Most popular word games

One tip you’ll commonly hear when people discover that you want to improve your English is to “read more books.” But not everyone can find joy in reading, so what now? Well luckily, there has been a rise in the popularity of word games. People take advantage of the exciting gimmicks that developers come up with, not to only have fun and pass the time but also to broaden their vocabulary.

If you ever find yourself looking to learn a new word or two, then give these popular word games of 2022 a try!

1. Wordle

Of course, you can’t talk about the rising popularity of word games without mentioning the one game that took 2022 by storm– Wordle.

Created by software engineer Josh Wardle for his beloved wife, Wordle is a free online game and has quickly become a worldwide trend with more or less 300,000 people playing this game daily. Its entire premise is for the players to guess what the five-letter “word of the day” is. But while most guessing games out there provide their players with a theme or a hint, Wordle does none of that. You’re left to your own devices.

It’s a great starter game to get into since the instructions are easy, there are no difficulty levels, and you only get one word per day– fewer words, less stress, usually. This game definitely provides its players with a sense of excitement, suspense, and sometimes even frustration as you’re left to think: “That word exists?!”

If you like playing this game, also check out some tips on playing wordle or use an online wordle solver if you want to cheat a little.

2. Crossword

Going as far back as 1913, Crossword still remains a crowd favorite. It’s a great way to improve your critical thinking skills while learning a thing or two about different terminologies and trivial facts.

With the many variations that exist today, there’s always going to be something new for you to try. Such variations can range from solving two at a time with only one set of clues to solving anagrams and even number-coded ones. With these many choices, there’s definitely something for everyone.

And because this game has retained so much popularity since its launch, there are various different apps and sources where you can enjoy this game, making it accessible to nearly everyone.

3. Pictoword

Providing players with two seemingly unrelated photos, and a random mix of letters, Pictoword challenges its players to guess the word based on the hints alone. It’s a very straightforward game and can be a great way to pass the time.

In addition, the app is free and is downloadable regardless of what mobile device you use. There are also many free alternatives with the same concept, so you’re free to choose which one suits your taste more.

4. Wordscapes

Now here’s a game that you might’ve seen on the internet before.

Wordscapes is a free downloadable mobile game that’s reminiscent of Crossword. In the game, players are shown a Crossword-like setup minus the clues; instead, they’re given a mix of letters and are expected to look for word combinations and fill out all the blank spaces. The number of letters given could range anywhere from four, to even six, which really ramps up the difficulty.

It’s perfect for learning new words and really racking up your brain, especially when you’re down to the last blank space and every combination just doesn’t seem to work! The app also offers players aesthetically pleasing backgrounds, dynamic gameplay, and multiple levels with varying degrees of difficulty– truly a game worth your time.

5. Spelltower

It’s like the love child between Tetris and word search. In Zach Gage’s SpellTower, players find themselves face to face with a word bank that first starts off as few in number, but soon enough, it begins filling up with more and more letters. Your goal is to quickly locate words hidden within the mix and prevent the word bank from reaching the top.

One challenging thing players need to get ready for is that it isn’t like your typical word search. Normally, the words are arranged either horizontally or vertically, read forwards or backward. In SpellTower however, there’s no guarantee on what pattern they’ll follow. It’s up to your keen eye to spot them.

This game definitely needs a quick eye since time is of the essence. It’s thrilling, fast-paced, and adrenaline-inducing– especially when you’re just a little ways away from the top, and you can’t seem to find any more words.

6. Scrabble Go

No word game list would be complete without some form of Scrabble thrown into the mix. But did you know that the game of Scrabble actually has close relations to Crossword and even anagrams? Created in 1931, a few decades after Crossword, architect Alfred M. Butts thought to combine the two aforementioned games; hence, the birth of Scrabble.

Since then, the game of Scrabble has come a long way, and with the rise of technology, numerous different apps and websites have been created which allow players to enjoy this game no matter where they are. Scrabble Go is one such variation that allows its users to play against whoever they want, be it their friends and family, strangers from across the globe, or even AI computers.

There are so many possibilities with this app. With everything from access to the official Scrabble dictionary to even customization options. Here, you have full control over your gaming experience.

7. Typeshift

In another word game by Zach Gage, players are tasked with figuring out a specific word from a set of columns lined with letters that you can slide up or down. You can think of it as a combination lock of sorts, where finding the right word gets you the win.

Typeshift definitely offers a new style for word games and deviates from the typical word search or word bank type of gameplay. With its simply styled format, multiple levels, and even clues to help you out, Typeshift is sure to give you a one-of-a-kind experience.

By now, it’s evident that reading isn’t the only way to widen your vocabulary. Through exploring the many word games available on the market, not only do you get to pass the time and have some fun, but you could also use it as a means to learn new words and practice new skills.

It can be quite riveting to challenge yourself through word games. Sometimes, you’ll feel the time pressure while frantically searching for a word combination from a word bank, and other times you could just be enjoying a laid-back game of Scrabble with your friends. No matter the word game that piques your interest, you’re sure to get the best of both worlds: entertainment, and learning.

Now, who said learning can’t be fun?


Published on 10 Jan 2023

Author: Marinel

There are a number of free online games one of them is fun word games to play with friends. Word puzzle games are the new trend. Rather than doing indulging into pass time entertainment activities, a lot of people prefer online word games. That’s the best way to utilize your time effectively.

Passing time is just one of saying it. But playing free word puzzle games has a long list of benefits. To name a few, online crosswords can help reduce stress, chances of mental diseases like dementia, improve vocabulary, social bonding, as well as mental health.

Isn’t that amazing that playing online word games can be that beneficial? We believe that you already know these facts. So without further ado, let’s get straight to the point.

Best List of Word Game Available on the Internet

This internet era has something for all of us. Earlier we had to pay to play some of the best word puzzle games. But now, we have a long list of free word puzzle games that are great Here they are.! These are fun words game to play with friends.

