Challenge yourself, enjoy yourself with others, and spend time offline playing some of the best word board games.
In this article, we’re sharing our favourite games. Whether you’re looking for games like Scrabble or want to change it up with new options like League of Lexicon, we have something for everyone. This list has quick, kid-friendly games and challenging ones, too.
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What are the best word board games?
From word tile games to quirky board games, check out the best word games for adults and children.
We have fun options for language nerds, people looking to improve grammar skills, and anyone who enjoys a head-scratcher.
1. League of the Lexicon
Are you a language lover or someone who likes a good challenge? League of the Lexicon is a word quiz game with 2,000 questions across five categories born from an incredibly successful Kickstarter. There are two difficulty levels with questions created by linguists and lexicographers worldwide.
League of the Lexicon is for 2-6 players and is the perfect game for ages 10 and up. Each game lasts up to 45 minutes, where you’ll scratch your head at word meanings and usage and enjoy unique hand-drawn illustrated cards.
They also have some fun expansion packs if you want to expand your knowledge further.
Buy the League of the Lexicon here
2. Bananagrams
If you’re looking for a quick, kid-friendly game that’s also ideal to take on the go, Bananagrams is it. Letter tiles come in a banana-shaped case, and that’s all you need! Bananagrams is for 1-8 players, 7 years and older.
A perfect party game that is like Scrabble but quicker and easier, to play. Players build words, and the first to use all their tiles to create words is declared the top banana, one game can take as little as a few minutes.
3. Boggle
If you’re looking for word games like Bananagrams, Boggle is a classic. You can play it solo or with friends by trying to find words before they do, this is always a hit with families because it’s fun for everyone with no difficult rules to learn,
With Boggle, you shake a grid to mix up letter cubes, then lift the lid and find as many words as you can. Boggle is a fun game for anyone 8 years and older and is also small enough to travel with. A 3-minute sand timer is used for each game.
4. Scrabble
Scrabble is a classic crossword board game, everyone has heard of it, and there are so many different versions at this point that you can tailor your experience to your interests. The traditional game comes with a board and letter tiles that make scoring easy and also has 4 tile racks for each possible player.
This is one of the best at-home word board games to play for a game night with family or friends. Spend up to half an hour building words, earning points, and changing things up with different ways to play.
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5. Codenames
If you’re looking for a challenging word board game that anyone can play, Codenames is a fun one. Two players are the rival spymasters who know game agents’ secret identities. The other players only know the agents’ codenames.
Compete to see who can make contact with all your agents first, while spymasters give one-word clues. Codenames works best with at least 4 players, ages 10 and older, but they do have a Codenames Duo option which is great for couples and smaller groups.
Each game lasts about 15 minutes and is fun to play many times.
6. Dixit
Dixit is a magical storytelling board game for players 8 years and older. The game has 84 cards with original artwork that brings out your imagination and inspires conversation and whimsy.
When it’s your turn, you’ll use a word or short phrase to describe your card. Each player will choose a card of their own that best matches this word. All cards go in a pile, and the player who guesses your card gets a point. It’s simple, fun, and easy to play many times.
One game takes about half an hour, and 6-8 players can join. There are lots of gorgeous expansion packs available to enhance your game or even themed games like Disney Dixit which makes a fun change.
7. Scattergories
Scattergories is the best word board game for a group challenge. It’s straightforward, but players must think fast to choose words that fit a category to earn points.
The more creative your answers are, the more points you get, you can showcase your knowledge and out-of-the-box thinking with this one and it’s a great board game for families. You can have up to 6 players, ages 13 and up. There are 3 rounds of Scattergories, and each one lasts 3 minutes.
8. Wordle: The Party Game
Inspired by the popular digital game that took the world by storm, this party game version allows you to play Wordle with dry-erase boards. It’s a go-to party and family game and has everything you need to play.
There are a few ways to play, with a fast, competitive, and timed version, all of which players must guess a secret word. The time it takes to play depends on which version you use. Wordle is for ages 14 and up, for up to 4 players.
Buy Wordle: The Party Game here
9. Ransom Notes
Ransom Notes is one of the best games like Scrabble but with a twist. Instead of creating words, you use word magnets to create fun sentences for many laughs.
Flip over one of the outlandish prompt cards (i.e., “Tell someone you just clogged their toilet”) and use the magnets to make a funny answer. Although it’s not a child-appropriate game, it’s one of the best word games for adults.
There are 250 prompt cards, with a playing time of 30 to 90 minutes. The more people who play, the better.
10. STET! Dreyer’s English: A Game for Language Lovers, Grammar Geeks, and Bibliophiles
Sharpen your language skills or show them off with STET! – a game inspired by the New York Times bestseller book Dreyer’s English. The game comes with a hundred cards with entertaining sentences, and the first person to spot the error in each one calls out, “STET!”
This is the perfect card game for any level writer and reader and any number of players. You can play STET! for as little or as long as you want.
Buy STET! Dreyer’s English here
11. The Moth Presents: A Game of Storytelling
Have more conversations, spark creativity, and improve your speaking skills with The Moth, an interactive deck of cards. The Moth has several live shows and workshops, and the game has more than 300 prompts pulled from these.
There are a few ways to play, including a “Best in Show,” where teams of two swap stories based on a card theme and prompts and then decide which story to share with the other players. The Moth is a fun game to play with friends, family, and coworkers.
You can play it with a small or large group, and playing time is up to you!
12. Rummikub Word Game
Rummikub is a fast-paced word-strategy board game fun for players 7 and older. The goal is simple – make the longest word and earn points for word length.
Rummikub is a straightforward but exciting game that brings people together. It comes with pieces for 2 to 4 players and takes up to half an hour to play one game.
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We hope you enjoyed this list of the best head-scratching word board games. If you know someone who likes playing games, please consider sharing this article with them!