Product Description

Up Words is the 3-dimensional word game that's a stack of fun. Now the expanded 10 X 10 grid offers more squares to build words across, down and up. And with 36 more tiles, you can still stack lots of letters on letters to form new words and score sky high! So rack 'em up, then stack 'em up and experience 3-dimensional word play at its very best! For 2 to 4 players. Game includes: game board with 10 X 10 grid; 100 plastic letter titles; 4 plastic racks; 4 rubber feet; able sheet; instructions. Box artwork may vary.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10189 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Hasbro
• Model: 4312
• Dimensions: 10.60" h x 10.60" w x 2.00" l, 1.50 pounds

Features

• Build new words by stacking letters on top of those already on the board
• Create complex layers of crosswords to earn more points and win the game
• Build words in three directions: across, down, and even upwards
• Includes grids and numbers for 140 Sodoku puzzles
• For 2 to 4 players

Editorial Review
Upwords takes the likes of Scrabble to new heights. Players get more power out of every word and create more play possibilities. Players can build from words crossword puzzle-style or by stacking letters on top of tiles already on the board. The challenge is to make new words each time. For example, "stack" becomes "snack," then "snapshot." If it sounds like 3-D Scrabble, there's more to know. Scoring is simpler: each tile earns two points, and each stacked tile earns one. The usual Nos apply: no capitalized, hyphenated, or abbreviated words, etc. The set comes with 100 letter tiles, tile racks for two to four players, and a plastic game board. --Lynne Sampson

From the Manufacturer
Test your lexicon with the classic 3-D word game that really stacks up! Build new words by stacking letters on top of those already on the board! Create complex layers of crosswords to earn more points and win the game! 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. Also includes grids and numbers for 140 Sodoku puzzles!

Customer Reviews

Interesting variation of the classic word game
As with so many closely related products, it is unfair to compare Upwords with the its classic predecessor, Scrabble. Both games are based on letter tiles and crossword puzzles, but the similarity ends right there.

In most respects, Upwords is a simpler game. Scoring is much easier, as each letter tile only counts for either one or two points, depending on how it is used. (There is, of course, one exception.) The game board itself is more restrictive, with the 10 by 10 square size forcing players to build vertically, whether they wish to or not. However, among two or more evenly matched players, the strategy can be just as demanding and the competition just as fierce as in Scrabble.

The downside to Upwords is in the physical quality of the product. The game board is of rather light construction, as are the letter tiles. The letter trays are a bit too small to properly hold the tiles. In fact, most of the little quality touches that one generally expects from Parker Brothers products are conspicuously lacking in Upwords, to the point of the game not even having a storage bag for the letter tiles. It seems that, in the effort to hold down costs, Parker Brothers unfortunately crossed that fine line from inexpensive to cheap.

That said, Upwords is a lot of fun. It teaches three dimensional thinking and forces players to plan well ahead of their next move. The game is an excellent way to turn a fun family evening into a vocabulary and spelling lesson, without the students even realizing it.

Considering that Parker Brothers did manage to keep the price very reasonable, Upwords is a true bargain in the world of family and table games.

My new favorite word game!
Having grown up on Scrabble, I was a little wary of the game at first. But I soon found that the strategies I loved to use in Scrabble (adding endings, squeezing a word in between two others, etc.) were just what was emphasized in Upwords. Although the scoring seems low after playing Scrabble, there is a terrific sense of satisfaction gained when changing words. I encourage my children to play, since the word play is fabulous for their development as readers. (word families can play a big part for those just starting out.) I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Fun variation on classic Scrabble; challenging new strategy!
What a great game! It's NOT just Scrabble with stacking letters. The scoring is so radically different that your classic Scrabble know-how is seriously compromised. New strategies are required! You have to think differently to succeed. If you're playing a friendly game, the antics of the players can be hilarious. Our group constantly tries to find "creative solutions" to the stackable word puzzles that keep us all in stitches. We're a fairly large group age 25-35 and we've had a blast -- even those of us who aren't big on "word games" had some fun with this interesting and challenging variation. I recommend this game highly! (But, like Scrabble, keep track of those little letter tiles! Losing them is bad news. I wish they would have included a little bag or storage device with the game. In the meantime, a ziploc bag is a needed accessory!)