5 Word Games that Aren’t Scrabble

When you simply love words and language, it’s hard to keep that love from cropping up in just about everything you do. That includes games. But even the proudest wordsmiths get tired of Scrabble (or at the very least their game partners do).

So what games can you play when you want a word fix? Try out these 5 word games (that aren’t Scrabble!) when you need something new.

Apples to Apples Dice Game

The dice version of the popular card game has you thinking of your own “green card” descriptors (based on the roll of a dice) and has your game partners thinking of their own “red card” nouns (also based on dice).

Traditional Apples to Apples doesn’t require much creativity, but when dice determine what letter your answers have to start with, it’s time to get brainstorming.

Bananagrams

What? I said the games weren’t Scrabble, not that they wouldn’t be similar to Scrabble. Bananagrams is a personal favorite because of the speed at which the game occurs. And you can play it with basically as many people as you want. Bananagrams is speed Scrabble at its finest and lends itself to plenty of “house rules.”

Anomia

Named after the medical term for not being able to remember the names of everyday objects, Anomia puts your basic vocabulary to the test. It’s all about fast thinking (and reaction) in this symbol-matching card game. You and someone across the circle end up with matching pink diamonds? You’d better spout off the name of a male tennis player before they can say the name of a fruit. But of course there’s a little bit of a catch: You can’t repeat any answers, even if the person who gave the answer didn’t win their “battle.” You’d better have the names of a few rock operas up your sleeve.

Codenames

In this ultimate word association game, two clue givers take turns getting their teammates to guess assigned “code words.” A clue giver should get their team to guess as many words as possible on each turn. The catch, however, is that you only use a single word for each clue. Sounds easy enough, right? It is until you realize that your “code words” all seem closely related to the assassin card; if your team guesses that one, you automatically lose.

Put your thinking skills to the test by somehow figuring out how to connect words like Atlantis, baseball, lemon, airplane, ring, and table.

Snake Oil

Here’s your chance to sell products to Santa Claus, a pirate, a beauty queen, or a dictator. One person plays the role of the “target audience,” and each snake oil salesperson must combine two of their cards to create a product the audience definitely needs. Magic, supernatural abilities, and more are all on the table when it comes to selling your products.

Trying to sell to Santa? He probably has some trouble getting down the chimney. Sounds like he needs some “chimney grease.” You think a cheerleader needs help looking her best? She probably needs the “glitter mirror.”

After hearing all the sales pitches, the person playing the “audience” then chooses the product they would buy.

Do you have any favorite word games or experience playing the games that were mentioned? Let us know in the comments!