The best word games 2025

We have selected and compared over 700 word games for you. The result is this list with the 31 best word games from card, dice & board games 2025.

What are word games anyway?

Word games often require players to use their language skills against each other. Language skills in word games often focus on vocabulary size, spelling, and definitions. Often, by playing word games, players can improve on these three points.

For those who want to focus more on learning, we have created the category "The best learning games".

List of the best word games 2025

This list was last updated on March 19, 2025. We compared 3312 board games for this list and selected the top 31. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Just One

    All details for the board game Just One and similar games

    Just One is a cooperative party game that combines elements of mystery and creativity. Players work together to guess as many words as possible, using unique clues provided by their teammates.

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2019

    🔥 Deal: 20% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Just One
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 20 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Just One

    • YouTube Review for the game "Just One" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  2. So Clover!

    All details for the board game So Clover! and similar games

    So Clover! is a cooperative word-association game that challenges players to think creatively and work together. The essence of the game is to generate and guess keywords based on shared features, aiming to achieve the highest possible team score.

    Nominated for 7 awards and won 2.

    More details for So Clover!
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  3. Codenames

    All details for the board game Codenames and similar games

    Codenames is a captivating and popular party game that involves clever wordplay and deduction. Two teams compete, each led by a spymaster who knows the secret identities of 25 agents, represented by cards bearing single-word codenames like "disease," "Germany," or even "carrot." The objective is for each team to be the first to correctly identify all their agents based on clues given by their spymaster, while avoiding the dangerous assassin.

    Nominated for 27 awards and won 15.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for Codenames
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  4. Codenames: Duet

    All details for the board game Codenames: Duet and similar games

    Embark on a collaborative journey of espionage in Codenames Duet, where the familiar elements of Codenames persist – providing one-word clues to unveil your agents among those on the table. This time, however, you and your teammate work together to uncover all your agents, adding a thrilling cooperative dimension to the challenge. The mystery of not knowing your agents from the outset adds an intriguing layer to the mission, raising questions that even Congressional investigators might ponder later!

    Nominated for 9 awards and won 4.

    More details for Codenames: Duet
    • 2 Players
    • 15 - 30 Minutes
    • 11+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Codenames: Duet

    • YouTube Review for the game "Codenames: Duet" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  5. Decrypto

    All details for the board game Decrypto and similar games

    Engage in the riveting team-based challenge of Decrypto, where players strive to correctly interpret coded messages from their teammates while unraveling the intercepted codes of the opposing team.

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 7.

    More details for Decrypto
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Decrypto

    • YouTube Review for the game "Decrypto" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  6. Werewords

    All details for the board game Werewords and similar games

    Werewords is a fast-paced word-guessing game blended with the intrigue of a hidden role mechanism. In this engaging party game, players work together to guess a secret word, while also navigating the deceit of a werewolf who knows the word but is trying to lead them astray.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2019

    More details for Werewords
    • 4 - 10 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  7. Phantom Ink

    All details for the board game Phantom Ink and similar games

    Renowned mediums compete to decipher a secret object and prove their connection to the "spirit world." The first team to identify the secret object wins.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Phantom Ink
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 10 - 15 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  8. Insider

    All details for the board game Insider and similar games

    Insider is a unique board game that offers a fresh and engaging experience for players. With its distinctive gameplay and innovative mechanics, it stands out in the world of board games.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Insider
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 9+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Insider

    • YouTube Review for the game "Insider" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Insider" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  9. Krazy Wordz: Nicht 100% jugendfrei

    All details for the board game Krazy Wordz: Nicht 100% jugendfrei and similar games

    Players create imaginative words using letter tiles and then guess which of the created words could be a name for a newly discovered planet. Each player has a secret task to develop a unique word, and at the end, the best guesser and wordsmith wins the game. It's a hilarious party game with a twist!

