The Best Word Games for Adults
If you've written off word games as child's play, it's probably because you haven't had the chance to play the right one. Designed by adults for adults, today's greatest word games challenge your memory and creative capacities while you go toe-to-toe with your adversaries. Whether you're interested in lighthearted word-slinging or a merciless battle of the minds, there are plenty of games to choose from. To help you find the perfect word game for adults, we've rounded up our favorites, ranging from the brainy to the raunchy and everything in between.
Bananagrams
Are You Gridding Me?
Simple yet addictive, the appeal of Bananagrams over similar anagram word games is that it introduces the element of time. Rather than taking turns, each player competes against the rest in real time, so the pressure and the excitement are constantly building as the round progresses. Here’s how it works: each player gets a number of “tiles”, each of which has a letter printed on it. Once the game starts, everybody races to build words from those tiles. The words must intersect to create rows and columns which get harder to connect as the game goes on. The first one to utilize all their tiles shouts out Bananas, and the other plays inspect their words to see if the win is valid. If not, that person is deemed the rotten banana, and play resumes.
Pros:
- Comes in a compact, travel-friendly storage case
- Great game for adults to play with their children
- Many people can play at the same time
- Quite inexpensive
Cons:
- Included case’s fabric can tear easily
Big Boggle Classic
Mind-Boggling
Once again, here’s a game that utilizes the element of time to raise the competitive fever pitch. With Boggle, though, the pressure is even higher because you’re actually racing against the clock. A five-by-five cube grid holds twenty-five letter dice. Put the top cover on the cube dome, shake it up to mix up the letter dice, and then start the timer. Each player gets a pen and pencil which they’ll use to write down the words they can spot by connecting adjacent letters in the grid. When the timer runs up, whoever has the most points is deemed the winner. Be forewarned: Boggle isn’t just about having a good vocabulary – it’s also a test of who can do well under pressure.
Pros:
- Virtually no learning curve, so first-timers can jump right in to the action
- Longer words are rewarded more points
- Big cubes make the letters easy to see, even for those with bad vision
Cons:
- Some prefer the more concise 4×4 grid of the original Boggle better
What Do You Meme?
Not for Virgin Ears
The times are a-changing, so shouldn’t the games be changing, too? Most closely aligned with the sensibilities and cultural references of millennials, this game is both unique and hilarious. Here’s how it works: one player draws a two-sided card and holds it up to the other players. On one side of the card (which only the person who drew the card can see), there’s a phrase. On the other side, there’s a string of letters that more or less approximate the phrase. Like a game of verbal charades, each player tries to guess what string of words the card is suggesting. The first player to guess it correctly gets the point, and rounds continue until somebody hits 13 points. With three categories to draw cards from – kinky, party, and pop culture – there are plenty of laughs to be had, though it’s probably best you don’t include young ones in this game.
Pros:
- Doesn’t require a large time investment to play
- Works well as an icebreaker game at a party
- Great blend of lighthearted fun and active brainwork
Cons:
- Those who aren’t well-versed in pop-culture will miss many of the references
- Players who have played before have an advantage because they may remember certain cards
Scattergories
No Scattered Thoughts Here
Equal parts cultural trivia, memory game, and exercise in creativity, Scattergories has won the hearts of many a loyal fan over the years. Great for adults but by no mean off-limits to children, this game requires players to come up with words that fit into a given category. Each round is different in that the words you choose must start with the same letter. To win, you have to have the most unique words, and if you happen to use the same word as one of your competitors, that word becomes nullified for the both of you. Whether it’s the names of famous bands, types of garden vegetables, or types of animals that live in the sea, the categories you’ll be picking from vary greatly, which means you’ll be giving your mind a good stretch – if you hope to win, that is.
Pros:
- Excellent game for families to bond over
- Can be easily turned into a drinking game
- Enormous variety in categories means you’ll rarely be stumbling upon the same subject twice
Cons:
- Old-school electronic timer, which would buzz to alert you when time ran out, has been replaced by a sand timer
- Included materials (like the paper inserts) are not of the highest quality
Cards Against Humanity
Bird is Not the Word
Cards Against Humanity has quickly become the most successful new word game of this generation. Players are dealt a hand of white cards, each bearing a word or short phrase – typically, a raunchy or humorous one. Players then take turns drawing a black card. Each black card contains an unfinished sentence. The other players must choose one of their own white cards to finish the black card’s sentence in the funniest way possible. Whoever’s card is deemed to be the funniest in the context of the sentence is awarded the point. If your sense of humor is dark, edgy, or otherwise off-kilter, this game is definitely for you.
Pros:
- Makes a great gift for a friend
- Huge assortment of cards means repeats are rare
- Plenty of expansions are offered, too, should you decide you love the game
Cons:
- May be too crude for some
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I enjoy playing word games even if my vocabulary stinks?
Without a doubt. You may prefer playing fill-in-the-blank style games like Cards Against Humanity, but even traditional word-building games have a lot to offer you. While having a strong lexicon certainly gives ones an advantage, being quick-minded can help you beat even the most respected wordslingers out there.
Will these games make my mind sharper?
Yes. Each game is meant to be both fun and mentally-stimulating to varying degrees. Games like Scattergories or Bananagrams are excellent for improving your (or your child’s) vocabulary. And by the nature of competing against others, you’ll notice your brain perk up, and pretty soon, you’ll feel the creative juices flowing.
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