Editorial Review

It's still hard to get a triple word score, the tiles are still made of wood, there's only one "X" in the whole box, and family feuds are increasing exponentially. But after 50 years, Scrabble has had a face-lift: a swivel base allows the board to turn so players don't have to work upside down, a plastic grid helps keep tiles in line, and a handy bag stores the letters when they're not in use. The premise hasn't changed at all--two to four players battle it out to make high-scoring words from seven little letters--so choose a dictionary before play begins to avoid ugly confrontations. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (86)

Deluxe not like the old Deluxe
I purchased the new deluxe Scrabble game for my sister in January and was terribly disappointed in how it was made.We both love to challenge each other in Scrabble matches when we are together and her game really needed to be replaced.I was embarrassed at how cheaply the new game is.For the wonderful game that it is, I do believe they could have made a much better version of the turntable model for the price I had to pay for it.Hope they will improve it soon.

Fantastic fun for those who love words and word play...
This along with the official scrabble dictionary is the perfect gift for those who love scrabble. It has a TURNTABLE, that is all I need to say.The turntable makes this so much more enjoyable as it is so easy to manuever it to view it straight on in front of you. I wish the game were a bit more substantial but it is a vast improvement over a traditional set because of the turntable as you just store everything in the base.

Before you buy this...
Check eBay for a complete older version.This one is poorly made,I remember the old deluxe was deluxe.For the new one the best price is here, that I found.And you can't live without this game ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Classic Games    5. Word Games    6. Learning   

Editorial Review

Voted a Best Party Game of the Year by Games magazine, Wise and Otherwise belongs next to Pictionary and Scrabble in your arsenal of fun. This creative, interactive game (read: everybody shouting, flailing, laughing) revolves around 500 cards, each emblazoned with five obscure and long-forgotten sayings from around the world. For example, one old Chinese saying is, "Don't add salt to a boatload of salt fish." One side of the card states, "Don't add salt to..."and it is the job of the players to devise probable endings. "Don't add salt to salty soup," for example. Or, "Don't add salt to the open wound." (The actual endings are listed on the flip sides of the cards.) A player wins points when other players vote for his or her special ending, or when the player guesses the actual ending, so the goal is to finish the proverb as convincingly as possible given the geographic region in question. Each elegant box contains one game board, 500 cards, six writing pads, six pencils, one die, and six player pawns. People who love language, oddly hilarious translations, offbeat proverbs, or just making people look foolish by guessing their very clever answers will adore this game. We predict: The one who plays this game ... will hear the laughter. ... Read more

Reviews (131)

The best board game I've ever played
This game is a blast. I've never written an online review before, but I felt like I needed to for Wise and Otherwise. I've had my copy for a few years now, and have probably played about forty games on it. (Each game takes at least an hour or two and is most fun with four to six people with roughly similar verbal skills / creative abilities, so it takes a little effort to get a game going.) It's definitely a little "slow" when you start out playing, but once everyone in the game has played once or twice and understands how to play, it becomes incredibly fun. You don't necessarily have to be a "word" person to like it, or even think of yourself as creative, though imagination helps. A little like Balderdash... but with the potential to be way more fun.

Wise and Otherwise Board Game
This game is GREAT!!!Fun for multicultural groups, as well.I played once with a Canadian, a New Zealander, two Australians, an Egyptian and two Dutch women, and me, an American.Makes for VERY interesting responses and tremendous laughter!You can play without the board.Just take paper and pencils (included) and the cards.We took it to the beach on the Red Sea and played in between snorkelling and sunbathing.

Sounds lame... Really not lame!
My dad had this on his amazon wish list for years before someone finally bought it for him for Christmas.No one would play with him, we all thought it sounded lame.Finally, the next Thanksgiving, we conceded to play this game.We couldn't believe how fun it was.We loved it.

If you're thinking about getting this for someone you know, I would if I were you.Then you can play it... or buy one for yourself.I have it on my wish list now. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Party Games    4. Word Games    5. Trivia    6. Grownup   

Reviews (9)

DISAPPOINTED!! CHEAPLY MADE
I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS PATICULAR MODEL OF SCRABBLE. THE PICTURE ON THE BOX MISREPRESENTS THE ACTUAL GAME YOU WILL RECEIVE FOR AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF $29.99 + TAX, YOU RECEIVE A SCRABBLE GAME CONSISTING OF PLASTIC, CARDBOARD AND STICKERS. WHAT A JOKE. I WOULD'VE PAID $50.00 IF IT WAS A DECENT SET, MAYBE MADE OF WOOD OR METAL, LIKE THE PICTURE ON THE BOX "MISREPRESENTS". NEEDLESS TO SAY I RETURNED IT, & WE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR A "ACTUAL" DELUXE SET. HECK THE TRAVEL SCRABBLE SET LOOKED BETTER THAN THIS DID. C-H-E-A-P-L-Y M-A-D-E!!

