 min

The game where great minds think alike. 

Blank Slate is a game of predictions. “The game where great _ _ _ _ _ think alike!” Easy to learn and quick to play makes Blank Slate a fun game for all levels.

By picking a word cue card, you’ll write which word you think best completes a phrase. To take this a step further, you’ll have to try to match it to another player’s words. 

In this clever party game, prediction skills are key to matching words. If you get good enough you’ll soon be winning the _ _ _ _!

What we liked

Blank Slate is a simple and very fast-playing word game. It works very well as an icebreaker and introduction for people who just met. 

What could be better

Your enjoyment of Blank Slate is going to highly depend on who you are playing with.

Codenames

Players: 2-8
Playing time: 15 min

‘The top-secret word game. Win or lose, it’s fun to figure out the clues!’

There are good reasons why Codenames has become a staple on board gamers’ shelves. Codenames is a deceptively awesome game that’s easy to learn and perfect for parties. 

Codenames is a social word game in which two rival spymasters know 25 secret agents. Their teams only know agents by codenames. Make contact with all your agents first and win. Although this game can be challenging, the social component keeps everyone entertained as they race to finish first.

This is a fun game when you’re winning, but even better when you’re losing. 

What we liked

Codenames is quick, easy to learn, and a blast. There’s a reason it’s become a go-to game in so many households. 

What could be better

There’s a lot of hype surrounding Codenames. There are numerous games out there that do the same thing, Codenames just does it really well. If you’re looking for something innovative and unique, you’ll be disappointed.

More versions of Codenames

Poetry for Neanderthals

Players: 2-12
Playing time: 15 min

A word game where you must ‘speak good’ or get hit with a stick.

Poetry for Neandertals is a competitive word-guessing game. Players are only allowed to use single-syllable words to give clues to their team to guess the phrase.

For example, the word is broccoli, you’ll have to say something like, ‘green food, live long’. Use a big word, you’ll get hit on the head with a 2-foot-long inflatable club.

From the geniuses that brought us Exploding Kittens, Poetry for Neandertals is another fun addition to a game night. With only 15 minutes to play, this hilarious, challenging, cutthroat game tests the patience of logophiles the world over.

What we liked

If you’re a fan of The Oatmeal webcomic, you’re going to love the artwork and irreverent humor. It’s just as ridiculous and fun as it looks. 

What could be better

The humor is a bit low-brow. If you’re not comfortable speaking oddly and smacking friends over the head, then this is probably going to be a miss.

Just One

Players: 3-7
Playing time: 20 min

A cooperative party game where you’ll have to work together to discover the mystery words!

Just One starts with one player drawing a card and choosing a number from it. Each player gets one clue word and together you’ll try to solve the mystery word. Just One is a brilliant word game as it combines cooperative skills with deduction, memory, and creative thinking.

What we liked

I really like the mechanic that discards identical clues. This forces you to be strategic and creative with your clues. Easy-to-learn and easy to play make Just One a relaxed game for everyone.

What could be better

Just One is great, but it can feel as if turns take forever and that’s not good for a party game.

Punderdome

Players: 3- 99
Playing time: 30-90 min

A card game for the pun lovers among us. 

Punderdome will have you laughing out loud with its punny cards and creative style of play. 

Once a pun a time, the creators of Punderdome saw a space in the word game market for a pun game for family and friends. With pun jokes on the back of each card, you can entertain the crowds while waiting to come up with a pun. Some can take longer than others but you can play with no time limits. 

If you’re a pun lover, this is a punderful card game that you won’t regret purchasing.

What we liked

Unlike many of the other games on this list, Punderdome offers quite a lot of opportunities for creativity. It lets you create something instead of just showing off your knowledge of vocabulary. 

What could be better

It’s a game about puns. You’re going to be groaning and laughing, but if you’re not well-versed in puns and dad jokes, it may be a little dry.

Quiddler

Players: 1-8
Playing time: 30 min

Quiddler: Simply for the fun of words. 

Quiddler is a short word game that’s a great pick for word lovers as well as non-word-game players. With this card game, the goal is to arrange your cards in your hand to create one or more words.

If you deal more cards, you’ll have more opportunities to create words. At the end of the game, the highest score wins. 

Quiddler is a sort of Uno-style word game as some cards can double letters and add bonuses to your points. Sharpening your word skills and a bit of luck will have you winning Quiddler!