Wealth Words – Free Online Games

free online games

Wealth Words is a word puzzle platform that gives the opportunity to the players to play games for free. Anyone from a novice to a puzzling enthusiast can try the game. The platform offers free word puzzle games across multiple categories “crosswords, poems, stories and event” based puzzles.

Recently, Wealth Words has launched a new section of puzzles “quick game” that lets users complete free crosswords under 60 seconds and win up to $100 instantly. It makes the game interesting, exciting, and one of the best money-making games.

Play Online Game – Word Wipe

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It is one of the most famous word search games. In order to play you need to swipe along the line of at least 3 letters to form a correct word. Select the letters by tapping them once at a time and submit by tapping the last letter.

If you want to play online games and earn money then grab the opportunity of getting more points by submitting more complicated words. You need to submit the words until you achieve the goal. Receive bomb power and use them in harder levels to win. The game is simple but the barrier is its time. In order to advance your levels, you have to beat the clock, forming as many words as possible.

Enjoy the collapsing experience by playing this interesting game.

Fun Word Games for Group – Boggle

Boggle is an entertaining game in which you have to find as many connected words as possible in the time limit of 3 minutes. You have to compare your list of words and remove the redundant words found by other players.  

You will be scored on the basis of the remaining words depending upon the length of the words.

Group Word Games for Adults – Bonza Word Puzzle

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Bonza Word Puzzle is an engaging mixture of crossword and puzzle genres. You will get jumbled words and a clue which you have to understand to make a correct word. The game is easy to play and is children friendly. Every player gets a starter pack along with two puzzle packs that are totally free!

The best thing about this game is its daily free word puzzle games. Some puzzles are even based on current events. So, playing this popular word game is a great learning experience. Check out yourself and decide.

Play Online Game – Letter Press

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The game involves strategy where it meshes colors with letters and words. It is another exciting addition to the word puzzle games category.  Play the game by typing the letters into the five-by-five grid.

There is no rack of letters to shuffle, instead, enter up to 25 letters and get the highest scoring results. There are certain rules in the game. You can play this free word puzzle game with another player or with one of the four bots.

In order to win, you must claim more letters or ‘territory’. Play the game and have fun!

Free Online Game – Words

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As the name suggests, it’s a classic word search puzzle game. You get a grid of letters where you need to trace the words. The words can be formed diagonally, horizontally, or vertically. The game ends when you’ll find all the words. The game has various difficulty levels, languages, and game modes.

It’s the best among the free word puzzle games.

Play Online Game – Wordscapes

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Wordscapes is a mix of group word games for adults, search games, and a crossword puzzle. While playing this game, you will be given a few letters from which you have to form a meaningful word. If you are unable to guess, you can shuffle the letters or purchase hints. You can guess as many times as you want.

To reveal the word definition, you can click on the button below. It has around 5,000 puzzles available with different game modes. To end the game, you have to find all the words. As you proceed in the game, your levels will advance and you will get more difficult words to solve.

Fun Word Games for Groups – Jumbline 2

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Jumbline 2 is another word search game with the same old concept. It’s a hybrid of Boggle and Scrabble.

You have to move the squares to form an appropriate word that has a meaning. You can play 5, 6, or 7 letter word puzzles as per your interest. The game has around 20,000 puzzles with words having American spellings.

Free Online Games – Text Twist 2

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Text Twist 2 is a sequel to one of the most popular word game. To play this game you will be given 6, 7 or 8 set of letters. You have to make as many words as possible in a time limit of 2 minutes. Words that contain every available letter are called Bingos. So, in order to advance your levels, you must score at least one Bingo.

Fun Word Games for Group – Word Yard

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Word Yard is just like any other word puzzle game based on anagrams and crosswords. Half of the screen shows the letters in a circular form from which you have to select the letters. Whereas the other half shows the playing board which displays the correct words in appropriate slots.

In order to view the hints, you can get coins. You can earn coins through various methods, including inviting friends on Facebook, daily bonuses, watching ads, etc. The game has nice visuals and amazing sound effects. Try out yourself!

Crossword Puzzle Free

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Crossword Puzzle Free has almost everything you are looking for on the web. When you talk about free online word games, crossword puzzles are the best amongst all. The best thing about this game is its free puzzles.

You can play a variety of puzzles even on offline mode and that too without any subscriptions! Daily around millions of users train their brains by solving the black and white grids. It’s the best free word game to enhance your vocabulary and increase your IQ both at the same time. 

Well, these are the top word search puzzle games that will charge your brain and make you think like Einstein!

What comes first to your mind when you hear the word “Puzzle”? Well, for me it’s definitely my childhood. The first puzzle I was being taught was a mathematical puzzle. 

“What’s one plus one?” At such a tender age, solving puzzles meant a lot. I remember there was a popular word game we used to play at my school.  You say a word and the other person has to tell a word starting from the last alphabet.

It goes this way “Yellow, Whether, Rapid, Dwarf and so on.”

I don’t think the magic was in the game. Certainly, it was the brain that was rapidly responding.

How Your Brain Works When you Solve a Word Puzzle?

Do you have any idea that how your brain is able to respond so instantly? Where all the words are stored? It’s called temporal lobe, it’s on the right side of your brain. Let’s get a little bit deeper.

Our brain has two sides or you can say two hemispheres. Each side of the brain has one temporal lobe. If you are right-handed, it might be interesting for you to know that your language is stored mostly in your left temporal lobe.

For the lefties, your language is stored in temporal lobes on both sides of your brain.

How the Words are Stored? 

Now the fact is words are stored in an organised manner. Generally, our brain recognises the words that have some correlations. Just say, 

  • Cup and Saucer
  • Bread and Butter
  • Fun and Games

Our brain associates these words with a connections. These are associated and stored in the brain as it is. You hear any out of one and the other word will strike to your mind immediately. Let’s test your temporal lobe right now.