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Krazy Wordz: Nicht 100% jugendfrei
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 16+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Krazy Wordz: Nicht 100% jugendfrei

    • YouTube Review for the game "Krazy Wordz: Nicht 100% jugendfrei" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  10. When I Dream

    All details for the board game When I Dream and similar games

    When I Dream is a whimsical and imaginative board game that delves into the world of dreams, blending elements of storytelling, deduction, and teamwork in a playful setting.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for When I Dream
    • 4 - 10 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for When I Dream

    • YouTube Review for the game "When I Dream" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  11. Fiesta de los Muertos

    All details for the board game Fiesta de los Muertos and similar games

    Welcome to the Fiesta de los Muertos. On this sacred day, the dead return! Choose a word to describe your deceased character, but be careful as it will be passed around and change. Can you identify your character and those of the other players? This cooperative game combines imagination and deduction, ensuring plenty of laughs.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Fiesta de los Muertos
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  12. Anomia

    All details for the board game Anomia and similar games

    Anomia is a fast-paced card game that tests players' ability to quickly recall random information under pressure. The game draws on players' knowledge of various categories like food, music, and more. Gameplay involves drawing cards and facing off with other players in a battle of quick thinking when matching symbols are revealed. Players must rapidly provide examples of the category on their opponent's card, with successful answers winning them the card. The challenge intensifies with wild cards that create unexpected matches and cascading face-offs triggered by card exchanges.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    More details for Anomia
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. Neue Welten

    All details for the board game Neue Welten and similar games

    A player reads a sentence that describes their view of the world, leaving a blank at a crucial point. Other players secretly submit cards with words or phrases to fill the gap, and one random card is added to the mix. The active player then chooses a card to complete the sentence, leading to revelations about themselves and their connections with others.

    More details for Neue Welten
    • 3 - 5 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  14. Unanimo

    All details for the board game Unanimo and similar games

    The box contains many cards, each featuring an image and a caption. During each turn, a card is revealed, and players write down eight words associated with the word on the card. Points are awarded for each word that matches another player's, with bonus points for the number of players sharing those words.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Unanimo
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Unanimo

    • YouTube Review for the game "Unanimo" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  15. Concept

    All details for the board game Concept and similar games

    In Concept, the challenge is to convey words using a network of icons. A pair of players, seated as neighbors, collaborate to select a word or phrase that others must deduce. Working in tandem, they strategically place markers on the available icons on the game board.

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2014

    More details for Concept
    • 4 - 12 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  16. Krazy Wordz

    All details for the board game Krazy Wordz and similar games

    Each round, players have their own unique topic card that is unknown to others, along with randomly drawn letters. They create a word or something resembling a word from these letters and place it in the center of the table, hiding their topic card. After mixing the topic cards, players secretly vote on which words match which cards, earning points for correct guesses and associations.

    🔥 Deal: 96% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Krazy Wordz
    • 3 - 7 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Krazy Wordz

    • YouTube Review for the game "Krazy Wordz" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  17. Word Slam

    All details for the board game Word Slam and similar games

    Players split into two teams and compete simultaneously in a communication game. In each round, one player from each team attempts to get their teammates to guess a hidden word or phrase using only the 105 explanation cards provided. Speaking and acting is strictly prohibited; players must rely solely on the cards, each featuring a single word. The team with the most points at the end wins.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    More details for Word Slam
    • 3 - 99 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Word Slam

    • YouTube Review for the game "Word Slam" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  18. Trapwords

    All details for the board game Trapwords and similar games

    Trapwords is an innovative and engaging party game that reimagines the classic concept of word-guessing games with a clever twist. Designed for two teams, the game infuses the word-guessing genre with strategic depth and an element of surprise, as each team sets secret "trapwords" for the other, creating a dynamic and suspenseful experience. Players navigate a fantasy dungeon theme, adding an immersive layer to the challenge of describing and guessing words.

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for Trapwords
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Trapwords

    • YouTube Review for the game "Trapwords" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  19. The Chameleon

    All details for the board game The Chameleon and similar games

    The Chameleon is a captivating game of bluffing and deduction, where players take turns either blending in or trying to identify the imposter among them. It's a game that tests your ability to be both cunning and perceptive, making it perfect for groups looking for a quick, engaging, and interactive experience.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for The Chameleon
    • 3 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for The Chameleon

    • YouTube Review for the game "The Chameleon" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  20. Frigiti

    All details for the board game Frigiti and similar games

    Frigiti is a word dice game where players create words from rolled letters and come up with definitions for those words. At the start, each player writes down definitions for the created words and votes on the best ones. Players roll ten dice—seven with consonants and three with vowels—to form a word, then write and share their definitions, leading to voting based on creativity and humor. The player with the most tokens at the end is crowned the Queen of Frigiti.

    More details for Frigiti
    • 4 - 6 Players
    • 40 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  21. Der HeidelBÄR: Wilde Wasser Edition

    All details for the board game Der HeidelBÄR: Wilde Wasser Edition and similar games

    A new edition of "Der HeidelBÄR" dives into the ocean. Players must use the names of sea creatures to get the other players to guess which "bear" they are referring to.

