Word GamesPart 1 of 2Skill Games Program This Word Games lesson, part 1 includes an introduction and lists the various word games types. There are two lists at the end of this lesson for the 5 most popular puzzle games and 5 most popular word games. Part 2 identifies and describes these games online and off. These lessons are part of the Learn Skill Games Program. Introduction Word games are not only fun and amusing; they are definitely splendid educational tools. These games challenge the mind and can help to improve one’s vocabulary if played often enough. There are many games to be enjoyed and this type of skill game is universally popular. Players appreciate games like Boggle, Scrabble and Hangman, just to name a few. Most people like to do word searches, crossword puzzles in magazines and newspapers plus cryptograms as well. Other people enjoy watching them on television like the famous Wheel of Fortune. Word games allow the game player to develop a richer, more intense vocabulary and to improve upon his or her understanding of words and how they relate to one another. An improved vocabulary has much to do with the way one experiences and understands the world around them. Crossword puzzles that offer hints to other meaningful words, if played regularly, can allow the puzzle solver to add new words to his or her vocabulary. Game play requires the player to possess a set of skills included but not limited to a keen mind, a high intellect, a great vocabulary, speedy thinking processes, critical thinking skills, a firm hold on one’s native language and great spelling skills too. Word games can be enjoyed for leisure and some offer prizes. Among the choices based on popularity, we can identify arrangement and pencil word games of all varieties. Types of Arrangement Word Games and Examples There are so many types to choose. Below are a few examples. Alpha Blitz: A game that challenges players to create words by utilizing a series of letter cards which are laid out on a table. Alpha Blitz is much like Boggle, where the player must be able to arrange a set series of letters into a word. For example, the player might receive the letters Sadden that can later be arranged into Sadness or Sanded. This particular game comes complete with a set of 98 cards with letters on them as well as 10 cards that have lightening on them known as blitzes. Blitzes wipe out letters and change how arrangements are made. Anagrab: This game is one that uses the well-known square tiles identified in another popular game, Scrabble. These tiles are placed face down on a floor or table. Whenever a player chooses to do so, they can call out a word that contains a minimum of four letters. This word can then be created from a collection of letters or from adding a single letter to a word that already exists. If all players agree that the word is legitimate, the person that chooses the word takes up the letters and puts them down in front. One rule in this game is that when creating a word, the root of the word must be altered. Therefore, an unacceptable word choice would be something like Die to Died. However, Die to Diet would be an acceptable word change. This game challenges players to come up with new words as quickly as possible and in innovative ways. Anagrams: Anagrams involve the act of taking one word and creating a new word out of the letters in the original word. For example, a popular anagram can be created out of the word Listen. By rearranging the letters in the word, Listen, you can create the word Silent. The key to creating good anagrams is identified by creating words that are somehow related to each other in terms of meaning. The more intensified the meaning, the more powerful the creation. Bananagrams: Bananagrams is based on the use of anagram creations. Players are challenged by having to arrange a variety of tiles as quickly as possible and to be the first to use up a collection of letters before other players. This game has proved tremendously popular since its creation and many people like to play the game on the go or while traveling. Boggle: Parker Brother’s has trademarked the game of Boggle that challenges players to create words after analyzing a series of lettered blocks. The letters must be adjacent to one another and the players have an hourglass that notes the end of a round. The player that creates the most legitimate words wins the round and the game begins again. Chicktionary: Chicktionary is a game made available from Microsoft and involves the use of anagrams. Players are presented with a rack of eggs containing three, four, five, six, and seven letter egg sequences. Chickens are at the bottom of the rack with seven letters. Players then use the mouse to choose a chicken and to click on it. The chosen chicken drops into a box. Clicking on several chickens allows the player to create words. The words must be valid in order for egg racks to be filled up correctly. The aim of the player is to fill up the egg racks with words by creating words within a specific amount of numbers and points are earned for doing so. Sometimes, points are redeemable for prizes. Ghost: Ghost allows players to put additional letters onto word fragments. Each player takes a turn and tries not to be the player that cannot add a letter or create a valid word. Once the word cannot have letters added, the round is over and the game is repeated. Fragments presented are to remain at the beginning of created words. Imangi: Imangi has sliding columns and rows that contain different letters that are used to create words, much like a crossword puzzle. Scrabble: Scrabble is arguably the most popular arrangement word game. Word creation earns the player points and longer words give the player additional points. The player with the highest points wins. Scribbage: Scribbage makes use of thirteen dice that have different letters on them and are rolled. Every letter has points assigned to them that are determined by how often the letters are used in writing or language. The player then arranges these dice in a vertical or horizontal fashion to create words while being timed. Words must be adjoined much as they are in a game like Scrabble. Upwords: Upwords is a another game similar to Scrabble, but this game allows for players to place letters on top of other letters already on the board instead of just nearby letters. Upwords makes Scrabble look like gaming three-dimensional and gives word gamers more diversity. Word Sandwich: Word Sandwich is a game where the word gamer is challenged to alphabetize words. Gambling Teachers, Learn Skill Games Program created these lists. Popular Puzzle Games 1. Chuzzles (online) 2. Bejeweled (online) 3. Sudoku (online and off) 4. Rubik's Cube 5. Deal or No Deal Popular Word Games 1. Crosswords 2. Wheel of Fortune (online) 3. Scrabble 4. Chicktionary (online) 5. Boggle Word Games is followed by pencil word games and popular skill games OR Return to Learn Skill Games Gambling Teachers Home
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