What we liked

Quiddler makes for a great travel game. It’s simple enough that anyone can play and it’s so easy to pull it out and play wherever you are. 

What could be better

Quiddler relies on luck of the draw to get letters. If you have an extensive vocabulary you can overcome bad draws, but it’s still luck-based.

Hot Words

Players: 4-16
Playing time: 20-30 min

Hot Words is a party game where you can’t say that. 

In Hot Words, you’ll describe words while your team tries to guess what the word is. In each of the 4 rounds, your team will pick a spicy jalapeño card that has a ‘Hot Word’ on it that you can’t say. 

As each round goes by, it’ll get hotter and harder but also more hilarious trying to avoid all the ‘Hot Words’ your team has accumulated.

What we liked

Hot Words provides a simple concept and puts it together in a nice little package. It’s a wordplay game that has a ton of replayability. 

With fun added elements like a ghost pepper round, a 90-second sand timer, a dinner bell, and little hot sauce bottles, Hot Words is a fun and exciting party game!

What could be better

If you’re looking for a smaller group game, Hot Words is best played as a party game with more players.

Can you handle the heat?

Dabble

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 30-60 min

The game where if you can spell, you can play!

Dabble is a fast word game that’s both educational and fun. To start the game you say ‘GO!’ and players race to spell 5 words using 20 tiles. The first person to spell their word wins!

What we liked

The added difficulty of making multiple words of varying sizes seems like a simple concept but definitely makes Dabble stand out. 

What could be better

Like a lot of word games, if you have someone who memorizes vocabulary words in their free time, they’ll absolutely destroy everyone. It’s best to play with people of the same skill and vocabulary level.

Word a Round

Players: 2
Playing time: 20 min

Race to unravel the word! 

Word a Round is a challenging word game where you’ll have to quickly figure out where the word starts and then read it aloud before your opponent. As you answer on the spot, the game becomes a little more difficult as you race to answer. Mistakes are made under pressure so players have to have their wits about them. 

Word a Round is an award-winning card game that’s a great educational tool in classrooms or at home. It helps develop critical thinking skills, making it a favorite among speech therapists. If you are looking for a fun game that’ll also help with learning, this is a great choice. 

What we liked

Word a Round can be learned in seconds and it’s one of the most unique word games on this list. 

What could be better

Since this requires you to guess at words around a circular card, it can be difficult for people with visual impairments.

Word on the Street

Players: 2-10
Playing time: 20 min

A hilarious tug of words.

Word on the Street is a card game in which players take turns flipping category cards, racing the clock to come up with the answer. With each correct answer, you move closer to the sidewalk… and to safety. 

With 432 different categories, there is huge variation and replayability. This game is particularly focused on being educational. It helps players improve their vocabulary, practice spelling, and develop social skills. 

What we liked

Word on the Street is a simple enough word game but combines wordplay with enough strategy to make it unique. 

What could be better

You’ll need to have quick recall of your vocabulary, so if you’re looking for a slow burn game then this is not what you’re looking for.

Wordplay: Family Edition

Players: 2

If your family loves word games, WordPlay is a fast-paced challenge in which everyone plays every round. 

A fun spinner determines the letters and the category for each round. For example, ‘Food and Drinks’ means you can only use words that begin with the letter ‘E’. The difference with this family edition is even if you think of things that don’t start with the correct letter, you still score some points.

This game is a friendly and inclusive way to help kids learn and be introduced to the wonderful world of word board games. 

What we liked

Wordplay is a simple word game that appeals to everyone. It’s simple enough that anyone can pick it up and have some fun right out of the box. 

What could be better

Wordplay’s universal appeal means that there’s no real innovation or new mechanics. It’s fun, but you’ve seen it before and will see it again in other word games.

Upwords

Players: 1-4
Playing time: 90 min

Upwords a game of quick stacking and word hacking. 

In this word-building game, the higher you stack, the higher your score. With each player starting out with 7 words that you can play up or down, the game almost feels like Scrabble.

But here, you can stack letters on top of others. When you stack letters higher on each other, you earn more points. This makes Upwords more intense and strategic. 

Upwords is very versatile and can be played solo to challenge yourself, with kids, or with your friends. Experience this high-stakes, high-stacking word game, and grow your vocabulary as you go!

What we liked

I honestly prefer Upwords over Scrabble. The tile stacking adds a whole new dimension to the classic wordplay formula. 

