The game has undergone many transitions over the years, since its days as LEXIKO (1931) to its briefness as CRISS CROSS WORDS to its current and amalgamated, renowned brand of SCRABBLE. There has been many editions of the word board game along that historic metamorphosis, and SCRABBLE has even given in to pop culture, sports memorabilia, and fanaticism.
SCRABBLE has catered to everyone, from Trekkies to ecologists to the visually impaired, in hopes of attracting new players and keeping old players happy with fun collector's editions. But even the biggest SCRABBLE fanatic won't own all of these games. It's practically impossible. And unnecessary.
Collecting some of the older, antique versions of SCRABBLE is more common in the land of lexicon lovers, because it's about appreciation of how it has matured over the years—I even yearn to own some of these classic, hard-to-find editions. But for most players, one board's enough. Just being able to play the game provides a lifetime of joy.
However, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the idea of some of these SCRABBLE creations, and this blog is devoted to finding and sharing all of those extravagant, wacky, and preposterous versions of the classic game of SCRABBLE. Not all of these games were made by Hasbro—they focus more on the deluxe editions and spinoff games—most of the odd versions come from other companies (with Hasbro's approval, of course).
To understand a little bit about the past and present ownership of SCRABBLE and its variants, check out the company history of SCRABBLE on Funding Universe and SCRABBLE Facts: Butts, Boards & Blasphemies. It goes something like this: Alfred Butts invented SCRABBLE —> Jame Brunot joined Butts to make the game —> Called LEXIKO in 1931, then CRISS CROSS WORDS —> SCRABBLE was trademarked in 1948 —> Selchow & Righter bought it in 1972 —> Hasbro bought Milton Bradley in 1984 —> COLECO bought Selchow & Righter in 1986 —> Hasbro bought COLECO in 1989 —> Hasbro bought Parker Brothers in 1991 ——> And that's just in North America! Mattel currently owns the international rights to SCRABBLE, and they bought out J.W. Spear & Sons in 1994.
This list is not complete yet, but if you know of any that I missed, let me know and I'll add it to the list!
PS: Some of the dates might be off. I tried my best to find accurate dates.
This basic, standard SCRABBLE set has been around since the 40's, and before that, CRISS CROSS WORDS and LEXIKO in the 30's. Almost every set came with the same basic pieces (Gameboard, 100 Wood Letter Tiles, 4 Wooden Tile Racks, Letter Bag), even as the years passed. The board layout was pretty much the same, with a few colors off here and there. If you aim to have a vintage board, the oldest one will be the standard set.
Current edition available at Hasbro.
Scrabble (1948-Present)
Criss Cross Words (?-1947)
Lexiko (1931-?)
With SCRABBLE's popularity, it was inevitable that bigger and better versions of the standard board would come out. Everyone wants something bigger and badder, and if so, these are the board games you want. Everything is pretty much the same, just more elegant, more wooden, more glassy... more golden.
Scrabble Diamond Anniversary Edition (2008)
"Celebrate 60 years of winning words! This SCRABBLE game offers special features designed with one idea in mind: to spoil Scrabble players wherever they go. Unfold the premium carrying case to reveal a colorful, rotating gameboard that allows each player to see the letters upright. The raised-grid style of the board guarantees that your words won't slip or slide out of place. While you're puzzling over how to use a Q without U, you can organize your tiles on a curved tile rack that provides an optimum view of each letter. Ready to take your game on the road? Simply store the game pieces in two built-in side trays. There's never been a more convenient or luxurious way to enjoy America's favorite word game!"
Available at Hasbro.
Scrabble Signature Edition (2008)
"A timeless classic in an elegant edition! Features beautiful tempered glass surface and unique circular gameboard with a raised grid. Includes a rotating glass gameboard with raised letter grid, 4 matching tile racks, molded letter tiles that fit in place, velvet storage pouch, scorebook, pencil and instructions."
Available at Barnes & Noble.
