Games for the verbose

In a bout of good news for the nerds, game nights have made a comeback. But if you’re having trouble finding a bunch of people to game with or just can’t seem to make the time, you can play with the next best thing – your phone. In an ode to the best game of all time – scrabble – we’ve listed a few word game apps that are sure to keep you entertained.

This one could easily have been called “the no-brainer”. The premise is simple enough; you have to find words hidden in a grid, by swiping the letters in the right order. The first few levels are ridiculously simple with two by two grids, and as you level up the game gets more complex. What’s great about this game is that it’s pretty mindless, which could also be a shortcoming, but sometimes when you’re in need of a break , this one comes in handy. Decent graphics and the occasional teaser (like when you’re convinced the word is “calm” but turns out its “clam” – it happens!) can keep you just about interested enough, without taking up too much brain space.

Ever been at a boring party with no scope for entertainment in sight? That’s where an app like Heads Up! comes to the rescue. This one is based on a game played often on the Ellen DeGeneres show, but it’s great even if you’re not hosting a talk show. The player holds the phone to their forehead so only the others can see what’s written, and they have to guess the word based on clues from the others. Sounds simple, but its enough to get the party started.

While nothing comes close to an actual game of Scrabble (if you’re the kind who loves playing with words) this app is a great substitute, if you can never seem to find people to play with. The game works the same way as the original – seven tiles and a board, and whoever has the most points wins – but you can do it on your phone. Play against the system, or invite a Facebook friend to download the app and play with you – this one is great to pass the time (and build your word skills!)

Basically Tetris with letters, this app needs you to swipe across letters to find words (you can go straight across, backwards or diagonally, you can even overlap) and topple the blocks. Make words longer than four letters for bonus points, and some other little tricks to clear the screen – in Tower mode - or try and reach the top in Puzzle mode. While not as interesting as the other games listed here, this one has better graphics and is timed, making it a bit more exciting than the others.

COMMENT NOW