Lotsa' fun with Super Scrabble
Great Scrabble game ... especially if playing with other couples or several friends.Played it all night at a hurricane party in Florida and had so much fun we forgot the weather outside.

Excellent for the Steady-Handed
Yes, this is a great expansion of the classic Scrabble game, so if you like Scrabble and you have a lot more time to spend on a game (or more than 2 players) this is completely worth getting.

That said, if you don't have a steady playing surface and hand, the tiles will easily get messed up, which is my only complaint, particularly since I am used to the Deluxe and Travel editions of the classic game, which keep played tiles in place.

If this game came in a Deluxe version, this would be a 5-star review. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games   

Editorial Review

Scattergories is a fast-paced word game that's a real crowd pleaser. Each player takes a categorylist with 12 categories--such as vegetable, state, president, things you throw away--and must write down thename of one item that fits into each category. Sounds easy enough, but each item has to begin with aspecific letter that is determined when the 20-sided die is rolled. For instance, you roll the letter "R." Youranswer list for the above categories might look something like this: rutabaga, Rhode Island, Roosevelt,rubbish, etc. You have to think fast, because a round lasts only 3 minutes! Players score points for eachunique answer. --Alison Golder ... Read more

Features

• Think fast to come up with words all beginning with a specific letter.
• Includes 6 folders and 48 category cards
• 2 to 6 players
• Adults

Reviews (63)

Good for quick-thinking players
Scattegories is so much fun! Even though it's a word-based game, you don't need a huge vocabulary to play. The categories are pretty well-known and general. The hard part is coming up with the right word in time!

To play Scattegories you choose one of 12 different games, each with 10 separate categories. So the categories in one game might be, for example:

* Things you find at the beach
* Famous people

And so on for 10 in total. You then roll a die that has letters of the alphabet on it to determine which letter all of your answers have to start with - and no repeating words in the same game! You get bonus points for multiple word answers that all start with the chosen letter. For example an answer for "Famous people" might be Ronald Reagan (2 points). Like I said before, there's a lot more pressure when you can hear the timer ticking down! Whoever gets the most points wins the game. Sometimes it's fun to make up words and see if you can get everyone else to believe you.

Scattegories is an easy game for almost anyone who can read and write. It's good with groups or just two people. You can even play it over the phone if you really want to. Highly recommended for people who like board or word games.

Great in Teams!
I'm always intrigued when I read of folks playing this game as individuals . . . I've only played it with teams (usually of 3 players each).

I host a potluck dinner and "game night" at my home every couple of months . . . sometimes a mixed group of singles and couples, sometimes friends bring their children, sometimes just a group of women friends . . . after dinner and chat we move on to the game for the evening . . . we have tried several different games, but have settled on Scattergories as one of our favorites --- it is easy to play in teams and the answers are creative and fun (with few blank spots when the timer stops!)

Each team designates one person to write while all the team comes up with answers . . . some teams have one person start at the bottom of the list while another starts at the top and they meet in the middle . . . we have found that with team play some like to move away from the table for the fill in portion of the game (into the family room, out onto the deck, etc.).

What's great about this game is that it's fun to play with all ages . . . the kids get to see adults having fun (and not taking themselves too seriously) everyone gets to play and no one is ever made to feel foolish or stupid.Even friends who think that they don't like to play games because they aren't competitive enough have enjoyed this game when played in a team.

Even people who don't like to play games like this one!
There are a few people in our extended family who simply don't enjoy playing board games or even party games of any type.However, these same people have loved playing Scattergories.It is simple in concept but challenging to the intellect.Also, it just ends up being hilarious to hear the answers that people come up with.This is the game our family has enjoyed playing more than any other game.

A must have for your game collection! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Party Games    5. Family Favorites    6. Grownup   

Editorial Review

It sounds so simple: get your team to name common words withoutvoicing a few choice descriptors. But could you describe a wristwatchwithout mentioning time, wrist, or clock? Taboo rewards those whothink--and speak--fast. The team that correctly identifies as manywords as possible in a minute (measured with an hourglass timer) wins.If a member of the opposing team, armed with the blaring buzzer,catches the clue giver using any of the taboo words, a point is deducted from the group's score. It's a good idea to separate peoplewho know each other well, because their familiarity can be too great anadvantage. If the clue is spinach, prompting with "Mom made this everyMonday" just doesn't seem fair, though it is permissible according tothe rules. Playing Taboo requires an AA battery and a sense ofhumor--you'll need them both! The timer is included. Taboo is for fouror more players. --Leah Ball ... Read more

Features

• The game of unspeakable fun! Help your team guess everyday words but without using some of the most obvious clues!
• Features more than 1,000 words to guess! Requires 2 "AA" batteries (not included). For 4 or more players.
• Ages 12 to adult. Time is against you. You know what ypu'd say if you could only find the words.
• But some things in life are strictly...Taboo!
• Contents: 504 taboo cards card holder buzzer timer scorepad

Reviews (87)

Very fun game...
Taboo is a game that I played as a kid & I never forgot about it.I remembered it being so much fun that I asked for it for Christmas several years in a row & I've finally got it.We really enjoy this game.It's so much fun for all ages & you may think it sounds really easy but you'd be amazed at how many times you actually slip & say one of the words listed on the card that you are not supposed to say.When that happensyou will get buzzed or when you pass on a card the other team will get a point.So sometimes when it's your teams turn to give clues the other team can actually come out with more points then you earned on that turn.It's such a great game that I highly recommend.

