6 Fun Games to Play with Scrabble Tiles

It’s National Scrabble Day!

Scrabble®, the game of creating words on a gridded playboard with letter tiles, was created in 1933 by Alfred Mosher Butts. Originally called Lexico and then changed to Criss-Cross Words, the name was eventually changed to Scrabble in the late 1930s and the game as we know it was born. Despite multiple name changes, very little else has been altered about the game since its creation. Check out this article for more fun facts about Scrabble.

Scrabble is a game that has crossed cultures, languages and generations and remains incredibly popular almost 90 years later. That’s quite a feat! Additionally, due to the nature of the game pieces, you can get a bit creative and use the tiles for everything from other games to DIY crafts.

In celebration of this wonderful pastime, let’s take a look at a few different ways to play with Scrabble tiles:

First off, you can grab a friend or two and simply play the game as intended. There is a reason Scrabble has stood the test of time: it’s fun! Test your linguistic skills or be like me and just rack up points with strategically placed 2-letter words! Win or lose, you’ll enjoy the challenge.

It’s not always easy to sit down with friends and family in person for a full-fledged game night, especially now thanks to Covid. Instead download a free app, such as Words with Friends, to play online together. Though not quite the same, it does provide greater freedom to take your turn during those few free moments between other engagements. Plus, no one will know if you’re Googling words.

Speaking of drawn-out games, challenge your S.O. or roommate to a long-term game on your fridge! Pick up a few sheets of magnets from your local craft store and glue them to the back of each Scrabble tile. Now you can play on the fridge each time one of you goes to grab a snack. Add a magnetic dry erase board to keep score, or just play for fun and see who can come up with the most outrageous word.

As the weather gets nicer and summer approaches, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about (socially responsible) BBQs! My favorite part of backyard picnics is the outdoor games. I mean, are you even having fun if there isn’t a cornhole set? Mix it up this year and add a new game to the repertoire: Giant Scrabble! DIY some tiles and you’re ready to play! Placing the completed tiles in a clear bin with handles makes them easy to store and pull out when needed.

For a more subdued party game, try playing anagrams. This is an age-old game (actually even mentioned in Austen and Tolstoy novels) and easy to play for all ages. First, layout all the Scrabble tiles on the table. When it’s your turn, pick up the needed tiles to spell a word, mix them up in your hand then pass them to someone else and see if they can guess it. It’s as simple as that!

Playing with Scrabble tiles can also be a great tool for kids learning their letters. Pull out two tiles each of various letters, shuffle them up, place them in an array face down and play a game of memory! As kids grow and learn to read, you can form words and short phrases for them to sound out. Or have them create the words for you to practice spelling. Really, the possibilities are endless.

Still need ideas? Here are seven more games you can play with Scrabble letters. Now, who can form the longest word?

Chelsea McCulley is the Digital Asset Manager at mDesign.

How do you stay organized? We’d love to hear your story!
There are many ways that you can contribute and be part of our family.

Add your social media photos to our website and more! Visit mdesignhomedecor.com and learn how you can help spread the word. Get 10% off your first order when you subscribe to our email list. Plus, follow us on social media.