Created almost eighty years ago, Scrabble is a staple of the board game world and has proven popular amongst both casual and hardcore gamers alike. The simple rules, elements of luck, and cerebral gameplay make Scrabble fun, accessible, and replayable for all ages. The game has become so popular that it’s available in 121 countries, 30 languages, and has sold around 150 million copies since it’s release in 1948. Many players who love Scrabble are also interested in exploring similar games.
For those who don’t know, Scrabble is a word game for two to four players. It uses tiles, each bearing a single letter, that are placed onto a game board to create words that read left to right in rows, and up to down in columns. Players are only able to utilise so many tiles at once and replenish them every turn until there are no tiles left. Each letter is worth a certain amount of points, and certain spaces on the board offer bonuses, so strategically planning how to lay out the tiles each turn can make a big difference to the points a player earns. Whoever accumulates the most points by the end of the game, wins.
For fans of word or spelling games that have either had their fill of Scrabble or would like to try something similar, there are plenty of games like Scrabble that share some similarities and are challenging in their own ways. Below are a handful that we think are worth trying.
Best Word Games for Board Game Enthusiasts
If you’re a board game enthusiast, you’ll love these word board games that offer a unique twist on the classic Scrabble experience. From cooperative gameplay to competitive challenges, these games are perfect for those who love to build words and test their vocabulary.
Word Chain: In Word Chain, players take turns building words that start with the last letter of the previous word. The goal is to create a continuous chain of words, each connected by their last letter. This game tests your vocabulary and quick thinking as you try to come up with new words on the spot.
Boggle: This classic word game involves finding as many words as possible in a grid of letters. Players compete against each other to see who can find the most words within a time limit. Boggle is a fast-paced game that challenges your ability to spot words quickly and efficiently.
Quiddler: Quiddler is a card-based word game where players create words from a deck of cards. The goal is to use up all your cards first by forming valid words. This game requires strategic thinking and a strong vocabulary, as you need to make the best use of the cards in your hand.
Upwords: Similar to Scrabble, Upwords allows players to stack letters on top of each other to create new words. This adds a unique twist to the game, offering more scoring opportunities and strategic depth. Players must think vertically as well as horizontally to maximize their points.
Codenames: In this cooperative game, players work together to identify words based on one-word clues given by their teammate. The goal is to find all the words on the board before the opposing team does. Codenames is a great game for those who enjoy word association and teamwork.
Upwords: A Word Game
By: Spin Master Games Players: 2-4 Time: 90 Minutes Ages: 8+
Upwords serves as almost a 3-D version of Scrabble. Players can create words by placing letters that run up and down, or side to side, but can also stack the tiles on top of each other for added strategic depth. Points are scored for each letter in the word a player makes and for every letter tile under the word too. Letters can be stacked up to five tiles high so as the game goes on players can earn significant points. Upwords helps develop strategy skills due to its unique stacking mechanic.
Every player has seven tiles they can use to create words each turn. Players must play one or more letter tile and connect them to an existing word to either form a new word or change it slightly. The tiles must run in a line that goes left to right, or up and down. These tiles can connect to more than one word to create several in one turn, as long as they are deemed legal. Any letter played like in Scrabble is replaced with just as many new ones from the draw pile.
Although very similar to Scrabble, the fact that players can stack tiles is what makes Upwords unique. It adds more options and gives players the opportunity to create more words on their turn. Each tile is the same number of points that keeps scoring simple, and once all the tiles are used or no one can create a new word, the player with the highest score wins.
Super Big Boggle
By: Hasbro Gaming Players: 1-10 Time: 10 minutes Ages: 8+
Another classic word game, Boggle is a fast-paced game where everyone uses the same pool of letters to create as many words as they can. Originally released in 1972, the concept hasn’t changed in the fifty years of it’s lifespan, but there have been several different iterations released with varying-sized grids like a smaller one for the travel edition.
The game consists of 16 cubic dice with a different letter printed on each side, nestled in a 4×4 tray, with only one letter on display for each dice. One player shakes the tray, mixing up the face of each die, and a three-minute sand timer starts to signify the beginning of the game as the cubes settle. All players must then simultaneously try to find as many words as they can in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal pattern. Words must be at least three letters in length, each cube can only be used once, and no capitalised or hyphenated words are allowed, although multiple forms of the same words are.
After the three minutes is up players stop writing and calculate scores. Everyone reads off their list, with any that more than one player found being removed. Points are then awarded based on the length of each remaining word in a player’s list. The winner is the player whose point total is the highest.
Dabble
By: INI LLC Players: 2-4 Time: 30-60 minutes Ages: 10+
Dabble is a great brain teaser that challenges players to spell words quickly by forming five words with the tiles available to them. Played over several rounds, the winning player scores based on the speed in which they spelled their five words, with all others scoring 0 points. The first to reach 500 points wins.
The game starts with every player randomly drawing 20 tiles from a bag without looking and initially placing them face down. Once everyone has their tiles, they’re turned face up and the timer starts. The objective is to create five words, one of each consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 letters within the time limit. When ready, players place each word on their rack in the appropriate space. If no one creates all five words before the timer runs out, players may exchange their tiles with new ones and the next round begins.
Once a player arranges all five words the timer is stopped and the scoring begins. The winning player adds the points of all unused tiles their opponents still have and scores that much. Everyone else scores 0 for that round. Scores continue to add up until one player has amassed 500 points and is declared the winner.
Bananagrams
Bananagrams is a fast-paced word game that’s perfect for players who love to build words quickly. The game involves creating a crossword-style grid of words from a pool of letter tiles. Players can play solo or compete against each other to see who can create the most words.