What could be better

It’s a minor issue, but I’m not a fan of the components on the deluxe board. They work fine, but the color scheme makes it difficult to see for me.

Wordical

Players: 2-8

The radical, dice-rolling, word-building race!

Wordical is another educational word game in which players roll a vowel die and combine consonants to make a word. It’s a fun way for kids to develop their spelling skills and build vocabulary. It’s easy to learn and moves quickly so there are no long pauses.

This is a wonderful game for the classroom or for students who are struggling with their phonics.

What we liked

The dice add an interesting twist to this word game. Randomness is usually added through other means, but it’s a refreshing take on the word game genre. 

What could be better

It’s a simple travel game, so the rules and gameplay are very simple. You won’t find in-depth strategy here, but that’s ok for a word game.

Wordsmithery

Players: 2- 99
Playing time: 20 min

The game for every wordsmith, young and old.

Wordsmithery is a fun, fast-paced game in which you can test your wordsmith skills. Draw a word, read it to your opponent, and see if they can guess the meaning from the three options.

With some difficult words like ‘egregious’ or ‘phalanx’, it could seem difficult for children but included are 50 easier cards for kids. The different levels of difficulty make this a family-friendly word board game. 

What we liked

The concept is extremely easy to understand and the word choices are genuinely fun to play with. 

What could be better

Eventually, you’re going to memorize all of the words available in the box. There are only so many times you can be surprised by a word before we simply learn it.

Wrap-Up

What are your favorite word games to play? We hope you enjoyed our top picks for the best word board games out there! Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried any of these or if we missed any that you think should be on the list. We’d love to hear from you!

Happy Wordsmithing!

There is a reason why word games are so popular: they’re fun! Why not mix in some competitive action and play one of the best word board games to help you get your mind off of things. Whether you want something quick or you have time for an epic game, there’s a game out there for everyone. Let us introduce you to the world of word board games with our complete guide to these addicting pastimes.

Word Board Games Buyer’s Guide

Just like anything else, when it comes to word board games, there are a lot of different options available on the market. How do you know which one is right for you? We’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide to help make your decision easier.

First and foremost, consider what type of game you want. Are you more interested in strategy, wordplay, and vocabulary? Do you enjoy a good party game with friends and family where everyone is involved from beginning to end? Maybe you prefer the solo experience of crosswords. There are games for all types here, so take your time finding one that fits what you’re looking for!

Another thing to consider is the difficulty level of the game. Some are geared towards beginners, while others can be quite challenging for more experienced players.

If you’re new to word board games, we recommend starting with something a bit easier so that you can learn the rules and gameplay without being too frustrated. However, if you’re looking for a real brain teaser, there are definitely games out there that will fit the bill!

Why Does Size Matter?

When it comes to word board games, size definitely matters! The table or surface area that you have available is a big factor in what type of game you will want. For example, if there are just two of you playing and your play space isn’t too big, something small like Crossword Solitaire will work great. On the other hand, if you have a big group and plenty of room to spread out, there are some really fun games that involve tossing or flicking pieces.

In addition to size, consider what type of storage space you have available when selecting your game. If it’s going in a closet between uses, something super lightweight will work great whereas if you want to take it with you on trips, a game that’s easy to transport is ideal.

Finally, think about how much time you want to spend playing. Some games can be completed in just a few minutes, while others can last for hours on end. If you don’t have a lot of free time, choose a game that you can fit into your schedule easily.

Why Does Weight Matter?

Just like size, weight matters when it comes to word board games! Heavier games tend to last longer and are a bit more challenging. If you’re looking for something that will keep you entertained for a while, we recommend choosing one of the heavier options. However, if you want something that you can play quickly without getting too frustrated, a lighter game might be better for you.

Keep in mind that games with smaller pieces tend to weigh less than those with larger pieces. So if you’re looking for something compact and easy to take with you on the go, choose a game with small pieces. Conversely, if weight isn’t an issue and you want a really challenging game to play with friends, go for something with large pieces.

Why Does Material Matter?

Just like size and weight, material matters when it comes to word board games! Games that are made of plastic or other lightweight materials are easy to transport and store. However, they can often be less durable than those made of heavier materials. If you’re looking for a game that will last for years, we recommend choosing one with a sturdier material.

In addition, games that are made of wood or metal tend to be heavier than those made of plastic. So if you’re looking for a game that will keep you entertained for a while, we recommend choosing one of the heavier options. However, if weight isn’t an issue and you want something that’s easy to transport, a game that’s made of plastic might be better for you.

