Bananagrams
Bananagrams
Bananagrams Reviews
Do you like Scrabble but get hung up trying to use those special point squares, are bummed when someone “steals your spot”, or dragged down by Debbie Dictionary (“just let me look up this one word”) or Slow Joe (who takes 20 minutes for each turn)? Well you would love Bananagrams, because it solves those problems. There are no special squares (or squares at all), no points on the letters (all are worth the same) and no time to dawdle. You are instead rewarded for speed and flexibility in making your own crossword. You can completely pull apart your crossword and start from scratch if you need to or just swap out a letter here and there, but don’t get caught with a bunch of spare letters when an opponent goes out!
It is exciting and challenging to play this game with adults, but it can be fun to include the kids. You can easily adapt the rules to suit yourself. We “handicap” the adults by drawing two tiles for every one the kids draw. You can play solitaire or have several players.
A similar game that I also love is Learning Resources’ “Take Four”. If you are the type who would prefer to have a grid to keep those tiles straight, or likes to have a few “jokers” thrown in, you might prefer this. But Banagrams is far more portable and much cheaper. I like both of these games so much (as well as the spelling card games Quiddler, My Word, and Tri-Virsity) that the old Scrabble board is gathering dust.
I played this game with a close family member and was in love with it at first sight. Unlike Scrabble, you play somewhat independently and are able to rearrange words constantly to make your letters fit and to create new words. You know that annoying friend or family who always takes your spot in scrabble??? They can’t take the spot you wanted to use! You’re truly working against the clock to be the first to say “Bananas!”
I’ve bought it for everyone I know as a gift since then. It’s original, super fun and portable. A great game to travel with, play in hotel, at pool, on plane, keep kids busy at restaurant (or you and your friend/ spouse) while waiting for dinner! Lots of ways to use this portable, simple game.
I highly recommend and will continue to give this as a gift.
Only negative I can conceive…durability. Be careful of marking the letters somehow. We hope no one cheats, but if you scratch them on a black table…well then…try to clean it off.
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