Now, it’s your brain that has to do the work. Find the third word that has a direct connection with both of the two words. Answer in less than 10 seconds!

  • River – Money
  • Flaw – Care
  • Water – Down
  • Mind – Sun

This is just an example to make you understand the functioning of your brain. If you were able to crack this easy one, then you can surely go ahead with solving some tricky brain-teasersSo, are you ready to experience the dynamic words of words?

Want to win real money instantlyStart your puzzling session now. Have fun!

Carol Lee

Carol Lee is a content writer at Wealth Words. She has been in the digital marketing industry for the past five years.

It’s the simple word game that’s gone viral in 2022, but many people are still learning what Wordle is and how to play.

You might have seen those tiny red, amber and green tiles shared on the group chat or posted on social media and wondered what it could be. Or watched your colleague frantically google search a number of 5-letter words? If that’s the case, chances are they’re obsessed with the game of the moment: Wordle.

The simple word game is a great 5-minute daily brain-teaser to do on your lunchbreak or commute. And parents might find it to be a fun car game for kids (opens in new tab) too, helping to keep them quiet and entertained on the school run. If you haven’t tried your hand at the online game as yet, here’s what you need to know to play along.

What is Wordle and how do you play it?

Wordle is an online 5-letter word game. Each day a new word is released and players have six attempts to guess what the word of the day is. During the guesses, tiles will change colour to help players get the word. A grey letter means it isn’t in today’s word, whilst a yellow letter signals it is in the word but in the wrong position. Then there’s the green letter which means it’s in the word and in the right place.

Players select letters of the alphabet on the virtual keyboard and enter them into the 5 blank tiles. When they’re happy with their 5-letter word guess, they press the submit button. This then checks the word and lets you know if your word or some of the letters are correct. If it’s completely right — the full 5 letters turn green.

An infographic of Wordle rules explained

Credit: Wordle

If you correctly guess the word within the 6 attempts, then you win the game. If you win two days in a row or more, you automatically receive a winning streak. This keeps rolling over, unless you fail to guess the word one day and the streak is broken.

It’s proved to be a very popular game, with 300,000 players reported at the beginning of January. It’s now believed that over 2 million users are playing Wordle globally.

How to get the Wordle game?

Wordle is available to play online only. It is accessed via the webpage www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle (opens in new tab). And players return to this page everyday to guess the new word-of-the-day.

Many leave the webpage as an open tab on their phone to keep their winning streak going.

Who plays Wordle?

The beauty of Wordle is that anyone can play. There’s no set age restrictions, but we reckon it’s suitable (and playable) by kids aged 6 and above. Several celebrities have also publicly shared that they’re a fan of the word game.

Pointless host Richard Osman, Countdown‘s Susie Dent and BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker (opens in new tab) have all praised the game on social media, often sharing their results. Whilst across the pond, US talk show host Jimmy Fallon is a fan. He even played along live during a recording of The Tonight Show.

Who invented Wordle?

Wordle was created by Welsh-born Josh Wardle, a former employee at social news website Reddit. The software engineer first came up with the game in 2013, creating a prototype for his friends to play. But they didn’t take to it and he retired it. Josh revisited the game again during the pandemic and after proving popular with family members, he decided to take it public.

«Last year, my partner and I got really into crosswords and word games and I wanted a game for us to play each morning as part of our routine,» he told BBC’s Today programme.

Josh, who studied in London before moving to the US to complete a master’s degree in 2008, has been bowled over by the global response.

«Since launching Wordle, I’ve been in awe of the response from everyone that has played,» he tweeted. «The game has gotten bigger than I ever imagined (which I suppose isn’t that much of a feat given I made the game for an audience of 1).»

He added that it’s been «incredible» to watch the game bringing so much joy. And was pleased to hear personal stories of how the game has helped people, including players recovering from surgery.

Though Josh invented the game he no longer owns Wordle. A very famous company bought the rights to the game in early 2022.

How much was Wordle sold for?

The New York Times bought Wordle from Josh Wardle in February 2022. Though an exact figure wasn’t shared, Wordle sold the game for a price «in the low seven figures». The creator shared news of the deal on his Twitter account.

In the tweet, Josh explained that he was pleased to sell his creation to The New York Times as it influenced the game from the start: «If you’ve followed along with the story of Wordle, you’ll know that NYT games play a big part in its origins and so this steps feels very natural to me,» he tweeted.

«I’ve long admired the NYT’s approach to their games and the respect with which they treat their players. Their values are aligned with mine on these matters nand I’m thrilled that they will be stewards of the game moving forward.»

The New York Times confirmed the sale. And shared that Wordle will join their online Games portfolio (opens in new tab):

“If you’re like me, you probably wake up every morning thinking about Wordle, and savouring those precious moments of discovery, surprise and accomplishment,» said Jonathan Knight, general manager for The New York Times Games section.

«We could not be more thrilled to become the new home and proud stewards of this magical game, and are honored to help bring Josh Wardle’s cherished creation to more solvers in the months ahead.»

Will Wordle no longer be free?

No, Wordle will continue to be available to play for free when it moves to The New York Times. This has both been confirmed in statements by the newspaper and game creator Josh Wardle.

Wordle players were initially worried that a fee to play Wordle would happen. This is because in order to play The New York Times games you have to be a paid subscriber.

«At the time it moves to The New York Times, Wordle will be free to play for new and existing players, and no changes will be made to its gameplay,» confirmed the paper in a press release (opens in new tab).

Josh also re-iterated that Wordle will remain «free for everyone». He added that he was also working with the company to keep the wins and streaks preserved.

Video of the Week:

In a interview prior to the sale, Josh shared that he never had any intention of charging people to play Wordle:

«I don’t understand why something can’t just be fun,» he said. «I don’t have to charge people money for this and ideally would like to keep it that way.»