A good game for about a half hour
I enjoy playing Taboo and always get a few laughs out of it, but a half hour is plenty.I find party games like Cranium, Balderdash and Rigamarole are far better at keeping a group's attention and interest.

Fun for hours
This word game is so much fun.Any age level could play it.It really is great.My friends and family love to play it in teams or one on one...Overall, everything is good except the buzzer is annoying. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Party Games    5. Grownup   

Editorial Review

After all these years, it's still hard to get a triple word score, the tiles are still made of wood, and there's only one "X" in the whole box. The game of Scrabble has sparked feuds and a near-cult following. All the fuss is over a spelling game that hasn't had an upgrade in 50 years. It takes a little luck and a lot of skill to make high-scoring words out of seven little letters, sometimes with an overabundance of vowels and letters that don't go together--sometimes there's Q without U. Two to four players battle it out on the board, and while some players might be proud of impressive words ("I spelled gestalt!"), skilled players know how to use the premium letter and word squares on the 225-square board to their best advantage. This crossword game has strict rules (no names, no slang) and comes with a warning label: "Choose a dictionary first to avoid any ugly word disputes." --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Features

• The classic crossword game played by millions around the world!
• Use your seven letters to build crosswords, and use bonus spaces to add to your score!
• Genuine wooden letter tiles and racks.
• For 2 to 4 players. Ages 8 and up.

Reviews (66)

The classic word game
Scrabble is a word game that anybody can play as long as they can spell in the language in which the game is being played. It can be a lot of fun but it's wise to have a dictionary at hand to settle disputes that arise when somebody creates a dubious word or spelling. The dictionary should only be used to settle disputes - leafing through its pages trying to find a word that fits your letters is definitely cheating. The game is intended to be played by between two and four players but it is possible to practise alone and I'll explain how later, though it isn't as much fun as playing against another person. If more than four people are available, they can either team up or just find something else to use instead of racks to hold the tiles.

Scrabble comes in various editions but all of them have certain things in common. There are 100 tiles each with a letter on them, four racks (one to hold each payer's tiles) and a bag into which all tiles are placed at the start of the game and from which all players draw letters as the game progresses. The main playing area is a board of 15 x 15 squares, most of which are of a standard gray color. Some squares are red, pink, dark blue or pale blue - these are premium-scoring squares (triple word, double word, triple letter, double letter respectively).

To begin with, each player draws seven tiles from the bag. The first player makes a word from any or all of their letters and places it on the board, beginning, ending or crossing the central square, which automatically gives them a double word score. (it is pink) and replaces the used tiles with a corresponding number of tiles from the bag. Subsequently, players take turns to create a new word (thereby building a crossword on the board), attempting to score as many points as possible. Any tiles added must all form part of one word and link to tiles already on the board but strategy as well as vocabulary is useful.

Most of the time, you just place letters focusing on an existing tile on the board, using that tile as part of the word you create, However, if you have a letter S in your rack, you may be able to add it to the end of an existing word while also using it as part of a word of your own, if there is clear room on the board for you to do so. Thus, you score for your own word but you also score for the word that you made into a plural. This is just one example of how you can (sometimes) score for more than word while sticking to the rules, but it teaches you not to waste S letters - keep them for when they can be most effectively used.

When there are no more tiles in the bag, play continues until one player uses up all their tiles or nobody is able to. At that point, points on unused tiles still in players' racks are deducted from their score.

To play alone is quite simple, if less satisfying. The object is to score as many points as possible. Obviously, scoring is much easier since you can build the crossword in a very open design - you aren't trying to block your opponents - but if you find that those opponents usually beat you, a bit of practice on your own might improve your chances of beating them in future.

So, if you decide to buy Scrabble, it comes down to deciding whether to buy the Deluxe edition (if you can afford it), the Travel edition (for taking away from home with you) or the standard edition. Just make sure you have that dictionary at hand to settle disputes, otherwise it won't be much fun.

The ultimate spelling test.
A great way to pass time, teach kids how to spell and learn the meaning and purpose of words. Definatley to be played with a dictionary (I suggest the Oxford scrabble dictionary which not only tells you if words are valid but also gives their true scrabble score!) It's a good laerning curve but can cause lots of heated debate!!