Finally, think about how the material will affect gameplay. For example, if the pieces in your game are made of heavy material, they may be more difficult to move around than those made of lightweight material. Likewise, if the material is smooth, the pieces may slide around a lot when you’re playing.

What About Colors?

When it comes to colors, there isn’t really a right or wrong answer. However, we do recommend choosing a game that has bright and vibrant colors. This way, you’ll be able to see the pieces easily even if the light is low. In addition, games with interesting patterns or designs can be more visually appealing than those with solid colors.

If you’re looking for a game that will be fun for the whole family, we recommend choosing one with lots of different colors. This way, everyone can easily see their pieces and play quickly and efficiently.

Finally, if you have trouble seeing certain colors, choose a game that has high contrast between the colors. For example, black letters on a yellow background are easier to see than those with black letters on white.

Best Word Board Games: Comparison Table

Now that you know all about the different factors to consider when choosing a word board game, it’s time for our comparison table! This will help you easily see which games fit your needs best.

Image	Product
Best For Adults	Codenames Red 2-8+ player (in two teams 15 minutes playtime A perfect party game experience for game nights Check Price	Check Price
Best For Families	Scrabble Easy to transport High contrast tiles Ages 8 and up Check Price	Check Price
Best For Solo Play	Just One For 3 to 7 players The average playtime is 20 minutes Fast-paced gameplay Check Price	Check Price
Best For Groups	Big Boggle For two or more players Ages 8+ 25 standard letter cubes Check Price	Check Price
Best For Trivia Lovers	Bananagrams Perfect for anyone 7 years and up Great for travel Entertaining and educational Check Price	Check Price

1. Codenames Red – Best For Adults

Codenames Red is perfect for adults who are looking for a challenging game. With its complex rules and numerous pieces, it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end. In addition, the red theme will appeal to fans of espionage movies and thrillers. And the game has lots of vibrant colors that will keep you interested even after many hours of play.

Codenames Red is also great for families looking to bond with their kids over a fun and engaging word board game. This way, everyone can learn new words while having fun together! Plus it”s compact enough to go on family trips and camping trips.

Codenames Red is made of metal, which means it’s heavier than most other games on this list and won’t be as easy to transport or store. And the pieces are small enough that kids may struggle with some aspects of gameplay (though not too difficult for them to play). Plus, some people may not like the red theme.

Codenames is a great word board game for adults looking for something with complex rules and lots of pieces. In addition, it’s fun for families who are interested in playing together!

Pros And Cons

Final Thoughts

When it comes to word board games, Codenames Red is one of the best options available. With its complex rules and numerous pieces, it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end. And the vibrant colors will keep you interested even after many hours of play. So if you’re looking for a game that will challenge your skills, Codenames Red is perfect for you!

2. Scrabble – Best For Families

Scrabble is another great game for families who are interested in playing together. It has vibrant colors and an easy-to-transport design, so it’s perfect for vacations or camping trips! Not only that, but the tiles have very high contrast which makes them easy to see even if you don’t have good eyesight or struggle with certain colors.

Finally, this word board game is perfect for adults who don’t like too much luck in their games. With Scrabble, you must carefully choose your words and place them on the board as strategically as possible to win! So if you want a strategic word board game that challenges not only your vocabulary but also your strategic skills, Scrabble is a perfect choice.

However, there are a few downsides to consider. For one, the game can be quite long if both players are equally matched. And it also requires a lot of table space, so you might not be able to play it in certain locations.

Scrabble is an excellent word board game for families and adults who don’t like too much luck in their games. In addition, it has a compact design which makes it great for family vacations or camping trips! However, the long-playing time might not be ideal for some people and may require more room than what certain locations offer.

Pros And Cons

Final Thoughts

When it comes to word board games, Scrabble is an excellent choice. Not only does it have vibrant colors and a compact design which makes it perfect for vacations or camping trips, but the game also challenges your vocabulary and strategic skills! So if you’re looking for something that offers more than just great graphics, this one may be for you.

However, the long-playing time and more room required than other games on this list may not be ideal for everyone. If that’s the case, there are plenty of different word board games out there which will suit your needs just as well!

3. Just One – Best For Solo Play

Just One is a word board game that is perfect for solo play. With its simple rules and easy-to-remember gameplay, you can be up and playing in no time! And the best part? This game can be played by people of all ages and skill levels. So if you’re looking for a game that will challenge your skills, but also be friendly to those who are less experienced with games like these, Just One is a perfect choice!