Playing word games is one of the most excellent ways to exercise the brain. Besides being fun and beneficial, brain words games improve verbal intelligence, memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills. It also boosts intellectual ability and stimulates creativity! ✨

The Best Brain Words Games

There are many online brain words games, but which ones offer the benefits you need? We’ve collected the best brain words games samples to expand your brainpower to the maximum. Challenge yourself and enjoy training your brain with the most effective games! 🚀

Word Puzzle

Word Puzzle

Here is a puzzle that includes words and pictures! You need to use both verbal and visual skills to be successful.

Synonym Antonym

Synonym Antonym

One of the best brain games with words! Choose the synonyms & antonyms according to the direction.

Word Generator

Word Generator

Complete the words with missing letters by using your vocabulary and planning skills. Be aware of tricky ones!

Relationship Status

Relationship Status

Read the adjective we show and decide which word is related to it below. Comparison skills are as essential as vocabulary!

✅ Improves: Verbal Intelligence
✅ Features: 15+ Games
✅ Approach: Academic & Fun
✅ Suitable: for All Ages

Word Hunt

Word Hunt

Are you a good word hunter? Test your vocabulary and reasoning skills with our complicated riddles!

Word Matching

Word Matching

Find the words according to the highlighted category! Use your conceptualization and vocabulary skills effectively.

Word Memory

Word Memory

Challenge your vocabulary and verbal memory at the same time! You must pay attention; the time is ticking!

Split Words

Split Words

In free brain games, Split Words has a special place. Are you brave enough to complete the words against time?

Top 8 Word Games to Play at Home

Are you looking for an entertaining game for the next family game night? Playing word games can be more fun than you think! Discover the most engaging brain words games to play at home with your loved ones in light of our list. ✨

1. Scrabble

There is no doubt that Scrabble is one of the most popular word games for developing vocabulary, strategic thinking, and verbal memory.

best brain games words

These are what make Scrabble excellent, but there is one more advantage of this word game that will teach you how to think faster. Scrabble can be played with a wide range of age groups. Even grandparents and grandkids enjoy doing their bests against each other!

2. MentalUP

The award-winning MentalUP offers 150+ word games to maximize your skills while having so much fun!

MentalUP word games

All the games of MentalUP are created by academicians, scientists, and game developers. That’s why they are that entertaining and beneficial! The word games aim to develop not only your verbal intelligence but also your visual intelligence, attention, memory, and logic skills.

You can play all those games in a family plan (up to 3 users) and compare your results with your peers and other family members! 👨‍👩‍👧

All the games are suitable for all ages because we offer your daily program according to your performance. It means you can never feel bored with any of these games! 🥳

Surprise your brain and reach beyond your limits with the most creative word games of MentalUP! 🚀

START TODAY

3. Words Within a Word

Here is another perfect word game, Words Within a Word! It is so easy to play this game at home or in the classroom. You just need some paper and a pencil, then think about a long word.

brain games for kids words

For example, the determined word is “unadulterated.” Now, the players should create new words from the main word, like “adult, deal, tear, dune, etc.”. Set the timer for 5 minutes, and let’s see which player will list more words!

You may count only 4-letter words or more to make this game more challenging. Good luck!

4. Synonym Hunter

The best brain games words list must include Synonym Hunter! This game is suitable for both kids and adults.

brain games words and numbers answers

Choose a word like “happy,” and then find its synonyms like “joyful, cheerful, merry, etc.” You can count them in turn with the other players one by one or grab a piece of paper and pencil, then make a list to see which player will have the highest word number!

5. Storytelling & Order of Words Game

Brain games order of words can create a real difference to support a healthier brain. All the players should order the words so carefully to create a beautiful story.

all the games words brain

Some people prefer to play it sentence by sentence, but building a sentence with each word of different players is much more challenging.

This game is not only great for verbal intelligence but also for creative intelligence.

6. Hangman

Who could need a detailed introduction to Hanging Man? It’s one of the most popular word games ever!

all the games words brain apps

You need some paper, a pen, and another player to play this game. Choose a word in your mind, and draw short lines as much as each letter.

The player starts by picking a letter. If he/she finds a letter from the word, you write it. If it’s a wrong guess, you should start drawing the platform step by step, the rope, and body parts such as the head, torso, two arms, and two legs.

When the player reveals the word before the body drawing ends, accepted as the round winner! If you want to make it more difficult, Hangman can be played as one of the words and numbers brain games

7. Bananagrams

Bananagrams is quite a simple but challenging game. You don’t need any paper or board to play it; only the bag of tiles is enough for spending a great deal of time.

brain games words

2 to 6 players are allowed, and both adults and kids can enjoy playing it. Basically, you pick your starting tiles according to the number of players and start making their intersecting word grid!

The first one who ends their tales will be the winner. Remember to call out “Bananas!” when you’re done!

8. Letter Jungle

Here is an easy game to play, but it doesn’t mean that Letter Jungle is easy!

prevention brain games split words

All you need is some paper and a pen. Choose 7 random letters with 2 vowels at least. Then set the timer for 3 minutes. Now it’s time to start creating words from the Letter Jungle!

According to the difficulty level you want to play, you can decide 3 minutes is enough or not. It’s one of the brilliant brain words games to play at home or even on a bus or airplane!

How Words Games Work Out Your Brain

Do you wonder what makes brain words games such a perfect workout for the brain? There are many beneficial features to talk about, but here are the most effective ones:

  • Word Games Improve Vocabulary

The best part of word games is that they encourage you to think deeply, remember the words you don’t use often, or learn new words to use them. After a while, players can feel that finding words are easier, which is perfect for their daily lives to express themselves better too.

  • They Strengthen Memory

Short-term memory and long term memory are skills you must use when playing word games. If you want to get a good score, you should remember all the complex, uncommon, maybe too old words. Players easily observe that they start remembering all these “impossible to recall” words in time if they keep playing memory games. This benefit is essential, especially for memory games for seniors.

brain games words

  • Brain Words Games Support Thinking Strategically

Have you ever realized that you are getting a significant improvement when you play the same game over and over again? This is normal because word games support strategic thinking. It makes players’ performances get better and is also pretty useful for daily life problems and be better at exams such as 8 plus.

