These six puns make “Scrabble” competition
Whether « scrabble », crossword or even the show « Freilrad » on television: word games are omnipresent and have always fascinated. But in 2015 they received an extra boost: « Codenames » appeared and became « game of the year » the following year. Since then at the latest, word games have been trendy.
« Yes, you can see that, » says the award -winning game author Steffen Bogen (« Camel Up »). According to the art scientist and game researcher in Constance, there were already games in which one « communicates », but these were mostly image -based. « » Codenames’ showed how elegant you can do with terms. «
Two teams compete against each other in “Coden Sames”. There are 25 terms on a 5×5 grid. A so -called secret service provider provides information with a word and a number that should combine several terms. The team advises which words belong to him must avoid neutral terms, opposing words and the so -called, fatal assassins. Anyone who first finds all your own terms wins. The game by the Czech author Vlaada Chvátil became a hit hit, came out in different variations – also as a successful app – and is now available in 47 languages. According to publisher, all variants have been sold more than 16 million times worldwide.
Such games « are a nice way to integrate the playful into everyday life, to loosen up situations with a small pun, to open communication, » says Steffen Bogen. It shows what games could generally afford if you don’t stop them from serious reality. « , Codenames’ donates its own and always refreshingly new communication options in the rater rounds. » In the years after “Codenames”, many other, sometimes really good play games appeared on the market. A recommended selection:
« Krazy Wordz » by Ravensburger
« Wachy » could be a French soft cheese. And « Dongomba » an Australian bag, right? It is astonishing what suitable words can be formed with a bit of creativity from six randomly drawn consonants and three vowels. Because that’s what it is about: Create fantasy words that sound on a given topic – from soft cheese to the bag to the pub on the Reeperbahn. There are both points when the categories are correctly assigned to the designed terms, as well as when the fellow players see the right one in their own word creation. And often the invented words are remembered for a long time.
At « Krazy Wordz », fantasy words are to be created that sound on a given topic – from the soft cheese to the bag to the bar on the Reeperbahn. Photo: manufacturer
From 10 years, for 3-8 playing, approx. 30-45 minutes, price approx. 20 euros
« Speed Letters » by HCM Kinzel
Is the second « n » of lymph nodes already in the box? And what about the « Y »? In “Speed Letters” it means being quick and yet keeping an overview. At the same time, all players have to throw the letters of a term into the game carton – but everyone can only be in there as often as they appear in the word. At the latest in the line of five, it is wonderfully chaotic. There is a little damage to the evaluation when a teammate has thrown a surplus letter into it. But it hits you just as quickly that you gambled too high. Of course, the difficulty increases with the length of the words.
In « Speed Letters » all players have to throw the letters of a term into the game carton – but everyone can only lie in it as often as they also appear in the word. Photo: manufacturer
From 7 years, for 2-5 playing, approx. 20 minutes, price approx. 15 euros
« Advertising » by Ravensburger
« Advertising » uses the principle of the famous party game « Werwolves » – and turns it into a pun. As in the model, two groups play against each other: the werewolves and the village community. In the night phase, a word is determined that is secret for almost everyone. During the day, the villagers (sometimes different roles) try to guess this word. The seer knows the word and tries to subtly steer her roommates in the right direction. The werewolves, on the other hand, want to prevent the word you are looking for. Even if a party misses their goal, there is still the opportunity to win through a vote: the villagers have to identify a werewolf, the werewolves want to find the seer.
The game captivates primarily with the fast process: one round hardly takes longer than ten minutes, then the roles are newly drawn. It is advisable to use the accompanying app. This leads perfectly through the gameplay, but is also not a must.
« Advertising » impresses primarily with the fast process: one round hardly takes longer than ten minutes, then the roles will be re -drawn. Photo: manufacturer
From 10 years, for 3-10 playing, approx. 10 minutes, price approx. 15 euros
« Just One » by Repos Production/Asmodee
Attention, risk of addiction! Once you started « Just One », it is difficult to stop again. Every round tries to guess a given word. The trick: Each teammate writes a word for the word you are looking for on his wipeable blackboard – but only exactly one, hence the title. For example, « Clown » as an indication of the word « circus ». Agreements are of course strictly forbidden. However, if a wording word is used by several players at the same time, this must be deleted for everyone – and if you advise you, you have less information to find the term you are looking for.
The secret of the cooperative party game is probably its simplicity. The few rules create extremely large fun. The aim of the “Game of the Year” 2019 is actually to guess as many terms as possible. But the points rating often takes a back seat in view of the fun and you like to continue playing endlessly.
With « Just One », every round tries someone to guess a given word. The trick: Each end of the game writes a word for the word you are looking for on his wipeable blackboard – but only exactly one, hence the title. Photo: manufacturer
From 8 years, for 3-7 playing, approx. 20 minutes, price approx. 19 euros
« Perfect Words » by Piatnik
Which word do you combine with the terms « male » and « magician »? Maybe Harry Potter? Gandalf? And what if the third term also includes « tools »? In “Perfect Words”, the players score together if they all write down the same association. This principle is known from many games – for example « Just One ». The special trick: to which terms an association has to be found, the players have a significant impact on the players themselves. The cards with the terms are arranged in a grid that is reminiscent of a crossword puzzle. A total of ten word rows have to be formed. Each additional term can completely change the possible associations in a row.
In “Perfect Words”, the players score together if they all write down the same association. Photo: manufacturer
From 12 years, for 2-6 playing, approx. 20 minutes, price approx. 23 euros
« Ghost Writer » by Pegasus
In “Ghost Writer”, elements from cooperative and competitive games are mixed, because it is a pun for two teams that compete against each other. There is a so -called « spirit » in every team. The two players chosen for this role must convey the same term to their teammates without talking. Instead, they answer curious question cards that the team chose, in writing, letter for letter. The team members can always say when the letter sequence is sufficient and interrupt the spirit when spelling. Instead of asking a question, attempts at solutions are of course also possible.
LOL Margue: « Even if you lose, you should have fun »
But be careful: the opposing team reads everything. It does not know the question that the spirit answers, but can really smoth itself together. You shouldn’t be put off by the spiritual topic, because the game behind it is a lot of fun – both in large and small casts.
In “Ghost Writer”, elements from cooperative and competitive games are mixed, because it is a pun for two teams that compete against each other. Photo: manufacturer
From 12 years, for 3-8 playing, approx. 15-30 minutes, price approx. 22 euros