But there are some downsides as well. The game’s simplicity means that it lacks the level of strategic play other word board games have. And because you can only choose one letter at a time and the game only has one move per turn, it can get a bit boring after a while.

Just One is an excellent choice for those who want a simple word board game they can play by themselves. With its simple rules and easy-to-remember gameplay, you can be up and playing in no time! However, the game’s lack of strategic play may not be ideal for some people who want something that is more challenging than Just One.

Pros And Cons

Final Thoughts

When it comes to word board games, Just One is a great choice. Not only does the game offer high contrast tiles and easy-to-follow rules which makes it perfect for people with poor eyesight and those who don’t want anything too challenging, but its simplicity also means that you can be up and playing in no time!

But if you want something with more strategic play or are looking for a word board game that is suitable for people of all ages and skill levels, this one might not be the right choice.

4. Big Boggle – Best For Groups

Big Boggle is a word board game that’s perfect for groups. With its large, colorful cubes and easy-to-follow gameplay, this one will have everyone entertained from the moment they sit down to play! And with so many different ways to play Big Boggle, you can enjoy it again and again without getting bored.

But, because you have to use dice when playing Big Boggle, the game can be quite random. If you’re looking for something that will challenge your vocabulary skills and strategic thinking abilities more than luck, this one may not be the best choice.

However, if you are just looking for an excuse to spend time with friends and family, Big Boggle is a great option! With its large, colorful cubes and easy-to-follow gameplay, this one will have everyone entertained from the moment they sit down to play! And with so many different ways to play Big Boggle, you can enjoy it again and again without getting bored.

Pros And Cons

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a word board game that will challenge your skills but isn’t too challenging or complicated to learn and play, Big Boggle may be the perfect solution. With its large, colorful cubes and easy-to-follow gameplay, this one is great for anyone who wants an excuse to spend time with friends and family.

However, the game’s randomness does mean that there is less of a chance to show off how well you know words if luck plays too much of a factor in your gameplay.

5. Bananagrams – Best For Trivia Lovers

Bananagrams is a word board game that’s perfect for trivia lovers. With its simple gameplay and fast-paced nature, this one will have you hooked from the moment it starts! And with so many different ways to play Bananagrams, there’ll be something new for anyone who loves challenging themselves with word puzzles.

However, because Bananagrams is so fast-paced, it can be easy to make mistakes. If you’re looking for a game that will test your vocabulary skills and strategic thinking abilities more than your ability to race against the clock, this one may not be the best choice.

But if you love trivia and want a word board game that is simple to learn and play, Bananagrams is the perfect option! With its simple gameplay and fast-paced nature, this one will have you hooked from the moment it starts! And with so many different ways to play Bananagrams, there’ll be something new for anyone who loves challenging themselves with word puzzles.

Pros And Cons

Final Thoughts

If you love trivia and are looking for a word board game that is simple to learn, Bananagrams may be a perfect choice. With its simple gameplay and fast-paced nature, this one is great for anyone who wants to enjoy a challenging word board game without getting too bogged down in rules or complicated gameplay.

People Also Ask

Conclusion

Word board games are a great way to test your vocabulary skills and strategic thinking abilities. With so many different options available, there is sure to be a game that is perfect for you! In this article, we have recommended our top five-word board games and provided a brief overview of each one. We hope you enjoy playing them as much as we do!

We know if it were up to you, Scrabble would be the only game played during family game night. But if the crew is asking for new suggestions, consider these word games. They offer everything you love about the classic crossword game, but with a few added twists.

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1

Take a Letter

Think of Take a Letter as Monopoly meets Scrabble. Players move around the board collecting and trading to get the letters they need to form a word. You’re awarded points based on the length, verb tenses, and letters used.

BUY NOW: $15, amazon.com

2

Typo

This card game focuses on the power of using just one letter to expand on a word already on the board. If a player can’t, he has to take the longest row of cards already played into his hands. The first one to put down all their cards, wins!

BUY NOW: $40, amazon.com

3

Dabble

Players start with 20 tiles and the timer set to five minutes. The first player to create a two, three, four, five, and six letter word using shouts out «DABBLE!» to win the round.

BUY NOW: $22, amazon.com

4

Juego de Palabras

Players have two-minutes to piece together as many palabras (words) as they can using color-coded letter rods.