  • People of All Ages Can Play Word Games Together

The great advantage of these games is anyone can play them if they have basic literacy. It means that grandparents can play these games with their grandchildren, or these games can be the star of family game nights.

Word games are excellent choices to play with your loved ones, but you don’t need someone to sharpen your mind! 🙌

Download MentalUP and start discovering 150+ words games that are developed on a scientific base. 🧠

MentalUP, the award-winning app, is highly beneficial for both kids and adults! Our algorithm analyses your level in detail and recommends games based on your performance. 📊

For starting on a journey of constant development, MentalUP is the most beneficial step! 🤩

FAQ About Brain Words Games

What word games are good for the brain?

Some brain games split words, for example, are great choices for the brain. You can check the games and activities we’ve suggested in this article. Also, you can download MentalUP, the best brain games words app, with thousands of brain games.

What are brain twisting games?

Most word games can be considered brain-twisting games. You can personalize some of their rules to make them more challenging. All the games we’ve compiled and offered on MentalUP are wonderful examples of brain-twisting games.

Are there any free word games?

There are many free and paid word games that people can play. Check out the list we’ve prepared for you in this article for free online word games. You can read the “Top 8 Word Games to Play At Home” section for some free word games to play with loved ones.

What is Picto game?

Picto game or Pictoword is one of the entertaining brain words games. You can play it alone or with your friends, making the game a good choice for many people. Players need to guess the word according to two different pictures.


27 August 2018

Publish Date: 18 April 2022

Lauran Cole

Word games for kids are a great way for children to learn new vocabulary in a fun way. This list of word games includes a range of spelling games, and vocabulary games for kids that will get them talking and help their language development.

Best Word Games for Kids

Word Games and Vocabulary Games for Kids

Word games are a fantastic way to get your kids learning when they don’t realise it. These types of games help to build vocabulary, learn to spell, and communication in general. They are also really fun and most of them can be played almost anywhere.

If you are looking for board games that you can buy, check out our board games for kids post. These word games below don’t need much preparation, but if you don’t have time to prepare your own, you can also purchase a range of fun word games for kids HERE.

1. Hang Man

Hang Man Vocabulary Game for Kids

The Game: Arguably one of the most popular word games for kids is Hang Man. This word game can be played with minimum 2 players and is perfect for kids to practice their spelling. Player 1 thinks of a word and Player 2 (or more) has to guess it before they get “hung.”

How to Play: Player 1 writes down a line for each letter of the word they have chosen, so that the other player/s know how many letters there are in the word. Player 2 needs to guess a letter they think may be in the word. If the letter is correct Player 1 writes the letter down on the line or lines. If it is incorrect Player 1 draws part of the “hangman”. If the drawing is complete by the time Player 2 guesses, then Player 1 wins.

2. Words within a word

The Game: This is a great word game for kids that requires them to create their own words out of one large word.

How to Play: Choose one really long word with at least 8-10 letters. The longer the word the better. Then set a timer for 1 minute and start. Each player needs to try to make a list of small words out of the letters of the long word. So, for example the word COMPUTER includes: put, cot, term, core, mop, top, pet. Etc. This is a really fun word game to help children’s spelling skills.

3. I spy

The Game: A really easy and fun word game for kids that doesn’t need any materials at all and can be played anywhere is I spy. Guess what the person “spies”. Play this guessing game with as many players as you want in the car, on a walk, or even at dinner.

How to Play: Player 1 looks around and chooses an object that he or she can see then proceeds to say, “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with __” The other players then need to guess what the word is. Whoever guesses the correct words is next up to spy. Great game to play in the car.

4. Unscramble the words

The Game: This is a simple word game for children that needs a little preparation, but will get them really thinking. Kids will need to unscramble the letters to solve the word.

How to play: Write down a list of words on a page, but scramble the letters so that they are not in order. Kids will need to look at the scrambled letters to try to form the word. For younger children, it can be simple 3-4 letter words, for older ones to make it more challenging try some 5-8 letter words. This is a great vocabulary game for kids of any age that will really test their problem solving skills.

5. Bingo

Sight Word Game Bingo

The Game: Bingo is such a fun and easy word game for kids. There are some really good versions on Amazon HERE. That you can buy, but you can also just make up your own. Kids must find the words on their bingo card and be the first to cross them all off.

How to Play: Draw a square grid on a page and choose a theme. Write out some words using the theme. It could be colours, shapes, animals, or even their sight words they are learning at school. For a group of players, make sure that all of them have slightly different words.

Make an extra copy of all of the words on every page then cut them up into squares and put in a bowl scrunched up. You and the kids can then take turns in pulling out a word and reading it out loud. Whoever has the word on their page covers it with a token). The first person to find all of the words calls out Bingo and is the winner.

6. I am going on a picnic

The Game: An old favourite, and a fun word game to help with your child’s memory and to get them talking. One person is going on a picnic and each person has to say what they are bringing along, but with a twist! The more you play this vocabulary game the better you get at it.

How to Play: This game can be played with 2 or more people. Player 1 starts with saying “I am going on a picnic and I will bring … (and chooses an item, eg sandwiches”

Player 2 then repeats what the first person said, and adds something of their own. So, for example “I am going on a picnic and I will bring some sandwiches, and some strawberries.

Player 3 (or back to player 1) then repeats what the first person said, then the second person, and adds something of their own. So for example “I am going on a picnic and I will bring sandwiches, strawberries, and a picnic rug.”

You keep going like this for each person around the circle and as you go, it gets more difficult to remember every item. The game ends when someone cannot remember them all.

7. Alphabet

The Game: Another simple vocabulary for kids to get them thinking is the Alphabet game where you go through the alphabet to name different subjects.