Scrabble Retro Edition (2008)
The classic word game you know and love now celebrates the good old days with this timeless edition. For over 50 years SCRABBLE has been America's favorite crossword game, and the retro graphics bring that past to life! Share memories and classic crossword fun with the ones you love! Scrabble Retro Edition includes: Unique collectible package, gameboard, 100 wood letter tiles, four wood tile racks, velvet letter pouch, and instructions."
Available on Amazon.
Scrabble Premier Wood Edition (2007)
"Cabinet has a built-in storage tray. Deluxe wood cabinet features a built-in, rotating gameboard and elegant features for the SCRABBLE player who wants to play in style! Show off your sense of style along with your passion for word-building fun with this elegant, two-toned wood cabinet that has brass-colored metal accents. Gather your family and friends around the built-in, rotating gameboard and select your seven faux-ivory tiles from the genuine embossed leather tile pouch. Sort your letters on the deluxe wood, brass-toned tile racks, complete with metal end caps. Enjoy classic SCRABBLE wordplay challenge with even more luxurious features, like the gold-toned, raised grid that holds tiles in place on the gameboard, a foil-stamped score pad and pencil, a timer for optional timed play, and a storage drawer with an organizer that keeps all of these distinctive components neatly in place when the game is put away."
Available at Hasbro.
Scrabble Onyx Edition (2007)
"The Barnes & Noble exclusive Onyx Edition SCRABBLE features an elegant rotating board and a sleek, updated style with black and silver accents. The new look adds a contemporary design dimension to America's favorite word contest. Other matching elements include a unique timer with black sand, a black velvet tile pouch, four black tile racks, and a silver-accented score book with official score sheets an pencil."
Available at Barnes & Noble.
Scrabble Deluxe Wood Edition (2005)
The first real wooden edition features an elegant, solid, hardwood rotating board with raised grid, a silver toned velvet pouch, foil-stamped wooden letter tiles, stained wood tile racks, silver foil-stamped score book with matching pencil, timer with silver-toned end caps, and an organizer tray under the gameboard.
Available on Amazon.
Scrabble Special Nostalgia Edition Tin (2005)
"The classic word game you know and love now celebrates the good old days with this Nostalgia edition. For over 50 years SCRABBLE has been America's favorite crossword game, and these retro graphics bring that past to life! Share memories and fun with the ones you love, and when you're done, store it all away in this cool collectible tin. CONTENTS: full-size gameboard, 100 wood letter tiles, 4 wood tile racks, velvet letter pouch & instructions."
Scrabble Nostalgia Edition (2003)
This is supposed to resemble the old-time Scrabble set, although it comes in a new wooden box, which means the most nostalgic part of this set is the gameboard. The wooden box has a storage tray for everything: A full-size gameboard with vintage graphics, 100 wooden letter tiles, 4 wooden tile racks, velvet letter pouch, and rules.
Available on Amazon.
Library Nostalgia Scrabble Book (2001 & 2008)
"One of the world's most popular games--in a special wooden book edition. Brings you back with the original gameplay and retro-looking gameboard and components. Inside the masterfully constructed wooden box, you'll find a special board; letter racks and wood letter tiles. Also included is a hardbound pad of special scoring sheets is included too, along with a special pencil."
The Franklin Mint Scrabble Gold Collector's Edition (1992)
"Get the dictionary ready, sit back and enjoy the first and only classic collector's edition of America's favorite word game. Exclusively authorized and authenticated by Milton Bradley Company. Contains 100 letter tiles minted into ingots and accented with 24 karat gold. The stunning deluxe playing board features raised grid, custom-designed SCRABBLE game graphics, turntable base and spacious storage drawers to protect all components."
Available from The Franklin Mint.
Being able to travel with your favorite word game used to mean lugging the huge box set around with you everywhere, but that's not really practical when you trying to travel light. So, it was no surprise when they came out with these portable versions of SCRABBLE.