BUY NOW: $29, amazon.com

5

Pass the Pen

If your biggest turn off in Scrabble is waiting for your turn, try Pass the Pen. Each player starts to draw the clue, but a built-in timer causes the pen to retract. Once it disappears, you pass the pen and let the next player continue drawling. Whoever is drawling when the clue is guessed wins the points!

BUY NOW: $16, amazon.com

6

Set

Take a break from creating words and create patterns instead. Players keep tabs on their cards throughout the game and match similar cards together to make sets of three. The goal is to have the most sets when the timer runs out.

BUY NOW: $12, amazon.com

8

Quiddler

Quiddler challenges players to create longer words on their turn to get rid of as many cards as possible. The dealer delves out more and more cards as the rounds go on. The longer you wait to play, the more you’re stuck with at the end.

BUY NOW: $9, amazon.com

10

Big Boggle

You start by shaking up the letters in this portable game, so every round is different. Once the cubes settle, set the timer and see who can find the most four letter words in the scramble.

BU NOW: $18, amazon.com

11

Crazy Letters

This mind game forces contestants to second guess what they’re reading. The first one to decipher the word on the card wins the round. Because the rules are so simple, last-minute players are always welcome!

BUY NOW: $25, amazon.com

12

Tick-Tock Boom

The goal of the game: Don’t get caught holding the bomb. While the explosive is in hand, players draw a card with three letters and have to think of a word that contains them. Only then, they can pass the bomb and breathe a sigh of relief.

BUY NOW: $19, amazon.com

13

Bananagram

It’s a classic, but we have to include Bananagrams for being a version of Scrabble you can literally play ANYWHERE.

BUY NOW: $20, amazon.com

16

Last Letter

This game is sure to bring the giggles thanks to the quick pace that challenges people to blurt out the first word that comes to mind. An added challenge: It has to start with the last letter of the previous word said.

BUY NOW: $13, amazon.com

18

Latice

In Latice, the more matches you have on the board, the more turns you get. Play all your tiles before everyone else and you’re the champion!

BUY NOW: $20, amazon.com

19

WordSpiel Card Game

The length of your word doesn’t matter as much here, but the person after you has to start their word with the last letter of the word you played, so try to make it tricky!

BUY NOW: $13, amazon.com

20

Tapple

Quick thinkers are the kings of Tapple. Choose a category card and answer with a word that starts with the letters on the board in 10 seconds or less. Each can only be used once, so rounds get harder and harder as you go.

BUY NOW: $25, amazon.com

Long time fan of the show Brian is wondering if there are any good word games out there. Brian is in luck because there are a sold number of very good word based boardgames.

Brian Kurtz asks,

“Are there any good word-based games out there besides Scrabble? In your opinion, is this even a category? Does it include word-guessing games like Taboo or Charades or word-defining games like Balderdash?”

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Using these links doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps support this blog and our podcast.

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There are some great word-based games (and don’t discredit mass market games).

Brian should be pleased to know that I think that word games definitely count as a category. There are plenty of mass market word games, like Scrabble, but there are also a significant number of hobby or designer board games that use words as a major part of their gameplay. While there may not be a ton of word games out there and they are often overshadowed by the latest miniature game or some hot new deck builder or civilization game, there are plenty of great hobby word games to be had. There is enough variety out there that I’m pretty sure they cover all the game types Brian mentions above; word spelling, word guessing and word-defining games.

A slight diversion to talk about mass market vs. “hobby” games. I just want to point out that there’s nothing wrong with many of the mass market games that are out there. This seems to be especially true as far as word games are concerned. I’m personally a fan of many of them.  I think this is an important thing to note for the hobby overall, not just for word games.

Just because a game isn’t sold in mass market stores, is from a famous game designer, features that game designer’s name on the cover, and is considered a hobby board game, that doesn’t mean it’s actually a better game. Similarly just because I can pick up a game at Walmart, Target or even my closest Shoppers Drug Mart, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad game. This seems to be especially true of Word games. Word games seem to have much more universal appeal than many other types of games and seem to have more market penetration.

Below I’m going to list some of what I think are the best word-based games out there, starting with some classic favourites you should be able to find almost anywhere.

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There are some great mass market word games!