How to Play: Write down the letters A-Z on paper, and then choose a subject such as animals or places. Kids need to then go through the alphabet using each letter to write down something from that subject. For example, Ape, Bear, Cow, Duck, etc.

The person who has the most at the end is the winner. This word game can also be played out loud if you don’t have paper, taking turns with each player going through the alphabet until someone cannot continue.

8. Word Family Game

The Game: This fun vocabulary game requires children to rhyme and think of new words. It can be played with 2 players or even a group.

How to Play: Choose one word to start with, and then everyone needs to write as many words that rhyme with that word. For example if the word is “Mat”, answers could be: cat, sat, rat, pat etc. If you are playing in the car or on the go, you can do one word at a time. If you have paper, then start with a list of words and go through them all with a timer. The person with the most words wins.

9. Word Search

word search vocabulary game for kids

The Game: A fun but challenging word game for kids that encourages persistence is doing a word search. Kids need to find the hidden words within a grid.

How to Play: You can find lots of fun word searches online for free and print them out (as the one in the image above) Or you can make your own easily by drawing a grid of 10 x 10 squares. Once you have your grid, place as many words as you can within the grid. Words can go up, down, or diagonal. For older kids who need a challenge, make some letter overlap and used more than once.

Make sure to create a list on the side or bottom of the page of the words you have entered so the player knows which words to find. Once you cannot fit anymore words in, fill the blank boxes with a range of random letters.

10. Story prompts

The Game: This is a great vocabulary game to get kids talking and sparking their creativity by making up stories together.

How to Play: Kids need to take turns in saying sentences to make a story. Player 1 starts the story, and says the first sentence. Player 2 continues the story with another sentence. Player 3 (or back to Player 1) continues the story again with another sentence and so on. The stories can become very interesting as each person has different ideas.

Other Fun Learning Games for Kids

If you love these fun word games for kids then you may be interested in our other posts that are also educational and help kids with their vocabulary and communication.

  • Best board games for kids
  • Best car games for kids
  • Best kids activities to do at home
  • Fun and simple science experiments for kids
  • Nursery rhyme lyrics

Best word games for kids of all ages

These word games will certainly encourage your kids to use new vocabulary and improve their spelling too.

The best thing about these word games for kids is that they can can be played with children of all ages. Even parents can join in the fun too. Just adapt the game to suit the age of the player. Let us know if you have a favourite word game for kids that we haven’t listed so we can try it out!

Follow Mum’s Little Explorers on Facebook for more inspiration and if you are in Melbourne, come join the Melbourne for Kids Facebook Group.

20 Word Games For Kids To Improve Their Vocabulary

Image: Shutterstock

One of the most effective ways for young children to gain knowledge and develop crucial abilities is through play. So, if you’re in search of some fun and educational activities to do at home, word games for kids are the perfect option to keep your little one engaged. This game also makes learning at home enjoyable and lays the foundation for successful school learning. Moreover, word games assist your kid improve their vocabulary, spelling, grammar, writing, reading, verbal, and communication skills. Parents can study alongside their kids as children like having their parents participate in their learning. In this post, we present you with a list of fantastic word games that kids and adults may enjoy together. Read on.

Benefits Of Word Games

If you are wondering why word games for children are beneficial, here are some reasons:

  • Develops vocabulary
  • Improves fluency in the language
  • Hones comprehension and reasoning skills
  • Develops a love of words and reading
  • Sparks their imagination and memory
  • Improves their problem-solving skills
  • Encourages creativity
  • Serves as a great pastime for the family
  • Stimulates the brain
  • Improves concentration

There are many word games for kids that help them learn new words. These games are entertaining and educational, making them enjoyable for everyone involved.

We have listed the 20 best word games for kids. These games will ensure you and your children have a great time learning new words.

1. Hangman

Hangman word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

Hangman is a fun paper and pencil guessing word game for kids that can be played between two players. More players can participate and take turns as well. It is a simple game where a stickman is hanged if a player fails to get the word right.

Age group: 6 to 10 years

No of players: 2

How to play:

  1. Take a sheet of paper and a pen and draw gallows.
  2. The first player thinks of a word and draws dashes above the gallows equal to the number of letters in the word.
  3. The other player starts guessing the letters one by one.
  4. If the letter the player says is in the word, the first player writes it in the corresponding spaces on the dashes.
  5. If the letter is not in the word, the first player draws one part of the stickman, starting from the head and followed by the body, hands, and legs.
  6. If the stickman gets completed before the second player guesses the word, that player loses.
  7. Switch sides and start again.
  8. Proper nouns or slang words are not allowed.

2. Name the animal

Name the animal word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

Name the animal is a multiplayer kids word game that can help teach your children animal names and improve their reasoning skills. This game also offers your child the opportunity to exercise their lateral thinking skills.

Age group: 4 to 7 years

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. You can be the host of the game.
  2. Make a list of common animals and a list of words that rhyme with these animal names.
  3. Call out each player and present them a rhyming word, and let them guess the animal name. You can say things like, “I rhyme with fog. I am a …..”
  4. The player who gets the maximum words correct is the winner.
  5. You can also teach them animal sounds by substituting animal names with their sounds.

3. I spy

I spy word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

I spy is one of the easiest games of the lot. All you need is your imagination and some eager players.

Age group: 4 to 6 years

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Locate an object, and tell your child its first letter saying, “I Spy an object starting with the letter ….”
  2. Your child looks around and recognizes each object corresponding to that letter.
  3. Stop when they get it right and continue the game with the next player.
  4. You can also mention the color or shape of the object and let your child guess it correctly.

4. Make a word

Make a word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

If your child is starting to learn new words, this word game for kids is useful. You can also play this game with older kids to make them learn difficult words and improve their memory. This game lays a solid foundation for playing advanced spelling games, such as Scrabble.

