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Upwords
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|
Upwords board and tiles | |
| Other names | Crucimaster Topword Scrabble Upwords |
|---|---|
| Designers | Elliot Rudell |
| Publishers | Milton Bradley Spin Master |
| Publication | 1982 |
| Years active | 1982–? |
| Genres | board game |
| Languages | English |
| Players | 2 to 4 |
| Setup time | < 2 min |
| Playing time | 45 to 90 minutes |
| Chance | Medium |
| Age range | 10+ |
| Skills | Mathematics, strategy, vocabulary |
| Website | spinmaster.com/upwords |
| Related games | |
| Scrabble | |
Upwords is a board game. It was originally manufactured and marketed by the Milton Bradley Company, then a division of Hasbro. It has been marketed under its own name and also as Scrabble Upwords in the United States and Canada, and Topwords, Crucimaster, Betutorony, Palabras Arriba and Stapelwoord in other countries. It is currently available as a board game and a digital gaming app.
Upwords is a letter tile word game similar to Scrabble, with players building words using letter tiles on a gridded game board. Unlike Scrabble, in Upwords letters can be stacked on top of existing words to create new words. Scoring is determined by the number of letter tiles, including tiles in a stack, in a new word.
History
[edit]Upwords was originally played on an 8×8 square board, with 64 letter tiles. Hasbro Europe later expanded the gameboard to a 10×10 matrix and 100 tiles, to accommodate the longer words frequently used in other languages such as German and Dutch. The 10×10 matrix is currently employed in worldwide versions of the game, with the "classic" 8×8 version also available.
Gameplay
[edit]To determine play sequence, each player draws a tile; the player with the letter nearest to A will be the first to play. The tiles are returned to the draw pile.
Each player draws seven tiles to start the game. The first player forms a word with one or more of their tiles, and must place it so that the tiles cover at least one of the four central squares (e5, e6, f5, or f6). The player then draws more tiles to replace those played. Play continues clockwise.
Subsequent players may put tiles on the board adjacent to and/or on top of the tiles already played, as long as all words formed are found in the dictionary being used and the rules below are followed. All words must read horizontally from left to right, or vertically from top to bottom.
All tiles played on a turn must form part of one continuous straight line of tiles across or down.
For example, if the word CATER is on the board, a player could put a B and E in front of CATER and then put an L on top of the C and a D on top of the R to build BELATED.
Restrictions on words are as follows:
- No proper nouns
- No hyphenated words
- No words requiring an apostrophe
- No abbreviations or symbols
- No prefixes or suffixes which cannot stand alone
- No foreign words unless they are in the dictionary
- Players may not pluralize a word simply by adding an S at its end. However, such a play is allowed if the S is part of another complete word that is played onto the board in the same turn. This rule is intended to prevent players from capitalizing on one another's words without changing them or playing new ones.
Restrictions on stacking tiles are as follows:
- No stack may be more than five tiles high
- No tile may be stacked directly onto a duplicate of itself
- At least one tile or stack must be left unchanged; a player may not cover every letter in a word on a single turn.
A player may choose to pass at any time, or discard one tile and draw a replacement instead of playing. Once the draw pile is exhausted, the game ends when any player runs out of tiles, or every player passes in a single round. In some versions of the game it doesn't end when a player runs out of tiles, only when all pass or all the tiles are played.
Scoring
[edit]Any word with no stacked letters scores two points per tile, while a word containing stacked letters scores one point for every tile it contains. In the CATER/BELATED example above, CATER would score 10 points, while BELATED would score nine. Two bonus points are awarded for using the "Qu" tile in a one-level word, and 20 for using all seven tiles in one turn. If changing two words at once, both words must be legal.
Players lose five points for every unused tile they hold at the end of the game.
Letter distribution
[edit]The letter distribution of the 8×8 version of Upwords is as follows:[1]
64 tiles:
1 of each: F, J, K, Qu, V, W, X, Z
2 of each: B, C, G, H, R, Y
3 of each: D, L, M, N, P, S, U
4 of each: I, O, T
5 of each: A
6 of each: E
The letter distribution of the 10×10 version is as follows:[1]
100 tiles:
1 of each: J, Qu, V, X, Z
2 of each: K, W, Y
3 of each: B, F, G, H, P
4 of each: C
5 of each: D, L, M, N, R, T, U
6 of each: S
7 of each: A, I, O
8 of each: E
Electronic versions
[edit]In the early 1990s, Hasbro licensed electronic marketing rights to Microsoft, briefly making the game available electronically. Microsoft no longer has rights to Upwords.