Key Features: Portable, fast-paced, and easy to learn, Bananagrams is ideal for quick, fun gameplay sessions. The game requires no paper or pens, making it perfect for on-the-go play.
Number of players: 1-8
Age range: 7+
Playtime: 15-30 minutes
In Bananagrams, each player starts with a set number of letter tiles and races to build a connected grid of words. The game continues until all the tiles are used, and the first player to complete their grid shouts “Bananas!” to win. This word game is great for improving vocabulary and quick thinking.
Banangrams
By: Bananagrams Inc Players: 1-8 Time: 15 minutes Ages: 7+
Bananagrams is a fast and fun word game that sees player race against each other in an attempt to build their own crossword grid out of their lettered tiles. Everyone plays simultaneously and more tiles are taken from the pile as each crossword grows. Requiring no paper or pens, rather than keeping an ever-increasing score, whoever creates the largest grid is the winner. Unlike Scrabble, Bananagrams does not have special scoring squares like ‘triple letter’ tiles.
The game is played using 144 tiles, which are all placed facedown in the centre of the play area at the start of the game. Each player takes their starting tiles at random, with the more players receiving less tiles each. When ready, everyone turns their tiles faceup and races to arrange them in their own intersecting word grid. Words must read left to right horizontally or top to bottom vertically, just like in a real crossword. The grid can be rearranged at any time and as often as necessary in order to accommodate for as many words as the player can make. Once the last faceup letter is placed in a players grid, they and everyone else takes another tile from the pile. Players can swap tiles at any time, but for every one that is placed back in the pile, three must be taken in it’s place.
When the main pile of tiles is depleted to less than the number of players, the first person to use all their tiles in a connected word grid is the winner.
Wordical
By: Educational Insights Players: 2-8 Time: 20-30 minutes Ages:8+
Wordical uses a combination of consonant cards and vowel dice which players have to use to try and create words, the highest scoring of which wins the player the round. Whilst there is no time limit, players score based on how quickly they can create words, with the last one played receiving just one point.
Each player starts the game with five cards, each representing a different consonant of differing point value. A player rolls the two vowell dice to start the game and everyone races to make a valid word with the highest point value, using a combination of their cards and one or both of the dice. The dice can be used more than once to create a longer word and if a ‘wild’ side is rolled, a player may use it for any vowel, including the letter ‘Y’. Once a word is played it cannot be changed, no duplicate words can be used, and the last player to play a word scores just 1 point, regardless of the point total on the cards and dice. If all five cards are used the player will receive ten bonus points, but any cards left in their hand will result in points being deducted.
Once all the cards are used up, the game comes to an end, and the player with the highest score is declared the winner. Wordical is a great twist on word games, utilising a mixture of cards and dice to challenge players into creating the highest scoring words they can as quickly as possible.
Those are some of the games out there that are similar to Scrabble. You’ll see some bare many similarities and some are very different, but all are great, challenging, word games that are enjoyable for all ages. That’s not all of them though, so if there’s any others that you enjoy playing that we haven’t listed here, we’d love to hear all about them.
Mobile Apps for Word Game Lovers
If you love word games, you’ll love these mobile apps that offer a fun and challenging experience on-the-go.
Words with Friends: This popular app is similar to Scrabble but with a modern twist. Players can compete against each other online, and the app offers a variety of features, including leaderboards and tournaments. It’s a great way to connect with friends and challenge your word-building skills.
Dabble: This app is a fast-paced word game that involves rearranging letter tiles to spell out words. Players can compete against each other online, and the app offers features like daily challenges and tournaments. Dabble is perfect for those who enjoy quick, competitive word games.
Boggle: The classic word game is now available as a mobile app, offering a fun and challenging experience for players of all ages. The app features various game modes, including timed games and tournaments, making it a versatile choice for word game enthusiasts.
Word Search Unlimited: This app offers a relaxing word search experience with a variety of puzzles to solve and a calming soundtrack. Players can compete against each other online, and the app includes features like leaderboards and daily challenges. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a more laid-back word game.
Classic Words: This app provides a classic word game experience with various game modes and features, including a built-in dictionary and high-scoring squares. Players can compete against each other online, and the app offers leaderboards and tournaments. Classic Words is ideal for those who love traditional word games.
These mobile apps provide a convenient way to enjoy word games anytime, anywhere. Whether you prefer competitive play or a more relaxed experience, there’s an app for every word game lover.
Also Read: Top Tier Board Games for Toddlers
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What makes Upwords different from Scrabble in terms of letter tiles?
Upwords offers a unique twist on Scrabble by allowing players to stack letter tiles on top of each other. This 3-D aspect adds strategic depth, as players can modify existing words and earn points for each letter in the stack, creating more opportunities for word building.
2. How is scoring determined in Super Big Boggle?
In Super Big Boggle, players score points based on the length of words they create during the game. After the timer runs out, players read their lists aloud, removing any words found by more than one player. Points are awarded for each unique word, with longer words earning more points.
3. How do you win in Dabble?
To win in Dabble, players must quickly spell five words using their tiles, with each word consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 letters. The first player to arrange all five words stops the timer and scores points based on the unused tiles of their opponents. The first to reach 500 points wins the game.
4. What is the objective of Bananagrams?
In Bananagrams, players race to build their own crossword grids using letter tiles. The goal is to use all your tiles in a connected grid before other players. The game requires no paper or pens, and the winner is the first person to use all their tiles in a valid crossword layout.
5. How does Wordical differ from traditional word games?
Wordical combines consonant cards and vowel dice, challenging players to create high-scoring words quickly. Players roll vowel dice and use their consonant cards to form words, scoring points based on the word’s value. The last player to create a word scores just one point, adding a fast-paced twist to traditional word games.