Fun for everyone!
This game is so much fun!Even my mom who hates to play games with me, will play this game!I like this game because everyone can play it!Fun and educational at the same time as you learn to build words and you can even use it to show how to use a word and grow from it.I think this game is worth the money they charge.My only regret is that I didn't get one with a turn table luckily my mom had one from the 70's and we use it.My advise buy this game! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Classic Games    5. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

You can't beat a classic like Boggle for sheer return of fun on one's investment in a simple game. A small container holds 16 cubes, each cube marked with a different letter on each of its six sides. Give the container a good shake, and the cubes land within little pockets. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to find as many words (of three-or-more letters) as you can--in three minutes. Points are tallied by word length. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• The original 3-minute word search game!
• Just shake up the lettered cubes, drop them into the grid and start the timer.
• Then race to see who can list the most words with the highest point value among the random letter assortment in the grid!
• For 2 to 6 players.
• Ages 8 and up.

Reviews (42)

Fast-paced Introduction to Word Games
In Boggle, players compete against one another and a 3-minute hourglass to find word combinations across randomly distibuted letter cubes on a 4x4 grid.

The game develops pattern recognition skills, and because most possible words are only three or four letters long, astute younger players can play adults without too much of s handicap.

Tactics learned playing Boggle translate well into success at Scrabble and other word games, while the clock management skills help with chess and test taking.

Boggle is lightweight and makes a good travel game, though you might want to bring a zipper-lock sandwich bag to avoid losing the letter cubes. As an added plus, the game can be played solitaire with minimal dropoff in entertainment value.

If you enjoy Boggle, you might want to seek out Big Boggle, which uses a 5-by-5 grid (56% more cubes). Words and time limit are both longer.

Fast Passed, A Lot Of Fun
I have played this game for years. It is a lot of fun but my friends got tired of it. I love the fast passed action, which to me is less boring than scrabble, but not everyone thinks so. If you like scrabble you should enjoy this game. Finding with whom to play is a different story. If you are a parent do not hesitate to purchase this game for your child. I recommend having a scrabble dictionary close by. If you do you will find out in no time that most of your made-up words DO exist. And since you do not get penalties for them try as many as you wish.

The game is simple. You shake the letter cubes and when they are all in place you try to make as many words as possible by following a continuous path through adjacent letters in the rack. (Diagonal counts as adjacent) The path need not be straight, but each letter in the path can only be used once. You have three minutes (sand clock included) to do so. Only words that are three letters or more are permitted.

You can't go wrong with this game, plus it is not expensive. It's worth a try.

ADVANCED PLAYERS: If you look around you might find Boggle Master. That edition has a 5x5 grid and 9 more letter cubes. You still have three minutes (and the grid is as noisy as ever) but you can make a lot more points in this one. Happy hunting and good luck.

Fun times
I love this game and have for years. With so many words to make and such variety with who you play against and what letters might come up, it's always a different game every time you play it. The only drawback is the noise when shaking up the letters in their box. I would like to see a version that wasn't so irritating in that respect. As a tip, if the noise bothers you and you play the game a lot so it's worth the effort, put some thin felt strips in the box top (the kind with the self-adhesive backing) so when you shake it, it makes less noise. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games   

Reviews (19)

Really wanted to like it
I purchased this item based on customer reviews.They were all good, ALL seemed to be 5 stars.When I received the game and played it with the bunch of women I play games with every Saturday night, we ended up closing the game midway through.Most of the questions were too simple.For instance, almost all of one of the catagories cards read something like this:Read the qualities on the back of the card and determine which player best demonstrates them, or something to that effect.Well, I've known these people for years, there was no challenge there, not at all.Then there was the sing song cards that had you sing lyrics to given songs as long as you didn't sing the title, again, extremely easy. Trying to figure out who has the biggest hands of the people playing, not good.Who is the tallest playing, how is this fun? As a matter of fact, the only cards we enjoyed were the tongue twisters, as they were the only ones that were challenging.
I was very disappointed in this game and wish I could send it back because it will never be played again.If this game sounds good to you, buy Cranium instead.Same premise but better executed.

Better than Cranium...Possibly the Best Boardgame Ever!!!
I have played a lot of party games. Cranium, balderdash, Taboo, etc. I loved them all and they never got old. But after I bought Rigamarole and played it, I have to say it beats all of those games. It has the same concept of Cranium (except it has a total of 6 categories...not 4) and has many more "games" for each card. The games rarely repeat and you find the craziest and funniest games to play. It even comes with a blindfold to play a category of blindfolded games (for example, a blindfolded player must listen to the ingredients of a food and guess what the food is). It also has a series called "stage fright" which require pantomiming or singing or such...."think tank" which requires you to recite stories without using 'e' in any of the words or trying to list words whose letters are in alphabetical order within the word... "double whammy" which are a series of various games that are worth twice as much and are like making a player laugh for 10 seconds on the other team or selecting a person from each team to see who can take the largest step..."Free to Be Me" which often asks to determine on your team who has some given characteristics or traits such as "an outtie" or "who was born in a year divisible by 3". Some of the challenges are tough but thats what makes it fun! The objective on the instruction reads "To have fun and be social." Thats exactly what this game does. If you want the ULTIMATE game, buy this if you like cranium...buy it if you don't.