Scrabble – This one is a true classic. Unlike many older popular games, this one hasn’t been broken by things like families passing down house rules for generations. Scrabble has always been and still is a very solid game. My only real beef with Scrabble is playing against people (or AI opponents digitally) that have the entire Scrabble Dictionary memorized and like to use all those two letter words that I’ve never heard of for maximum scoring potential.

Now to help with this frustration, there are tools out there like Unscrambled Words, which can help you unscramble letters and find you words you would never come up with on your own. For example, if you enter in DRME, it will identify the word “Derm,” as well as other three letter and two letter words. Of course, I only recommend using this against AI opponents or players who agree to its use ahead of time.  

UPWORDS – UPWORDS was one of my wife’s favourite word games growing up. She was the one that introduced me to it. It has a lot of similarities to Scrabble. Besides not having special scoring spots on the board, the big difference from Scrabble is that you can put letters on top of existing letters. This gives you way more options and ways to play your tiles. Scoring is also much simpler, being based on the number of tiles used and how high they are stacked and not which letters are used.

Boggle – Of the games mentioned so far, this is my personal favourite. Shake up the letter dice then rush to spell as many words as you can, only scoring the words that no one else has guessed. It’s this last bit that is the killer part of Boggle. Easy to spot and spell words are often guessed by all players and thus aren’t actually worth any points. Personally, I prefer to play this one digitally, where you can click or just tap on the letters you want to use or type out the words you find.

Quiddler – In this game players are given a hand of letter cards and must try to spell a word. If they can’t form a word with their hand they discard a card and draw a new one, giving up their turn. The neat bit here is that the game starts off with a hand of three letter cards and continues to go up by one card each round. Thus requiring players to spell bigger and bigger words as the game ramps up. It reminds me a bit of the trick taking game Wizard in that way.

Tapple – This is the most gimmicky game on my list. Tapple features this big frisbee looking thing with letters all around the edge and a big red button in the middle. You pick a category then pass the disc to the first player, they have to say a word that matches the category and then press in that letter. That player then passes the machine to the next player who has to say another word tied to the category but using a different letter. As the Tapple disc gets passed around fewer and fewer letters are available. At the same time, the thing has a countdown and if you don’t pick a letter quick enough a buzzer goes off. If the buzzer goes off on your turn you are eliminated.

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You can usually find these great word games at educational toy stores.

Word on the Street – This is a rather unique word game where letters are placed on a board representing a street. The letters start on the median in the middle of the road. A keyword card is drawn and teams try to say words that match the keyword. When a team selects a word, they get to move all the letters in the word toward their side of the street. If a team can get eight letters off the street they win.

Kerfuddle – While I didn’t play Kerfuddle myself, this game was hugely popular at a recent wedding I attended. During that event, I saw multiple groups playing the game through the night and I didn’t see this game get put away until the evening was over. Based on what I read of the game, it sounds to me like an advanced version of Boggle without the gird and with some card play that changes how each round works as well as a die that determines the minimum length of words for that round.

Bananagrams – In Bananagrams, you spill the tiles out onto the table and split them between the players. Players must then use those tiles to make a crossword. It has a lot of similarities to Scrabble but without the pain of figuring out scoring, instead, it’s a race to use up all of your tiles before your opponent. The game also includes a bunch of variant ways to play, with even more easily found online. One of the highlights of Bananagrams is that it requires no pencil, paper or board to play.

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Designer or hobby word games are also a thing.

Pictomania – This one is from Vlaada Chvatil and is a “gamer version” of Pictionary. Instead of one player drawing at a time, all of the players are drawing at once. While drawing players are also betting on which opponent is drawing what. The secret here is that everyone is drawing from the same very limited set of words each round. What this does is allow for actual deduction and tactics when playing.

Knit Wit – I call this one the Venn diagram word game. Players put out a number of spools, those are looped with various coloured threads. Attached to each thread is a word. It’s up to players to come up with a word or sentence for each spool that applies to every thread surrounding that spool. It sounds simple enough but coming up with something for all spools can be very tough. Once all but one of the players has finished everyone has to stop, so there’s also a rather unforgiving timed element to Knit Wit.

Hardback – This is a deck building game. Players start off with a basic set of letters and two random letters (giving the game some asymmetry).  Players form words with their cards and get currency used to buy new and better letters and thus create higher scoring words. This is actually a reimplementation of another game called Paperback. The main change between Paperback and Hardback is that in Hardback cards can come from one of four book genres. If you play cards from the same genre when spelling a word then a special ability goes off. This mechanic will be familiar to people who have played some other deck building games like Star Realms.