Age group: 4 to 12 years

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. You can play this game with younger children if you have magnetic letters, plastic letters, letter mats, or letter blocks.
  2. Give them a set of letters and ask them to make two- or three-letter words with them.
  3. For older children, you can play the game mentally or write a set of letters on a piece of paper and ask them to make as many words as they can from them.
  4. You can even play a timed version of the game with older children as they enjoy a good challenge.

5. Rhyming words

Rhyming words game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

Rhyming Words game is a variation of Name the Animal. This word game for kids encourages your child to learn new words and helps hone their reasoning skills.

Age group: For ages 3 to 6 years

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Name any animal.
  2. Ask your children to say the words that rhyme with the name of the animal, in turns.
  3. For example, when you say the word “dog,”your children should come up with words such as fog, hog, and log.
  4. Continue with a player until they run out of words and repeat the game with the next player.

6. Name, place, animal, thing

Name, place, animal, thing word game for kids

Image: IStock

You might remember playing this game as a child yourself. This game helps in expanding your child’s knowledge and memory.

Age group: 5 years and above

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Give each player a sheet of paper and a pencil.
  2. Say a letter of the alphabet and start a timer.
  3. Each player must write the words of a name, place, animal, or a thing starting with that letter. For example, if the letter is A, a player may write, “Alex, Australia, Ape, Apple,” under each of these categories, respectively.
  4. You can assign different letters to different players or the same letter to each one.
  5. You can include other categories as per your convenience.

7. Hink pink

Hink pink word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

Children love this game. This word game for kids is designed to maximize fun while learning new words and their meanings. The game can help improve your child’s ability to solve crossword puzzles and cryptic crosswords.

Age group: 4 to 12 years

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Ask each player to come up with a set of rhyming monosyllabic words, e.g., fat rat.
  2. Help them make a clue about their words. In this case, the clue will be “a rodent that is not thin.”
  3. Each player says their clue aloud, and the others try to guess what the rhyming words are.
  4. If the children are older, you can play Hinky Pinky (two-syllable words) or Hinketty Pinketty (three-syllable words). You can even make different combinations between different syllabic words.
  5. Ask the children to act out the words too so that all of you have lots of fun while the children learn difficult words.
  6. Here are some more words to get you started: Thin Pin, Big Pig, Tan Pan, Fan Man.

8. Guess the correct word

Guess the correct word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

This word game for kids, if played mentally, is an excellent way to boost your child’s memory. It is a simple game and can be played with pencil and paper if you want to keep score.

Age group: 6 years and above

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. The first player thinks of a word and announces its first letter and the number of letters in the word to the others. If the player has thought of the word “Bananas,” they should say B and 6.
  2. The other players have to guess the word using these clues.
  3. If a player says another word but it has some matching words with the original word, the first player will say that the word is wrong but there are matching letters in the correct places or the wrong places.
  4. The next player uses these clues to make the next guess.
  5. You can keep the words simple or difficult according to the age of the children.
  6. As for the example of Bananas:
    Player 2: Bullock
    Player 1: That is incorrect
    Player 3: Bahamas
    Player 1: That is incorrect, but the As are in the correct place,
    and so on.

9. Word hunting

Word hunting word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

If your child is just learning the alphabet, this is an easy game to play. However, you can make some minor changes and tweak it for older children.

Age group: 4 to 7 years

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Scatter magnetic letters, plastic letters, or letter blocks on a table.
  2. Ask your child to pick up a letter from the lot.
  3. For older children, you can write three- or four-letter words on little chits of paper and do the same procedure as above.
  4. For children who can read, you can ask them to pick words they see outside shops, etc.

10. Change one letter

Change one letter word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

This is a great word game for school children. The game promotes out-of-the-box thinking and allows your child to come up with new words and even their meanings.

Age group: 5 to 10 years

No of players: 4 or more

How to play:

  1. Begin with a short word that has three, four, or five letters (according to the age of the children).
  2. Ask the children to take turns in calling out new words by changing just one letter of the previous word. E.g., park – part – dart – dark / mark – mare – mart / cart – care – case – cast – mast (and so on).
  3. You can set a timer or divide the players into teams to make the game more exciting.

11. Call my bluff

Call my bluff word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

Call my bluff is commonly played at sleepovers and during picnics and is an excellent word game for older children.

Age group: 8 years and above

No of players: 4 or more

How to play:

  1. Divide the children into teams.
  2. Give them a set of words that are common but unfamiliar to them.
  3. Ask each team to look up the meaning of each word, and make up two wrong meanings for each word.
  4. Each team asks the other team the meaning of a word and gives them the three options.
  5. If the opposite team guesses the correct meaning, they get points. If they don’t, the team that asked the meaning gets the point.
  6. For example, let us take the word “Bewildered.” You can give three choices (a) to be left in the wild, (b) shocked or surprised, and (c) out-of-control behavior.

12. Unscramble the words

Unscramble the words word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

Let your children put on their thinking caps and play this game. The word game makes your child think and helps stir their imagination and improve their reasoning skills.

Age group: 5 years and above

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Think of a word and write it down on paper but in a scrambled form.
  2. Your child has to think and arrange the word in the right sequence.
  3. You could even give clues so that they can unscramble the word faster.
  4. You could also write down a set of scrambled words, set the timer, and ask them to solve as many as they can within the allotted time.

13. Tell me a story

Tell me a story1 word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

Children are incredibly imaginative. Children, as young as three years old, start making imaginary stories. You can play this game to fire your child’s imagination.

Age group: 5 years and above

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Start a “story” with a sentence.
  2. The next player should say another sentence and continue the story.
  3. As the story grows, it becomes hilarious and absurd.
  4. For example, you start with the sentence, “In a village, there was a man named Joe.” The next player can say, “He wore a red shirt every day,” and the next player may say, “One day, a bull charged at him,” and so on.

14. Words in a word

Words in a word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

This is one of the most popular word games for kids and one of the best word-building games of all time. It is useful in improving your child’s English, if it is not your native language. You might have played this game in your childhood. It is now your children’s turn to play the game and keep the tradition alive.