Great Game
One thing with board games is that I'm not competitive.Often, I'd rather just read the questions or challenges than actually play the game.My attitude can infuriate competitive teammates and opponents.A great thing about this game is that one can always come back.So, for those competitive types, they're never completely out of it and for slacker teammates, redemption is often around the corner.

I like the format of this game and it's creative mix of challeneges.The stories we tell without using a word with the letter 'e' may never make any sense, but it's entertaining to try.

This is definately a game worth owning and way better than a night in front of the tv.

Buy it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Trivia    4. Word Games    5. Party Games    6. Grownup   

Editorial Review

Guesstures turns up the heat on the tired game of charades with a few modernizations. Good, quick pantomiming is still the thing, but now teams need to act out and guess four words in a matter of seconds. The "mimer-timer," designed like a movie scene board, controls everything. The actor draws four word cards and places them from easiest to hardest in the timer unit for each scene. After the arm swings down for "Action," time is rapidly eaten away and so are cards as the performer gestures wildly like a silent movie actor. When the cast guesses the word, the actor grabs the card before the "mimer-timer" does. Whew! It's a lot to think about. Each word is rated based on difficulty, so whatever cards the team correctly guesses and the actor manages to seize are tallied up and recorded. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Features

• Use gestures to prompt team to guess the right word before Mimer-Timer eats card
• Includes 504 cards with box, Mimer-Timer game unit, crayon and 2 label sheets
• 4 or more players
• Ages 12 and up

Reviews (43)

great group fun
I played this game at a party where I did not really know anyone.there were about ten of us playing on two teams and it was great fun.Everyone was laughing, everyone could do it and there was no fear in not being able to think up ways to describe the object since you can pick the hard or easy word during your turn.I really loved it

Party Down Guesstures!!!!!!!!
Guesstures is a fun game. It is crazy. I always have tons of fun acting out various things with my friends.It is a great party game and works well with lots of people. I recommend Guesstures. It's Funalicious!!!!!!!!!!

an awsome game!
I was on vacation with my family at the beach and we played guesstures.It was so much fun, but of course there were 32 of us there!! Every one was getting into it this game was a blast!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Party Games    5. Grownup   

Reviews (7)

A Thinking Game
I work with children from preschool to high school, and kids from 3rd grade up LOVE this game.Even when they aren't good at it, it becomes addictive.It is great fun for college and adults, too.You can also play where everyone writes as many words as they can think of and the duplicates don't count (like Scategories).
Let the little kids find 3 letter words, but quickly make the minimum 4 letter words!!

Fast-Paced Fun For All Ages
This game was tons of fun...I purchased it for my 15-year old daughter for a birthday gift. I ordered Smart Mouth from Amazon.com after reading about it in an issue of Real Simple magazine. We opened it up at her party and everyone from my daughter to her 7- and 9-year old nieces to her aunt and myself just loved this game. It was fast-paced and the youngest girl had the quickest answers. Best of all, they had a blast while spelling words!!! A great game, both educational and fun.

adult party game
It's a shame this is lumped in with educational games. Although I can see it has great potential a as a vocabulary builder, it is one of the most fun adult party games I've ever played. It's similar in dynamic to Jenga, but requires a loose tongue instead of steady fingers, so it's a better choice after partaking of adult beverages. You can set the rules however you want--minumum 4 letters, only 3 letters, only place names, pick another language, anything! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Party Games    3. Learning    4. Reading    5. Board Games    6. Word Games    7. Strategy Games    8. Activity    9. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

Upwords takes the likes of Scrabble to new heights. Players get more power out of every word and create more play possibilities. Players can build from words crossword puzzle-style or by stacking letters on top of tiles already on the board. The challenge is to make new words each time. For example, "stack" becomes "snack," then "snapshot." If it sounds like 3-D Scrabble, there's more to know. Scoring is simpler: each tile earns two points, and each stacked tile earns one. The usual Nos apply: no capitalized, hyphenated, or abbreviated words, etc. The set comes with 100 letter tiles, tile racks for two to four players, and a plastic game board. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Features

• The three-dimensional crossword game takes word play to new heights literally! Create new words by building on tiles already on the board how many different words can you get out of one?
• For 2 to 4 players. Ages 10 and up. Upwords is the 3-dimensional word game that's stacks of fun.
• Build words across and down crossword style on the 10 x 10 grid. Or stack letters on top of tiles already on the board.
• The challenge is to make new words each time. With 100 tiles, you can stack lots of letters to score high!
• So rack 'em up, then stack 'em up to experience 3-D word play at its very best.