A Little Wordy – This two-player-only word game comes from the people behind Exploding Kittens. In A Little Wordy players are each given a random selection of letters which they use to form a secret word of any length. They then pass the letters to their opponents. Players use these letters along with card-based clues to try to guess the opponent’s words. Watch out using the clue cards though as each costs points, and it’s the player with the least points at the end who wins. 

Read more about this two player only word game in our A Little Wordy review. 

Codenames – In this team based game, a grid of cards is laid out and lead players on each team are trying to get their team members to select all of their cards while not picking the opposing team’s cards and while also avoiding the assassin card, which when picked causes that team to lose instantly. Clues given are one word or a short sentence and the number of cards on the field that apply to that clue. This is one of the best modern word based party games out there and is much easier to understand once you actually see it being played. It has the added bonus of being able to play almost any sized group (ignore the player count on the box) and that there are a number of different editions available in a variety of themes.

Jabuka – This is a very quick-playing word-building game with a twist. Similar to Banagrams players are grabbing tiles from the centre of the table to form words. The neat bit here is that Jabuka features a number of twistable letters. This is combined with some take that elements like being able to steal your opponent’s words by adding to them or twisting the letters in them. While rather cutthroat, Jabuka can be a ton of fun. 

Read more about this coffee-themed word game in our Jabuka Review. 

Just One – This is the new hotness when it comes to word based games. It’s not one I’ve personally played but it’s on my wishlist. In this game, all but one player knows the goal word. Everyone else has to take that word and write down a clue. The clues are compared and any duplicate clues are removed. The player then has to try to guess the word with the clues that are remaining. This one sounds fantastic and I just keep hearing more and more positive buzz about it online.

Letter Jam – This is another word game that I haven’t personally tried but that I wanted to include on the list because it’s unique. What’s unique about Letter Jam is that it is a cooperative word game. Players work together to form meaningful words from the cards spread around the table. Letter Jam completes this by using the Hanabi mechanic where players can’t actually see the letter card they are personally holding. Players, in turn, say how long a word they can spell with the letters they can see. Then there’s a bit with placing tokens and indicating which position in the word each player has, and in the end players have to try to guess which letter they are holding. It sounds rather fascinating to me and I would love to see this game being played.

Learn more about this cooperative word game in our Letter Jam review.

Werewords – The Werewolf/Mafia word game. Players try to guess a secret word through the clue giver answering yes or no questions. The group tries to figure out the word before time is up. The trick is that one of the players is secretly a werewolf who is working against the team and they already know the word. Even if the team isn’t able to guess the word, they can still win if they correctly identify the werewolf, which means the werewolf can’t be too obvious. The game also includes other roles, taking from the normal Werewolf game.

Trapwords –  This is a team-based word game that is an evolution of Taboo. The big twist in Trapwords is that the opposing team is the one that picks which words you can’t use. So your team has no idea which words are the traps and what to avoid. Trapwords also adds an interesting fantasy theme to the mix, though it doesn’t seem to affect play all that much. If you are looking for a next step game from Taboo this would be it.

Read more about this word-driven dungeon crawler in our Trapwords review.

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Word games have broadened widely since the first crossword puzzle showed up in a 1913 British newspaper.

We researched the best word games besides Scrabble, considering the duration, difficulty level, and player count.

Here are the best word games.

Number of Players

If you’re going to have a one-on-one word battle, a game requiring four or more players isn’t going to work. Try to think ahead about how many people will be playing with you, and pick a game that works best. Maybe you and your friends want to have a word frenzy, or maybe something more challenging and personal is your move.

Occasion

Are you in search of a game for a specific event? Or something themed? You want to be on the lookout for something that you can either use at home or out with people or something for an event like bridal showers or birthday parties. Some themed games will make the night at parties.

Game Duration

If you are at an event, knowing how much time a full round of a game will take can help you schedule other activities throughout the night. Or, if you’re at home, you’ll know whether or not a game is going to take up most of the evening or just last for a few minutes. Sometimes quick games are a nice change of pace.

KJ Callihan writes for The Spruce and has created numerous shopping and gift guides for several publications. A former counselor and educator, she loves searching for just the right gift for her friends and family. Additional contributions for this guide came from Austin Fracchia, a freelance writer, avid do-it-yourselfer, and teacher, and Katie Pittman, a lifestyle and digital media writer and expert for MyDomaine.