An app was released under license for iOS devices in 2013, with an Android version following in 2014.
Reviews
[edit]- Family Games: The 100 Best[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Upwords". Boardgame Geek. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ Lowder, James (2010). Family games : The 100 best. Green Ronin. ISBN 978-1-934547-21-2.
External links
[edit]- Official website

- Review in Games magazine, September 1983
- Review in Jeux & Stratégie magazine (in French), April 1985
Upwords
View on GrokipediaHistory and Development
Invention
Upwords was invented by Elliot Rudell, a toy designer who began his career at Mattel before establishing himself as an independent inventor.[6] In the late 1970s, Rudell developed the game as a response to the limitations of flat word-building games, prototyping initial versions using cardboard letter tiles from a prior project.[1] The concept drew inspiration from Scrabble-like mechanics for letter-based word formation but innovated by allowing players to stack tiles vertically, enabling the construction of new words atop existing ones to accelerate gameplay and minimize required board space compared to traditional horizontal-only layouts.[1] A pivotal influence came from observing Sid Sackson's Domination, a game featuring stackable hemispheres, which sparked Rudell's idea to apply three-dimensional building to word games.[1] Rudell first pitched the prototype to Parker Brothers, where it was rejected, before licensing it to Milton Bradley in the late 1970s; feedback from Milton Bradley executive John Vernon highlighted the need to balance vertical stacking with horizontal play to avoid overemphasizing height.[1] This led to refinements ensuring faster turns and more dynamic interactions while maintaining accessibility. Key innovations included limiting stack height to five tiles to prevent physical instability during play and to promote strategic depth without excessive complexity.[1] Scoring was balanced by awarding height multipliers for stacked words alongside double points for flat (non-stacked) formations, encouraging varied building strategies.[1] The stacking mechanic received formal protection under U.S. Patent 4,776,597, filed on October 29, 1982, and issued on October 11, 1988, to Elliot A. Rudell for a "game board and playing pieces" design.Publication History
Upwords was initially published by the Milton Bradley Company in 1982 as a family board game designed by Elliot Rudell.[7][6] Following Hasbro's acquisition of Milton Bradley in 1984, the game continued under Hasbro's publishing umbrella, with editions released through subsidiaries including Parker Brothers in 2002.[8][9] In the 2010s, licensing agreements expanded distribution, notably with Winning Moves Games producing "new classic" editions starting around 2016.[9][3] Spin Master became the primary publisher around 2015, issuing updated versions including a 2023 edition with a rotating board.[10] Re-releases in the 1990s and beyond introduced variations such as a 10x10 board size in select international and deluxe editions, expanding from the original 8x8 grid.[9]Game Components
Board and Tiles
The core components of Upwords consist of a grid-based board and a collection of stackable letter tiles designed for three-dimensional word construction. The original 1982 edition featured an 8x8 grid board with 64 squares, providing a compact playing surface suitable for 2 to 4 players.[11] Some later editions, such as those from Spin Master, use a 10x10 grid with 100 squares, allowing for more dynamic and prolonged gameplay without altering the fundamental mechanics, while others like the Winning Moves version retain the 8x8 board.[4][3] The letter tiles number 64 in original and some later sets (such as Winning Moves) or 100 in expanded editions (such as Spin Master), each formed as approximately 1-inch square pieces crafted from plastic with raised edges that facilitate secure interlocking during stacking. These tiles enable vertical building up to a maximum of five levels high, ensuring structural integrity even at full height, and the board itself features a plain grid without premium scoring squares akin to those in Scrabble. Early editions employed a wood-like plastic material for the tiles, imparting a sturdy, textured quality, while modern versions utilize lightweight, durable polymer to enhance portability and resistance to wear.[3][2][12] Tile colors vary across editions for aesthetic and functional distinction; for instance, base-layer tiles are often white or cream, with upper stacks in multi-hued variants such as brown, tan, or gray to highlight elevation differences. This design supports the game's emphasis on layered word formation, where the letter distribution on tiles influences available vocabulary options during play.[13]Accessories