Reviews (26)

Great Game for All Ages in the Family
I bought this game because I remembered how much fun it was as a child. What I didn't realized is that it is a great game for adults to play with children of different levels. My husband and I play like Scrabble, looking for long words. My stepdaughter (13yo) looks for tricky ways to create 2 words at once (she once made 3 new words by putting a new word between two other words - talk about points!). My stepson (12) has a limited spelling skills (underachiever) but by changing the words he can really rack up the points and keep up with the rest of us. It's helping us teach him more too. Great game!

A Creative and Strategic Game
This is my favorite game.Scrabble is an excellent game that I have played for years.Scrabble relies on the point value of letters and expanding on words placed on the board.UpWords allows you to change words, again and again.For instance star can become starve, starving, starting, flashing, crashing. And when you add to two or three words simultaneously, the points go soaring!I like it better because you need to be creative and strategic.After a few games, we learned that placing small words (3, 4 or 5 letters max) provides the most opportunity for an interesting game that goes upwards effectively and uses up the majority of the board.You cannot think Scrabble minded when playing this game as with Scrabble you think of long, high point words.Toward the end when you start stacking on multiple words, the point values for words increase significantly with minor word changes.Great Game!

just make it stop
This games scoring is too confusing. My friends fought over it for 25 minutes. and then they just put the game away. I'm not so sure what was worse the rampent testosterone or the confusion of the actual scoring. As I write this i am being told to email the company and ask how to score it. Ridiculous. there is something wrong with this game and my friend mike. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games   

Reviews (7)

Timeless and classic.
Scrabble is probably one of the games I remember playing first as an older kid; and the Spanish version was what I played at family gatherings - it's part of my heritage.It was exciting to find it on the net!I called various toys r us stores and was only able to get it through the net.Great game.

An Old Version of Spanish Scrabble!
I'm bilingual (Spanish/English) but my elderly mother's command of English is limited. Decades ago we bought a "foreign edition" Scrabble set, manufactured by Selchow & Righter Co. of Bay Shore, NY. Our set is truly a Spanish version, lacking "k" but with "ñ," "ll," and "rr" (the latter two no longer individual letters in Spanish) and with plenty of the more common vowels in the Spanish language. The letter values differ from the English values, commensurate with their degree of usage in each language. The last copyright notice on the Spanish game is from 1953. We bought it in the early 70's. Why didn't Hasbro follow this edition for their Spanish version? It is definitely a more accurate and educational one!

Spanish can be better
I live in Puerto Rico. My friends and I usually play in both in English and Spanish at the same time. But if you what to learn Spanish I will recommend playing the game entirely en Español. I will give you the pros and cons of this version:

Pros:
1. You can make higher scores in Spanish. K-8 points, W-8 points, Q-8 points but much easier to use, LL-8 points, RR-8 points, Ñ-8 points, and it is much easier to get rid of all your letters than in English.
2. Spanish words are written just as you pronounce them (that is why there are no Spanish spelling bees).
3. You can learn Spanish in a fun way, plus the game can be used in English and it has a couple more vowels.

Cons:
1. There are no really good Spanish dictionaries, other than the Spanish Royal Academy Dictionary (Amazon has it at a reasonable price). And no Spanish Scrabble dictionary is to be found. This will make it hard on verb conjugation.

Whether you play it in Spanish or English or both the Spanish tiles are definitely better. Go ahead and try this version. Come on, you know you what to. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Languages    2. Family Favorites    3. Word Games    4. Games    5. Board Games   

Reviews (14)

Good Fun.
We played Mystify at our recent game night with friends and family.Here is the scoop.Mystify is a game based around word and number scrambles.The object of the game is to be the first to solve the word or number scramble.There are 5 different card categories and for each category hints are given as to what the scramble might be. For instance, hints might be - Literary Figure; Popular First Name; Brand Name Product; Popular 70's Movie; Living Creature; Part of a human body, etc.The card reader reads out the letters or numbers (which are scrambled) and players race against each other to solve the scramble.Whoever blurts out the answer first wins the round and is able to advance on the board.The great thing about this game is that everyone plays every round.This keeps all players interested and with a vested interest in paying attention at all times.Since everyone plays at the same time this is a fantastic party game.You really can't go wrong if you want an all inclusive game to play at your game nights!

Don't miss this one.
We love word games, but all word games are based around forming words --this game changes all that.The premise of the game is based around solving word scrambles and number scrambles.There is a clue provided with each category so that the players know what direction to look in.I highly recommend this game.