Travel Scrabble (1958)
This vintage travel version was made by J.W. Spear & Sons, LTD, in England. It included a plastic pouch, instructions, a wooden game board, 4 wooden racks, and 100 letter pieces (with prongs). The pronged tiles were the key to this "travel" board.
Pictures from johnv.
These are all SCRABBLE games with popular themes, like Sports (Red Sox, Yankees), Film (Wizard of Oz, Star Trek), Books, (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), and Nature (National Parks). If you're tired of the boring design, personalize your play with some of these thematic versions.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Scrabble (2010)
"Time to put your inner "Wimpy Kid" to work and your wit on the game board. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid edition of Scrabble includes 50 exclusive bonus words, new Wimpy Kid rules, and a specially designed game board that features Greg and the gang, even Fregley and those pesky whirley street kids. Zoo-Wee Mama!"
Available at Fundex Games.
The National Parks Scrabble Edition (2009)
"The Classic Scrabble Crossword Game is heading to the great outdoors! Includes wood tiles and racks, a unique game board featuring beautiful parks images and an exclusive bonus dictionary."
This nature-filled board commemorates the six-episode film series by Ken Burns for PBS, entitled "The National Parks: America's Best Idea".
Available at Fundex Games.
Star Trek Scrabble (2009)
"The Starship Enterprise has now crossed over to America's Favorite Word Game. With a special Star Trek themed game board and word challenges, this Scrabble edition is a must for any Trekkie seeking a word adventure. Same great Scrabble play plus an exclusive Star Trek dictionary and rules that help you gain bonus points."
Available at Fundex Games. Picture from BoardGameGeek.
The Wizard of Oz Scrabble (2008)
"Join Dorothy, Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow as you spell along the Yellow Brick Road to meet the Wizard of Oz! Same great Scrabble play plus an exclusive Wizard of Oz dictionary and rules that help you gain bonus points. Make your wishes come true on the special edition Emerald City Square, to spell a word again as you get closer to winning the game!"
Available at Fundex Games.
Dora the Explorer Scrabble Junior Editions (2007 & 2004)
With the popularity of Dora the Explorer, it was just a matter of time before she started "exploring" words. Mattel (UK) and Hasbro (US) both made their own versions, both featuring Spanish and English versions.
Hasbro's SCRABBLE Junior, Dora the Explorer Edition: "Playing the SCRABBLE game with Dora the Explorer spells F-U-N! Can you match the letters to spell Diego? Or finish the word bicycle? Use your letter tiles to build crosswords on the picture-filled game board. Every time you complete a word, you earn a scoring chip! When all of the tiles are played, will you have the most chips to win? A two-sided game board gives you double the fun, with English on one side and Spanish on the other!"
Available on Amazon.
Mattel's Dora the Explorer, My First SCRABBLE: "Play My First game of Scrabble with Dora the Explorer and her friends! Dora The Explorer My First Scrabble features two different games and two levels of play for both younger and older kids! Use the letters to create words and score points! The double-sided board allows children to play and learn simple words in both English and Spanish! ... [and] is a wonderful word game to encourage spelling, teach word building and letter recognition!"
Available on Amazon.
Boston Red Sox Scrabble (2007)
There are actually two versions of this game; one is made by Sababa Toys, and the other by Fundex Games.
Sababa: "Can you spell SWEEP? How about WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS? America's Favorite Word Game meets New England's most celebrated sports franchise in the 2007 Boston Red Sox World Series Championship Edition of SCRABBLE. It's the same classic SCRABBLE played on a baseball diamond featuring great commemorative 2007 World Series images and stats. Baseball shaped letter tiles, some ultra fun rules and a special Red Sox World Series bonus dictionary is sure to be a grand slam!"
Fundex: "PLAY BALL! America's Favorite Word Game and Major League Baseball hit a homerun with MLB Scrabble. Plays just like the classic Scrabble, but features a unique game board, letter tiles, team tile racks, bonus baseball word dictionary and baseball specific scoring rules."