The standard Upwords game set includes four plastic tile racks, which allow participants to hold their drawn letters concealed from opponents during play; recent editions from Spin Master support up to 6 players, though with 4 racks.[2][14][4] A drawstring cloth bag is provided to contain the letter tiles, facilitating random draws at the start and throughout the game.[2][15] An instruction sheet or rule booklet accompanies the set, outlining setup, gameplay, and scoring rules.[2][14] Tile racks are briefly used during setup, where players draw seven tiles and stand them upright in their individual racks.[16] Optional accessories, not included in the core set, can enhance gameplay; for instance, score pads are commonly recommended for tracking points across multiple rounds, as the game itself lacks built-in scoring tools.[17] Some editions incorporate a rotating board for easier access.[4] Edition-specific additions appear in travel-oriented releases, such as the Pack & Go variant, which features a compact, folding board for portability without a dedicated carrying case but designed for easy storage and transport.[18] Upwords is compatible with official word lists like the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD) for validating plays, though no physical dictionary reference is included in any edition.[19] For maintenance, deluxe or replacement sets may include additional tile racks or trays to aid in sorting and redistributing letters after games, simplifying setup for repeated play.[20]Rules and Mechanics
Setup and Objective
Upwords is designed for 2 to 4 players, aged 8 and up.[3][2] To prepare the game, place the gameboard—an 8×8 grid in the original edition or a 10×10 grid in later versions—in the center of the table for all players to access.[21][16] Each player receives a tile rack to hold their letters. All letter tiles are turned face down, mixed thoroughly, and placed into the provided bag to form the draw pile; the original edition uses 64 tiles, while expanded versions use 100.[3][2] Starting with the first player, each participant draws 7 tiles and places them upright in their rack, keeping them hidden from opponents.[21][16] The starting player is determined by each participant drawing one tile from the bag; the player with the tile closest to the letter "A" goes first, after which all tiles are returned to the bag and reshuffled, with play proceeding clockwise.[3][21][16] The objective is to score the most points by forming valid words on the board, either horizontally or vertically, and by stacking additional letters atop existing ones to create new words or modify prior ones, thereby increasing point values through height.[3][2] The game concludes when the draw bag is depleted and no further moves are possible, with final scores calculated accordingly.[21][16]Turn Sequence
On a player's turn, they must either play one or more letter tiles from their rack to form or modify words on the board, exchange one tile from their rack, or pass their turn. All actions occur in a single line either horizontally (across) or vertically (down), and no play can extend beyond the board's edges. After successfully playing tiles, the player draws new tiles from the bag to refill their rack back to seven tiles; exchanging or passing does not allow drawing additional tiles.[15][3] To play tiles, a player places them adjacent to existing words on the board or, for the first play of the game, on the blank board covering at least one of the four central premium squares. Tiles can be placed flat to extend words horizontally or vertically, or stacked vertically on top of existing tiles to modify words by changing the visible top layer, which forms the new word. For instance, if the word "MOOD" is on the board, stacking a "W" tile on the "M" tile alters the top layer to read "WOOD," provided "WOOD" is a valid word. Stacking is limited to one new tile per stack per turn, and no more than five tiles total per stack; additionally, a player cannot stack a letter directly on the same letter (e.g., "A" on "A"), and at least one letter from any modified word must remain uncovered. All words formed or modified by the play must be valid.[15][3][21] Valid words must be standard English words found in a common dictionary, excluding proper nouns, abbreviations, acronyms, hyphenated terms, words with apostrophes, standalone prefixes or suffixes, or foreign words unless accepted in the dictionary. Players cannot simply add an "S" to an existing word to form a plural without creating a connected valid word. Before the next player begins their turn, any opponent may challenge a played word; if deemed invalid upon dictionary verification, the tiles are removed from the board, the points are deducted, and the player must either replay or pass their turn. Successful challenges have no penalty, but unsuccessful ones may vary by house rules, though official play does not specify a penalty.[15][3] Instead of playing, a player may exchange one tile by placing it face down into the tile bag, drawing a replacement, and shuffling the exchanged tile back in, effectively ending their turn with the same number of tiles. Alternatively, a player may pass their turn entirely without playing or exchanging, which can be strategic, especially late in the game when waiting for better opportunities; consecutive passes by all players can contribute to ending the game, though this is detailed elsewhere. Higher stack heights during plays increase scoring potential by counting all tiles beneath the top letters.[15][3]End of Game
