The Top 250 Word Games Of All Time

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"Our kids love these games!" — user feedback

Need something to do at your next get-together? Do you have a house full of bored children on a rainy afternoon? Tired of those boxed games stacked in the back of your closet? The time-tested word game may just be what you're looking for!

★★★ Jump to a random word game ★★★

Long before the advent of board games and video game consoles, simple games involving language delighted all classes in society, from the well-to-do to the poorest of the poor. Many today still argue that word games provide a far richer, more rewarding experience than what can be had through manufacturing and digital technology. Word games are certainly cheaper too, often requiring little to no equipment to play, other than perhaps pen and paper.

Below are links to descriptions of 250 word games. These descriptions indicate the number of players, whether the game is written and/or verbal, how it is played, and what equipment (if any) is required. The goal of each game is summarized in a single sentence, followed by a more detailed description of game play. In many cases an illustration or example using fictional players is provided to give a better sense of actual play. You'll see that while some games play with the meanings of words, others play with their sounds. Still others play with spelling or the letters of words, requiring players to rearrange them into different letter sequences. There are also games based on the alphabet, and games where players must fit words into predefined patterns or interlocking grids.

Some word games are competitive. But in many of these games everyone is a winner, where deriving pleasure from the mental stimulation, the challenge, and the social interaction is the real objective. It all depends on how you approach word games. Remember, there is nothing stopping you from adapting the rules to suit your own tastes. But make sure you agree with your fellow players beforehand on whether proper nouns, foreign words, abbreviations, etc. will be permitted. Deciding on a suitable dictionary to use is also very helpful in avoiding disputes.

Note that we've sorted the 250 word games in three different ways:

The first way is alphabetically. You'll find the games listed A to Z across 6 pages.

The second way is by number of players. Whether you specifically need to find a 2-player or 6-player game, or just a game for yourself, this will likely be the fastest way to find it.

The third way is by type of game. We've sorted the games by whether they are spoken or written, or whether both speaking and writing are necessary. There's also a miming game category.

You'll find all 250 games in each of the three sorted ways. We hope you find what you're looking for. Have fun!