Word Tiles
Make words from your seven letter tiles, crossing the words already on the board, and score more than the computer. Bonus squares, a blank or two and a 30-point bonus for using all seven tiles keep it lively.
How to play Word Tiles
How to play
You and the computer each hold 7 tiles from the same bag of 76, and you go first. The first word runs across or down through the flower in the centre. After that, each play is a line of your tiles in one row or column that joins the tiles on the board, and every word it makes, along the line and across it, must be in our word list. Drag tiles to the board, tap a tile and then a square, or tap a square and type (Space turns the cursor). The line under the board shows the words and the score, or what is wrong, before you press Play. You then draw back up to 7.
Scoring and bonus squares
Every word you make scores the values printed on its tiles. Bonus squares count only under the tiles you place that turn: 2× letter and 3× letter, marked with one small tile, multiply that tile; 2× word and 3× word, marked with three small tiles, multiply the whole word. A tile on a bonus square that forms words both ways counts for both. Using all 7 tiles in one play adds 30 points. The 2 blank tiles stand for any letter you choose and score 0.
Swapping, passing and the end
Instead of playing you can swap some or all of your tiles for new ones while the bag still holds at least 7, or pass. The game ends when the bag is empty and one player has used every tile, or when both of you have passed twice in a row. The points on the tiles left on each rack are taken off that player's score, and the higher score wins.
Levels
Easy plays everyday words and settles for a modest play. Medium knows more words and picks one of its best few plays. Hard knows the whole list, plays for points and keeps good tiles for later. The computer plays by the same rules and never sees your tiles or the order of the bag. The daily game is Medium, with the same bag for everyone.
Questions
How do you play Word Tiles?
Take turns laying tiles from your rack in one row or column so they join the words on the board and every word formed is real. Your score for a play is the letter values of every word you made, with any bonus squares under your new tiles. When the bag is empty and a rack runs out, the higher score wins.
Which words are allowed?
Words of 2 to 11 letters from our accepted English list, including plurals and verb forms, with British and American spellings. Two-letter words come from a short list of everyday ones such as OF, OX, HM and XI, which you can open under the board. Offensive words are left out. Word lists: SCOWL and ENABLE.
Is this like the famous crossword board game?
It is a game in the same family of crossword tile games, with our own design: an 11 by 11 board that fits a phone screen, our own pattern of bonus squares, 76 tiles with our own letter mix and values, and a 30-point bonus for using all seven tiles.
How can I score more?
Play alongside a word already on the board so your tiles make several short words at once, and put heavy letters on letter bonuses where they count in two directions. Keep a blank or an S for a bigger play, and swap when your rack is all vowels or all consonants.
Is there a daily game?
Yes. The daily is a Medium game with the same bag for everyone, and the computer always makes the same choice in the same position, so if you play the same words as a friend, you see the same game. Hints suggest a good word that fits, not always the best one.