Pictures from BoardGameGeek.
Chicago Cubs Scrabble (2007)
"PLAY BALL! America's Favorite Word Game and Major League Baseball hit a homerun with MLB Scrabble. Plays just like the classic Scrabble, but features a unique game board, letter tiles, team tile racks, bonus baseball word dictionary and baseball specific scoring rules."
Available at Fundex Games.
Major League Baseball Scrabble (2007)
Again, this game is made by two different companies: Sababa Toys and Fundex Games.
Sababa: "Sababa's Major League Baseball Scrabble board game combines the ageless game of Scrabble that everyone loves to play, with America's favorite national pastime, baseball. It's the ultimate word challenge of Scrabble with a ballpark twist. With a special MLB themed game board and word challenges, this Scrabble edition is a must for anyone seeking a home run word adventure. The game includes special scoring rules that take the Scrabble challenge of building words and knocks it out of the ballpark! The game includes 1 Major League Baseball Diamond Game Board, 100 Baseball Letter Tiles, 1 Letter Bag, 4 Tile Racks, 4 Logo Inserts and Instructions. Plus, a 50 word Bonus Dictionary!"
Fundex: "PLAY BALL! America's Favorite Word Game and Major League Baseball hit a homerun with MLB Scrabble. Plays just like the classic Scrabble, but features a unique game board, letter tiles, team tile racks, bonus baseball word dictionary and baseball specific scoring rules."
Pictures by BoardGameGeek.
New York Mets Scrabble (2007)
"PLAY BALL! America's Favorite Word Game and Major League Baseball hit a homerun with MLB Scrabble. Plays just like the classic Scrabble, but features a unique game board, letter tiles, team tile racks, bonus baseball word dictionary and baseball specific scoring rules."
Available at Fundex Games.
New York Yankees Scrabble (2007)
Made by both Sababa Toys and Fundex Games.
Sababa: "Sababa's New York Yankees Baseball Scrabble board game combines the ageless game of Scrabble that everyone loves to play, with one of America's favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees! It's the ultimate word challenge of Scrabble with a Yankees twist. With a special NY Yankees themed game board and word challenges, this Scrabble edition is a must for anyone seeking a home run word adventure. The game includes special scoring rules that take the Scrabble® challenge of building words and knocks it out of the ballpark! The game includes 1 New York Yankees Baseball Diamond Game Board, 100 Baseball Letter Tiles, 1 Letter Bag, 4 Tile Racks, 4 Logo Inserts and Instructions. Plus, a 50 word Bonus Dictionary!"
Fundex: "PLAY BALL! America's Favorite Word Game and Major League Baseball hit a homerun with MLB Scrabble. Plays just like the classic Scrabble, but features a unique game board, letter tiles, team tile racks, bonus baseball word dictionary and baseball specific scoring rules."
St. Louis Cardinals Scrabble (2007)
"PLAY BALL! America's Favorite Word Game and Major League Baseball hit a homerun with MLB Scrabble. Plays just like the classic Scrabble, but features a unique game board, letter tiles, team tile racks, bonus baseball word dictionary and baseball specific scoring rules."
Available at Fundex Games.
The Simpsons Scrabble Editions (1997)
Both Mattel (UK) and Hasbro (US) created/licensed a Simpsons commemorative edition of the popular board game back in 1997.
Mattel's version featured a colorful playing board, which was double-sided; one for regular play and one for Simpson play. There were several rule changes incorporated for funner play. Players could use special cards during their turn to help them or hinder their opponents. Certain "Simpsons" branded words, like KWYJIBO, are permitted on the board. Also, the bonus squares on the playing board are arranged differently, which could very well make the above KWYJIBO debate actually work. I'm not sure though, since I do not own the game.
