Board games word play

I like to play. It’s a characteristic I once expected to grow out of, but have come to accept as a genetically inescapable part of who I am. I’m a forty-five-year-old who can still waste hours engrossed in video and computer games. I smack talk and perform elaborate victory celebrations during card games. I still quietly imagine the TV announcer’s voice counting down the final seconds when I shoot baskets — alone (the crowd roars if I make it, and if I don’t, there’s always a shocking foul call that sends me to the line for the win).

I also like words. So, it’s no surprise, I guess, that I’m a big fan of word games and word play. The difference is, I don’t think word games are a complete waste of time. In fact, I think that if we can convince kids that words can be fun, it will help them in the various language arts.

And with Christmas approaching and our lives inundated with advertisements for toys and games, I thought I’d put a plug in for my favorite word-oriented board games. I may do later posts on computer games and apps that involve word play, but I especially like board games because they are social. With a good board game, it’s possible to have fun, get smarter, and build relationships all at the same time.

I have an ulterior motive here. Below are the five word-play board games I most enjoy, but I suspect there are others out there, and I want to know about them. I am hoping this post provokes some readers to share their favorites in the comments section.

1 Scrabble.  I’ll never play without thinking of my Grandma Wasko, who, at 93, still whups me. She never takes more than twenty seconds to put a word on the board, and she has committed to memory all the obscure words that seem to exist only in the Official Scrabble Dictionary.

2Boggle. Scrabble is all about creating words. Boggle is about finding them. It’s a faster-paced game too, for those who find Scrabble on the tedious side (I recommend using a timer in Scrabble to keep the game moving).

3Bananagrams. This is an ingenious and fairly recent game that involves tiles much like those in Scrabble. Players use the tiles to create ever-growing crossword-puzzles of connected words. The games are quick and you can play with almost any number of players. Just be aware that no meaningful conversation is possible during actual play.

4Mad Gab. This game is all about the sound of words. The game consists of cards with bizarre phrases like “may kick wick.” By reading the phrase aloud, it’s possible to make out the encoded expression (“Make it quick”).

5Balderdash. This one’s my favorite. Balderdash is a boxed version of a game we used to call Dictionary, in which a player finds an unfamiliar word in a dictionary, and the other players attempt to invent a believable definition. Then everyone tries to guess the right answer. Balderdash is even better because the words they provide are impossibly obscure and often hilarious.

There are always various new versions of games like these, but I’m a fan of the originals in each case. If you don’t already own them, I just gave you a great idea for a family Christmas gift!

Okay, now it’s your turn. What word-oriented board games does your family enjoy?

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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!

Components

• Game board
• The spinner
• Wordplay score pads
• Game timer
• Game pieces
• Pencils
• Instructions

Game Play

1. Select a player to be the Host for the first round. This player will be in charge of the spinner and the timer for the round. All players, including the Host, participate in the word-building fun during each round.

2. The game features a special dual-use spinner: there is an outer circle containing letters (in yellow) to form words, and an inner circle contain- ing bonus categories (in green).

   The Host begins the round by spinning the spinner to select the FIRST LETTER- which is the letter in the outer circle that is pointed to (if no letter is clearly pointed to, spin again).

   All players, including the Host, print this letter in the circle marked the FIRST LETTER on their scoresheet. The Host then spins again to select the OTHER LETTER — the letter in the outer circle that is pointed to. All players, including the Host, print this letter in the circle marked OTHER LETTER on their scoresheet.

   The Host spins the spinner a third time to select the Bonus Category for the round — which is the category in the inner circle that is pointed to (if no Bonus Category is clearly pointed to, spin again).

   The five Bonus Categories are: Names (N), Places (P), Objects and Things (O&T), Food and Drink (F&D), and Living Creatures (LC).

   The spinner might also point to Your Choice (YC), which means the Host gets to pick the Bonus Category (in 10 seconds or less) for the round from among the five choices {Names, Places, etc). The Bonus Categories are explained further below, and a summary is found at the bottom of your scoresheet.

   

3. The objective is to come up with words in the Bonus Category that begin with the FIRST LETTER and contain the OTHER LETTER,

   Example 1: The Host’s first spin shows the spinner pointing to the letter ‘B’ (the FIRST LETTER). The Host’s second spin shows the spinner pointing to the letter ‘N’ (the OTHER LETTER). The Host’s third spin shows the spinner pointing to the ‘Places’ Bonus Category.

