There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
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!
What You Will Learn
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
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.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
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!