I lover racing for the answer!
This is a party game if I ever did see one.Everyone plays every round so nobody is bored waiting for their turn.The board is a simple race track and sometimes we leave the baord at home and play this in the car.All players race to solve the scramble and the categories provide not only different subject areas but varying levels of difficulty.The 'numbers' category is an interesting twist.Good, old fashion fun and a refreshing change to some of the mindless game out there --I recommend it.I love word games and this is one of the best. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Party Games    5. Trivia    6. Grownup    7. Puzzles    8. Brain Teasers   

Editorial Review

Just how good are you at fooling your friends and family? Test your powers of deception with Malarky, the game in which players try to bluff answers to such questions as "What is the 'cottage' in cottage cheese?" and opponents try to determine the real answers from the ones that are simply malarky. It's based on David Feldman's Imponderables series, which includes the books Imponderables: The Solution to the Mysteries of Everyday Life, Do Penguins Have Knees? An Imponderables Book, and How Do Astronauts Scratch an Itch: An Imponderables Book. The game asks the questions that everyone wonders about from time to time. After a question is read aloud, one player (unbeknownst to the others) reads the correct answer, while the other players present bluff answers--as convincingly as they can--and then each player votes for the answer they think is correct. Points are awarded when your bluff answer receives votes or if you vote for the correct answer. --Lisa Whipple ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Amazing
My family and I are board-game fanatics.At first we werent sure as to whether or not to try this game, we've had it for YEARS.One night my older brother decided that we have to try it atleast once...When we did, we couldn't stop laughing.This game as earned a spot next to Monopoly, Balderdash, Uno, and Scattergories(sp?).Don't think...BUY!!!

is there a lie dector in the house?
Talk about your off the wall questions that you always wondered upon but just never knew the answers too with a twist of some question you do have a clue too.

It's funny to hear what people make up at the spur of the moment and almost scary to hear people you know lie so well that you believe their very answer as if it was a given fact.Its also extremely impressive when you or someone actually knows the answer.

I played this game with a group of people ranging from 41 to 14, we all enjoyed it.The first time we played we had teams, so dont stop up to six players, its still just as fun with a group, but diffidently more fun as individual.

There was a few times one member in the group would draw a blank to even begin to answer, the first time this happen, the player's answer was "Its a government conspiracy."Which became a running gag when anyone ever drew a blank for a bluff answer.

Malarky begins with a question, only one person in the room will have the correct answer, you dont know whom has it till after the round has ended.You go around the table and everyone bluffs their way through it along with the correct answer.Than all players guess afterwards to whom spoke the rightful answer..... than the truth comes to be known to who is able to lie through their teeth...ha!Points are won by guessing the rightful answer.

Have fun, laugh a little, and always make time to play.

fun for the family
I am 26 and I played this game with my husband and my grandparents while on vacation and we loved it.We rented a beachhouse and it was one of the games that was there so we have decided to purchase it for more family fun. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Party Games    4. Word Games    5. Grownup   

Editorial Review

Clues. Words. Lots of guessing. When you play Password, you'llhave to bite your tongue because only one-word clues are allowed in thisclassic word-association game. Once a popular game show, this at-homeversion is played by two teams of at least two players each. A greatgame for both adults and kids, the more who play, the merrier. Guess thesecret word quickly to earn the most points. The game cards offer lotsof clues, but the clues can be decoded only one word at a time. The teamwith the highest score after 10 rounds wins. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Group Fun
The game is very true to the original password, and has provided hours of great group fun.The only problem is that some of the words are so old as to be archane.We've found some not even listed in the dictionary!

The ?Password? is classic!
People use the term "classic" far too much, but it fits here.

Since 1961, this Bob Stewart (The $25,000 Pyramid) created game has been one of America's favorites. You get youe partner to guess the "Password" based on single word clues that you give. Simple right? Not always. But when you click with your partner, you can't be stopped. Loads of fun for two or twenty people.

Try it!You'll Like It!
This is a classic!It's simple to play, but difficult to master.You and your opponent take turns giving your partner one word to try and get him orher to say the Password, with the point value decreasing for each cluegiven.Simple enough, right?Tons of fun. There's the great charge youget when you and your partner just seem to connect, and get the strangestwords off of one clue. Good game for adults to play. Too difficult,probably, for most kids who are in junior high or younger because of theirvocabulary. And the great thing about this game, is it's durable.As longas there's an English language, this game will be playable. (One thing, Idon't like the plastic scoring clip you're supposed to slide along the boxto keep track of the point value of each word.Milton Bradley used to usea scoring dial, which seems a little better.The clip may mark up your boxtoo much if you're a collector.) Play the game, and you'll understand whyso many big stars like Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, BobCrane, Bob Denver, and Jack Benny clamored to appear on the TV show. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Word Games    3. Classic Games    4. Party Games    5. Board Games    6. Family Favorites    7. Grownup   

Reviews (12)

Fun but not for everyone
I bought this game because my wife and I both enjoy languages and etymologies and because the reviews here were glowing. However, we have found it difficult to play with friends who don't have a similar background in language because it is easier for us to fabricate plausible but false derivations and to detect the falsity of others' answers. There are non-derivation categories to mix it up a bit, but in the end things somewhat biased toward those with a rudimentary background in Latin and/or Greek.