   Players would try to come up with ‘Places’ that begin with ‘B’ and contain an N’: BOSTON, BANGKOK, BIRMINGHAM, etc.

   You score the maximum 3 points if you come up with a word that begins with the FIRST LETTER and ends with the OTHER LETTER (i.e., the OTHER LETTER is the last letter) since these words are usually harder to think of. In Example 1, you get 3 points for ‘BOSTON’.

   But if your word begins with the FIRST LETTER and contains the OTHER LETTER somewhere else in the word, you score 2 points. So in Example 1, you get 2 points for ‘BANGKOK’ and 2 points for ‘BIRMINGHAM’.

   If you can’t think of any words that fall into the Bonus Category (which happens sometimes), or not enough words to fill in the boxes of your scoresheet for the round, you can substitute other words instead of using the FIRST LETTER and OTHER LETTER.

   In Example 1, you may come up with ‘BRAIN’, ‘BANJO’, ‘BENJAMIN’, ‘BANANA’ or anything else. But you only get 1 point for these words since they don’t belong to the Bonus Category for the round. It doesn’t matter if you use the OTHER LETTER as the second, third or even last letter- i.e. whether your word is BRAIN or BANJO — you only get 1 point.

   Note: There is a quick scoring summary on your scoresheet.

4. After the letters and Bonus Category have been selected, the Host flips the timer over. Everyone now has one minute to form their words and record them on their scoresheets. A player may write down up to three words on their scoresheet, with one word in each box.

5. When time runs out, all players must stop writing down words. Everyone then writes in the points they’ve won for each word in its corresponding small box and adds up their point total for the round. Fig. 1 shows how some players fared using the letters (‘B’ and ‘N’) and Bonus Category (‘Places’) from Example 1 above.

   

6. After the point totals have been calculated, players take turns revealing their words aloud, starting with the Host and then moving clockwise. It is possible that two or more players may have written down the same word during the round.

   Once a player reveals his/her words and point total, they move their game piece one space on the board for each point won. In Fig. 1 above, Rebecca won 6 points and would therefore move 6 spaces on the board, Jeff moves 4 spaces, and Kirsten would move 2 spaces.

7. After all players have moved their game pieces, the next round can begin. Another player becomes Host for the round (the player to the left of the former Host — players take turns after every round). Then follow the same steps you did for the first round.

8. The first player to reach the Finish Circle wins the game (note: if two or more players reach the Finish Circle during the same round, the winner is the player who has recorded the most total points on their score- sheet for all the rounds during the game).

   Just remember these simple steps:

   • Host spins to select the two letters and Bonus Category.

   • Write down your words before time runs out.

   • Add up your points and move your game piece.

Notes on Gameplay

• All words written down by a player must be at least 4 letters long, and must be spelt correctly, or no points are given. As players take turns revealing their answers, you may challenge any other player to show their scoresheet to prove their words are spelt correctly.

• If a player can’t form any words at all during the round, they have to move their game piece back 5 spaces on the board — sorry!

• Once a player reveals a word they have recorded at the end of a round, that same word may not be used again in subsequent rounds during the game, either by the same player or by another player.

• You can cross out a word you have written down in a box on your scoresheet and replace it with another one — as often as you like — until time runs out during a round.

• Players decide by majority vote if any word read aloud by a player at the end of the round should be disqualified — i.e. if the word clearly doesn’t belong in the Bonus Category, or for any other good reason.

Alternative Gameplay: «free-for-all»

Here’s another way to play: the ‘Free-For-All’ version. Follow the same basic rules as described under Gameplay above, but with this one notable change: you ignore the Bonus Categories. This means:

• The Host spins only twice at the beginning of the round. The first spin gives you the FIRST LETTER to write down and the next spin gives you the OTHER LETTER to write down.

• Come up with words that begin with the FIRST LETTER and contain the OTHER LETTER. You are looking to form any type of word at all — which could be an everyday word or any word that may fall under the Bonus Categories (Names, etc). It’s up to you.

• In this version, you score 2 points if you come up with a word that begins with the FIRST LETTER and ends with the OTHER LETTER (i.e., the OTHER LETTER is the last letter), but if your word begins with the FIRST LETTER and contains the OTHER LETTER somewhere else in the word, you score only 1 point.

  So in Example 1 earlier, you get 2 points for ‘BRIAN’, ‘BOSTON’, ‘BURN’, but only 1 point for ‘BANGKOK’, ‘BANJO’, ‘BINGO’. As before, add your points at the end of each round and move your piece 1 space for each point.

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