The best word games to play online
Quick answer: The best online word games include daily five-letter puzzles, word-of-the-day challenges in several languages, and party games where you describe a word without saying it.
Solo word games
Daily five-letter puzzles train vocabulary and logic in a few minutes.
Language games
Seeing one word in many languages, such as Arabic, French, Spanish and Turkish, is an easy way to pick up new vocabulary.
Group word games
Describe-the-word and acting games turn vocabulary into a party game.
Word games compared
Different word games suit different moods:
| Game | Players | Time | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five-letter word puzzle | 1 | 5 min | Logic, vocabulary |
| Describe it, don’t say it | 4–12 | 15 min | Speaking |
| No Words (act it out) | 4–12 | 15 min | Acting |
| Word in many languages | 1 | 5 min | Language links |
| Crosswords | 1 | 10–30 min | Vocabulary |
Good starting words
For five-letter puzzles, start with a word that uses common letters and several vowels, such as CRANE, SLATE or AUDIO. Then use your second guess to test new letters instead of repeating the ones you already know.
Word games for learners
Word games are a fun way to learn English or Arabic vocabulary. Five-letter puzzles build spelling, word-in-many-languages games show how words travel, and describe-the-word games teach you to explain ideas when you forget a word.
Word games for parties
In Don’t say it, a player describes a word without using it or a list of banned words. In No Words, players act the word out without speaking. Both work for 4 to 12 players and are good after a trivia round, when the group wants something more active.
Word and language games
Related reading
More articles and games on the same topic.
Browse all general knowledge quizzes and games, or go back to Trivia Mate.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good word game for learning English?
Daily five-letter puzzles are short and build vocabulary steadily.
Are there word games in Arabic?
Yes. Trivillion’s word and party games work in Arabic.
What is a good first word for a five-letter puzzle?
Words with common letters, such as CRANE or SLATE.
Are there word games for groups?
Yes. Describe-the-word and acting games work well for 4 to 12 players.
What is Don’t say it?
A describe-the-word game where certain words are banned.
Do word games help language learners?
Yes, they build vocabulary in short sessions.