Age group: 5 years and above

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Think of a long word. A popular word choice for this game is “Constantinople.”
  2. Ask your child to write words starting with each letter in the word. They should use the letters contained in the word only.
  3. For example, Constantinople can have words such as con, cot, on, oil, no, nap, sit, and sip.
  4. You can set a timer and ask your child to write down as many words as they can within the given time frame.

15. I’m going on a picnic

I am going on a picnic word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

This game is for older children. It helps hone their creative skills and improves their memory. The word game is usually played in classrooms, but they can play it at a sleepover or even with you as a family game.

Age group: 5 years and above

No of players: 3 or more

How to play:

  1. The first player starts by saying, “I’m going on a picnic, and I will bring a ….”.
  2. The next player adds an item to the list and repeats the words.
  3. Each player has to repeat the items named in the exact sequence.
  4. If a player forgets a name or the sequence, they are out of the game.
  5. You can either start the game all over again or ask the next player to pick up the sequence and continue.
  6. For example, the game goes as follows:
    Player 1: I’m going on a picnic, and I will bring a cookie.
    Player 2: I’m going on a picnic, and I will bring a cookie and a Popsicle.
    Player 3: I’m going on a picnic, and I will bring a cookie and a Popsicle and a bottle of juice, and so on.

16. Crosswords

Crosswords word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

Solving crosswords requires practice and a lot of patience. The game will not only teach your children new words but also develop their deductive reasoning skills to a great degree.

Age group: 6 years and above

No of players: 1

How to play:

  1. Draw a grid with white and black squares and number each row and column.
  2. Then, write a set of clues at the bottom of the grid with the corresponding row or column number.
  3. Ask your child to solve the crossword.
  4. You can set a timer to make the game challenging.
  5. You can get some printable crosswords with clues easily on the Internet (you will find some free and printable crosswords in this link). Crosswords regularly appear in newspapers and magazines.

17. Word quest

Word quest word game for kids

Image: IStock

Word quest is a word game for older kids. The game involves searching for words using single letters and makes your children use their deduction skills.

Age group: 5 years and above

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Draw a 10×10 or 12×12 grid on a sheet of paper and divide it into squares.
  2. Write various words below and to the side of the grid.
  3. Write random letters in random squares.
  4. Ask your child to fill in the grid using the words you have written outside the grid.

18. Consequences

Consequences word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

This word game helps stir the imagination and encourages creativity. The game works well with both children and adults.

Age group: 5 years and above

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. The first player writes down a sentence on a sheet of paper and passes it on to the next player.
  2. The next player writes the next sentence and passes it on.
  3. Once all the players are done with adding their sentences, you can read out the story.
  4. You can also write 4–5 sentences with open endings on a sheet of paper and hand them over to each player. Each player writes their version of the story and reads it aloud at the end of the game.
  5. For example, you can write, “There was a man named …….. He …………. a woman named ……………. They went to …………. He said, “…………………” She said, “……………………” And then, ……………..” and so on.

19. Scrabble

Scrabble word game for kids

Image: IStock

Scrabble is a popular classic word game for kids. If you want your child to learn new words, this is one of the best games.

Age group: 6 years and above

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Get a scrabble boards.
  2. Set it up and read the rules.
  3. The number on each letter tile tells you how many points it’s worth, and the squares on the board tell you how many points you scored.
  4. The player who gets the maximum score is the winner.
  5. After a game of Scrabble gets over, the board looks similar to a crossword.

20. Pass the bomb

Pass the bomb word game for kids

Image: Shutterstock

Pass the bomb is an educational game that will test your child’s alacrity. The first player should say a word and pass the bomb as quickly as possible to the next player, who must say a similar-sounding word. The players need to be quick in passing the bomb before it explodes. You can get this board game at a shop or simply make your own set.

Age group: 5 years and above

No of players: 2 or more

How to play:

  1. Take a set of card papers and write two- and three-letter words on them with a marker.
  2. The first player picks up a card and passes it around.
  3. The “bomb” goes off after a certain time. If you have made the cards at home, you can use a timer or even play music.
  4. The moment the timer goes off (or the music stops), the player holding the card is out.
  5. However, before leaving, they have to say a word that contains the word written on the card.
  6. For example, if the card has “ART” written on it, the child who gets out can say a word with ART in it, such as part, mart, or cart.

1. How can word games help children improve their spelling skills?

When children engage in word games, they are required to focus on the spelling of various words, which helps them to learn and remember the correct spelling of those words.

2. In what ways can word games help children with their grammar?

Word games encourage children to think about language playfully and engagingly, making it easier to understand and remember grammar rules. Word games can also help expand children’s vocabulary, an essential component of good grammar. By learning new words and their meanings, children can improve their ability to express themselves clearly and accurately.

3. How can word games help children improve their vocabulary?

Word games are an excellent way to improve children’s vocabulary skills, as they help them learn new words and reinforce their understanding of familiar ones. Games such as Scrabble, Boggle, and crossword puzzles challenge children to think critically and creatively about words, requiring them to use problem-solving skills to develop new words and find hidden ones.

4. How can word games help children become better readers?

Word games can help children become better readers by improving their vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension skills. Such games require children to identify and create words, helping them to recognize new words and understand their meanings. This eventually improves their reading skills.

When education is imparted as activities and games, children tend to grasp it much faster and retain it longer. So, if you want your children to have great communication skills, fluent vocabulary, and fascinating imagination, involve them in word games for kids. Games, such as I spy, make a word, or hink pink, are effective in keeping children engaged and sharpening their grammar and vocabulary. Another good thing about these games is that you can be involved in playing too. So, choose a suitable word game according to your child’s age and have fun while playing.

Key Pointers

  • Word games stimulate the brain to improve reasoning skills, vocabulary, and language skills.
  • Spur creativity through games such as I spy, rhyming words, and hink pink.
  • Test the memory with games such as guess the correct word and make a word.

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