That being said, I do enjoy the game.

awsome game
This game is so totaly cool!it is so much fun and you learn so munch!I recomend it to everyone!If you don't have then get off your but and bye it now!I am telling you it is going to be the hit new game it is even better them chess!I am just warning you THIS IS THE BEST GAME EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Staid Demeanor Lost
The game Derivation is about the greatest combo of fun and learning ever created!!! Being a single parent, starting an embroidery company and now newly retired teacher I have always had to have every minute of my life count for ten. Therefore a night spent "playing" was unthinkable. But..... if we're learning something like etymology .... then that could be worth while. Last night I borrowed it from him to play with a sub group of my Christian Singles organization. Well, you can imagine the rest of the story!!! Many times our "intellectual" responses reduced all of us to uncontrollable laughter. The word staid certainly dropped from our demeanor! Each of them, plus others who have already heard of our ruckus Saturday night, now want to buy it too! Again, mahalo for using your talents to make the world a better place! Carol Ann Rinker ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Party Games    5. Grownup   

Editorial Review

Named Best Word Game of 1997 by Games magazine, Fundex'sA to Z game certainly runs the gamut of high-pressure alphabet fun.Each team is supplied with a plastic tray containing indentations foreach letter of the alphabet, as well as a supply of transparent chips.Dice are rolled to select a timer setting (15 or 30 seconds) and acategory from among 336 possibilities, such as Superheroes or CardGames. Set the timer and start covering letters on your board as youannounce responses appropriate to the category--cover the A and B withchips by saying "Aquaman" and "Batman," for example. Fill your tray andwin the game, but watch out: some rounds allow opposing teams to removechips from your board. The A to Z game is a blast, but you may want toset up some house rules; for example, in the category Hard Liquor,would you allow bourbon, scotch, rye, and whiskey when the first threeare all types of the fourth? --Tony Mason ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great game play, lousy card deck
The play of the game itself is great -- similar to Scattergories in that you'll be coming up with words that fit a certain category and are looking for them to start with certain letters of the alphabet, but with several twists that make it even more entertaining.

The one beef I really had with this game is that the deck of available categories is too small -- in just two or three games you'll begin to repeat categories. So, you may wish to augment the deck with categories of your own.

Great game
Three of us sat down and decided to try this game and we ended up playing for 4 hours. It is very easy to learn and yet challenging to play. Oh, it's also a lot of fun!

TRULY great for all ages!
This is one game that the kids - and the adults - ask to play agian and again.It's a must on our family vacations -- one of the few things everyone can agree on.Easy and very fun to play.Highly recommended ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Learning    3. Board Games    4. Word Games   

Reviews (20)

Kismet...a game for the ages!
My family has enjoyed this game for many years.Like the other reviews, we made copies of the sheets and continue to play.We've written high scores and even low scores on the box since the early '70's.Our box has a price of $2.29!.This is a great game and for those that think the cup is noisy....my Dad put felt on the bottom and sides of the cup and it doesn't make a sound!Buy and enjoy!!!

Kismet.....the dice game
My husband and I have enjoyed the simplicity of this game for years.Alot to do with the luck of the roll. and thecompetition of who scores higher.Simple fun!

Kismet is a Winner!
I've been playing Yahtzee for years and just discovered this game.Apparently it came out way before Yahtzee.It's very fun and puts a new twist on an old favorite!

Also, for those of you trying to find extra score sheets, you can purchase them at AreYouGame.com ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Family Favorites    3. Classic Games    4. Party Games    5. Games of Chance    6. Board Games    7. Word Games    8. Grownup   

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Party Games    5. Grownup   

Reviews (4)

Perquaky is always a hit...a word game for all ages
Perquacky is a great game. We have introduced so many friends to the game and it's always an instant hit.It looks easy.It looks fascinating.You can't wait for your turn to test your abilities.Certainly you can build 5 three, four and five letter words before your time is up. Of course you can get at least a few 6 or 7 letter words.But once the sand starts running through the hour glass, the tension sets in. All eyes are on you. Will you choke?This game is loads of fun for anyone who can put a word together.You can learn to play in a few minutes, but it will keep you going for hours.As a bonus, it's compact and easy to carry most anywhere.

Best all around
This game consists of 12 cubes (dice with letters on all 6 sides), a timer, and simple rules.You roll the cubes and make up to 5 3-, 4-, 5- etc. letter words as you can until your hourglass timer runs out.You can adapt it so that younger and older players can compete by restricting the number of cubes for older players.Fun, educational, and addictive.If you love scrabble, you'll really love this game.

Great Educational , and fun!!
I'm a teacher, I played this game when I was a child and loved it! Now I use it in my classroom for reading groups and to make learning fun for low readers as well as advanced readers! It helps students make words, use word association, and many more helpful skills.The best part of all, the kids love it and beg to play!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Strategy Games    3. Board Games    4. Family Favorites    5. Word Games