The game concludes under several specific conditions outlined in the official rules. Primarily, it ends when the draw pile is empty and one player uses all their letter tiles.[3] Alternatively, the game terminates if no player can form a valid word and all players consecutively pass their turns.[3] Upon reaching the end of the game, players calculate their final scores by subtracting penalties for any unused tiles remaining on their racks. Each unplayed letter tile deducts 5 points from the player's total score, regardless of the tile's individual letter value.[3] This penalty encourages strategic play to minimize leftover tiles. Modern versions standardize the 5-point deduction.[3] The winner is determined by the player with the highest total score after applying all bonuses, points from words formed, and penalties for unused tiles.[3] If scores are tied, the rules do not specify a formal tiebreaker, though house rules may favor the player who formed the longest word during the game.[22] In variant play, such as solo mode, the game follows similar termination conditions but ends with a personal high-score comparison rather than competition, without inter-player penalties.[3] Timed variants, occasionally used in casual settings, may conclude after a fixed number of rounds to accommodate quicker sessions, though this is not part of the core rules.[23]Scoring System
Basic Points
In Upwords, the basic scoring for a newly formed word depends on whether it is constructed entirely at a single tile height or incorporates any stacked tiles. For words formed without any stacking—all tiles placed flat on the board—each tile in the word scores 2 points. For example, the four-letter word "DEAR" placed flat would score 8 points (4 tiles × 2 points each).[3] If a word includes any stacked tiles (two or more levels high at one or more positions), the scoring shifts to 1 point per tile across the entire word, with the total tile count encompassing every layer beneath each letter, including those covered by stacks. This base calculation rewards height by adding points for each underlying tile contributed to the word's structure. For instance, the word "WOOD" with a single tile stacked under the "W" totals 5 tiles (the 4 surface letters plus 1 stacked tile), scoring 5 points. Stacks may reach up to five tiles high, thereby increasing the potential tile count and score for taller constructions.[3][15] This system ensures that stacking not only allows for creative word-building but also directly enhances the word's value through additional counted tiles, with the height at each position effectively adding 1 point per level above the base (up to the maximum stack limit). Multiple words formed in a single turn are scored individually, but shared tiles or stacks contribute to the calculations for all affected words.[3]Bonuses and Penalties
A player earns 20 bonus points for using all 7 tiles from their rack in a single turn. Additionally, using the "Qu" tile in a flat word (one tile high) awards 2 extra bonus points.[3][15] During challenges, a player may challenge an opponent's word before the next turn. If the challenge succeeds and the word is invalid, the tiles are removed from the board, and the opponent loses their turn. If the challenge fails, the play stands with no penalty to the challenger.[3][15] At the end of the game, players deduct 5 points for each unused tile remaining on their racks from their total score, which discourages hoarding letters and promotes efficient play.[3][15] Unlike Scrabble, Upwords eschews triple word scores or other board-based multipliers, focusing instead on stacking mechanics to generate higher scores through vertical builds rather than positional premiums.[24]Letter Distribution
Tile Counts
The Upwords game set consists of 100 letter tiles, distributed according to English language frequencies but adjusted to support the game's stacking mechanics, which encourage frequent word formation and rebuilding. This distribution prioritizes more common letters to increase the likelihood of playable words during turns, where players draw from a shared pool. There are no blank or wild tiles in the set, distinguishing Upwords from games like Scrabble.[25][7] The exact tile counts per letter are as follows:| Letter | Count |
|---|---|
| A | 7 |
| B | 3 |
| C | 4 |
| D | 5 |
| E | 8 |
| F | 3 |
| G | 3 |
| H | 3 |
| I | 7 |
| J | 1 |
| K | 2 |
| L | 5 |
| M | 5 |
| N | 5 |
| O | 7 |
| P | 3 |
| Qu | 1 |
| R | 5 |
| S | 6 |
| T | 5 |
| U | 5 |
| V | 1 |
| W | 2 |
| X | 1 |
| Y | 2 |
| Z | 1 |