Hasbro's version (which was actually made by Sababa Toys) came with a back and white rulebook, 100 yellow tiles, yellow plastic pouch, yellow tile racks, cardboard characters, and a Homer-shaped board. The characters had special actions and rules, specific to each one. The "Simpsons" branded words also are fair game, along with names and bonus points for spelling them. This edition was exclusively sold at Borders Books.
To find out more information about these games, and where to buy them, visit "The Simpsons Family Gets Scrabbled!" blog post.
Variants. This means something different than just SCRABBLE. They're spinoffs. Kind of like SCRABBLE, and kind of not. There's card games, dice, letter stacking, and versions for children. If you like SCRABBLE, but want to try a new game, these are what you're looking for.
Scrabble SLAM! Card Game (2009)
"SCRABBLE SLAM is a fast-paced word game where anything could happen! Race against each other to change the existing four-letter word and get rid of your cards. "Game" could become "fame" and "fame" could become "fate"—you never know where it'll go. Be the first player to get rid of all of your cards to win!"
Available at Hasbro.
Scrabble Upwords (1983, 1988, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2008 & 2009)
"It's a high-stacking 3-D crossword game! You and your opponents spell words with stackable letter tiles on the special gameboard to score points. Build words by playing letters across or down on the board and by stacking letters on top of letters already on the board to form new words. It's this 3-dimensional game play that makes SCRABBLE UPWORDS so unique and challenging to play. Score points for each letter in your word and every letter tile under each letter of your word. Letters can be stacked five tiles high--so your score can really add up fast! Build words, stack letters, score high and have fun!"
Scrabble Upwords used to simply be Upwords, when Milton Bradley original published it before joining Hasbro. It was invented by Elliot Rudell, and is now available in 20 different languages.
Available at Hasbro. Pictures from BoardGameGeek.
Scrabble Upwords Deluxe (2004)
"In most word games you can only build words across and down. The totally addictive Deluxe Upwords is different! Build words in all directions; even upwards! Stack letters on top of letters already on the board to change existing words into new ones in an awesome adaptation of the classic Scrabble! Score points for each letter in your word and extra points for every tile under each letter. Tiles can be stacked 5 high, so the scores really add up fast! With easy scoring and electronic timer this is the perfect word game for the whole family! The sky's the limit with Upwords Deluxe!"
Available on Amazon UK.
Scrabble Crossword Cubes (1964, 1968 & 1976)
"The game comes with 14 wooden cubes with Scrabble style differing letters and point values on each face. You get a sand timer and dictionary as well. The game components are of top quality.
In GAME ONE rules, you roll the dice, set the timer and try to form as many words, crossword puzzle style, as you can before time runs out. You score points based upon the letters used. The winner is the first player to get to 200 points (suggested).
In GAME TWO rules, players alternate 1 roll each. A round is limited to 4 rolls per player. Within each round players try to form a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 letter word. Each word length may only be formed once during a round.
Standard Scrabble rules for word formation, scoring and challenging apply."
These games were from the reign of Selchow & Righter.
Pictures from VintageGameWorld, BoardGameGeek.
Scrabble Sentence Cube Game (1971 & 1983)
"Players in turn roll the 21 word cubes, set the timer and form sentences with the words appearing on the tops of the cubes in a crossword puzzle-like fashion (one word may be part of two sentences - one running vertically and one running horizontally). Turns end when the egg timer runs out. Players score 50 points for each sentence of 7 words or more. All other sentences score the square of the number of words in the sentence (i.e. a 4-word sentence scores 4 X 4, or 16 points). A bonus of 50 points is awarded if all 21 cubes are used. Two points are deducted for each unused cube.
The 1983 version of the game seems to differ in the number of cubes. The rules on the inside of the box lid still have a 1971 copyright date, but among other differences, they state that the game contains 27 cubes. Two of the new cubes are marked with stars on all six sides, making them wild."
These games were from the reign of Selchow & Righter.
Pictures from BoardGameGeek.