    More details for Der HeidelBÄR: Wilde Wasser Edition
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 20 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  22. Word Slam Midnight

    All details for the board game Word Slam Midnight and similar games

    Word Slam Midnight offers the same gameplay as the original but in a compact format. It includes 210 story word cards and 100 answer cards, featuring a total of 600 answers across four difficulty levels.

    More details for Word Slam Midnight
    • 3 - 99 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 18+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Word Slam Midnight

    • YouTube Review for the game "Word Slam Midnight" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  23. Codenames: Disney – Family Edition

    All details for the board game Codenames: Disney – Family Edition and similar games

    Codenames: Disney – Family Edition brings the magic of Disney to the popular social word game Codenames, offering a delightful twist that Disney and Pixar fans of all ages will adore. This edition blends the strategic and cooperative elements of the original game with the enchanting worlds and characters of Disney and Pixar, making it an ideal choice for family game nights and gatherings of Disney enthusiasts.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Codenames: Disney – Family Edition
    • 2 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  24. Letter Jam

    All details for the board game Letter Jam and similar games

    Letter Jam is a cooperative word game for 2-6 players, focusing on teamwork to create words from visible letters. The catch? You can't see your own letter card – it's only visible to others.

    Nominated for 9 awards.

    More details for Letter Jam
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Letter Jam

    • YouTube Review for the game "Letter Jam" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  25. Wie ich die Welt sehe...

    All details for the board game Wie ich die Welt sehe... and similar games

    The title carries a hint of irony. Players can view the world in personal, social, or fantastical ways, guided by suggestions from others. Choosing among their friends’ differing opinions can be challenging, as every option carries significance. The game features 112 "My World" cards and 392 "IS cards," creating constantly changing combinations, requiring players to make serious choices amidst the humor of odd pairings in each round.

    More details for Wie ich die Welt sehe...
    • 2 - 15 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  26. Codenames: Deep Undercover

    All details for the board game Codenames: Deep Undercover and similar games

    Codenames: Deep Undercover is a standalone or combinable expansion to the hit game Codenames, introducing an adult twist to the classic word association gameplay. In this version, players still split into two teams, with each team's spymaster knowing the identities of their secret agents, represented by codenames on the table. The goal remains to contact all your agents first through clever one-word clues that can link multiple codenames, while avoiding the deadly assassin and the opposing team's agents. This game adds an edgier set of words and phrases, making it suited for a more mature audience.

    More details for Codenames: Deep Undercover
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 18+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Codenames: Deep Undercover

    • YouTube Review for the game "Codenames: Deep Undercover" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  27. Word Slam Family

    All details for the board game Word Slam Family and similar games

    Word Slam Family features the same gameplay as the original version in a compact format. It includes 100 word cards and 100 answer cards divided into seven categories, providing a total of 600 response terms. Two teams compete simultaneously, with players using only the explanation cards to help their teammates guess a hidden word or phrase without speaking or acting. An app replaces the dice and timer, and the game's two halves act as screens for answering cards. Word Slam Family can be played as an expansion or as a standalone game.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Word Slam Family
    • 3 - 99 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Word Slam Family

    • YouTube Review for the game "Word Slam Family" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  28. Bananagrams

    All details for the board game Bananagrams and similar games

    Bananagrams is a lively, quick-paced word game that stands out for its simplicity and portability. It comes in a unique, banana-shaped fabric pouch, making it an excellent choice for on-the-go fun without the need for pencils, paper, or a board.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Bananagrams
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 15 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  29. Sides

    All details for the board game Sides and similar games

    Every word counts, so players must focus and choose their words wisely. In this challenging cooperative game, players help detectives find a mysterious word by providing hints that start with specific letters. The goal is to use as few hints as possible while guessing more words to achieve a higher score.

    🔥 Deal: 8% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Sides
    • 2 - 9 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  30. Linq

    All details for the board game Linq and similar games

    Linq combines bluffing elements with associative gameplay. Players aged 10 and up, in groups of 4 to 8, seek to find their constantly changing partners by associating freely with their LINQ words. The game includes 58 pairs of cards with nearly 700 words, 4 question marks, wooden pieces for scoring, a 12-sided die, and the rulebook.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Linq
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  31. Scrabble

    All details for the board game Scrabble and similar games

    Scrabble is a classic and highly popular word game that challenges players to create words using letter tiles on a gameboard. It combines elements of vocabulary skill, strategy, and spatial reasoning.

    More details for Scrabble
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

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