Scrabble Sentence Game for Juniors (1973, 1983 & 1987)
"This is a game where children put sentences on the board and try to get the most points at the end of the game. There are two sides on the board. One side has the sentences printed on them, and as the players complete the sentences, they get chits from the kitty. The other side of the board is blank and the players form their own sentences. They would get one point for each word in the sentence."
Again, Selchow & Righter.
Pictures from BoardGameGeek, eCrater.
Everything usually gets translated eventually, even SCRABBLE. In fact, there are about 30 different languages that you can use to play SCRABBLE, only finding the right foreign edition is the hard part. I'll try and show them all, eventually, but for now, I'm just listing a couple.
Spanish Scrabble
"Classic SCRABBLE fun for Spanish-speaking players! Juguemos! Different letter values correspond with Spanish language usage. For 2 to 4 players."
Available at Hasbro.
Welsh Scrabble (2005)
"Scrabble yn Gymraeg, anyone? (That's "Scrabble in Welsh" for non-Welsh speakers.) Native speakers at home and abroad, and learners of the Welsh language will surely enjoy this Welsh version of Scrabble. Specially adapted for the language, there are no X's, Q's or Z's in this game. Instead, tiles will carry the Welsh phonics of LL, RH, TH, and NG. Scoring is particularly modified for the Welsh language as well. More common letters, such as Y and W, are worth only one point. Scrabble yn Gymraeg not only makes a good pastime, it can also aid one in becoming more familiar with the Welsh language."
Available at Gadget Epoint.
LIST for the Scrabble Games Above
Standard:
-- Scrabble (1948-Present)
-- Criss Cross Words (?-1947)
-- Lexiko (1931-?)
Deluxe:
-- Scrabble Diamond Anniversary (2008)
-- Scrabble Signature Edition (2008)
-- Scrabble Retro Edition (2008)
-- Scrabble Premier Wood Edition (2007)
-- Scrabble Onyx Edition (2007)
-- Scrabble Deluxe Wood Edition (2005)
-- Scrabble Special Nostalgia Edition Tin (2005)
-- Scrabble Nostalgia Edition (2003)
-- Library Nostalgia Scrabble Book (2001, 2008)
-- The Franklin Mint Scrabble Gold Collector's Edition (1992)
Travel:
-- Travel Scrabble (1958)
Pop Culture:
-- Diary of a Wimpy Kid Scrabble (2010)
-- The National Parks Scrabble Edition (2009)
-- Star Trek Scrabble (2009)
-- The Wizard of Oz Scrabble (2008)
-- Dora the Explorer Scrabble Junior Editions (2007, 2004)
-- Boston Red Sox Scrabble (2007)
-- Chicago Cubs Scrabble (2007)
-- Major League Baseball Scrabble (2007)
-- New York Mets Scrabble (2007)
-- New York Yankees Scrabble (2007)
-- St. Louis Cardinals Scrabble (2007)
-- The Simpsons Scrabble Editions (1997)
Variant:
-- Scrabble SLAM! (2009)
-- Scrabble Upwords (1983, 1988, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009)
-- Scrabble Upwords Deluxe (2004)
-- Scrabble Crossword Cubes (1964, 1968, 1976)
-- Scrabble Sentence Cube Game (1971, 1983)
-- Scrabble Sentence Game for Juniors (1973, 1983, 1987)
Foreign:
-- Spanish Scrabble
-- Welsh Scrabble (2005)
Great thanks to BoardGameGeek, where I found a lot of this information!
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3 Comments
does anybody know how much Scrabble 50th Anniversary Limited Edition would cost to buy?? i have searched the net and cant find any for sale there are refferances to it however. email reply to sarahmoorefield@hotmail.co.uk many thanks
I loved reading this article.
Have you heard of Boggle? I think it'd be similar to the Scrabble Cubes version. One of my other favorite games. I'd love to read an article on that.
Yeah, I love Boggle, too! For some reason, I can never get anybody to play with me though, haha.
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