1. Expands Your Vocabulary

When you play Scrabble, you must sharpen your vocabulary as you create words that you arrange with tiles. As you create as many words as you can, your brain is challenged to remember words and learn new ones.

The journal, Applied Cognitive Psychology, published a study that followed students who played Scrabble daily for 30 minutes for one week. The results showed that the students improved vocabulary test scores compared to the control group who didn't participate in the game.

Although is not customary, why not practice playing with a dictionary to expand your vocabulary? It's a great way to learn new words and ready yourself for competitions with others.

2. Helps You Improve Your Spelling

One of the rules of Scrabble is being able to spell words correctly. As you arrange tiles on the board, you need to feel confident with your spelling skills. The more you play, the more you'll improve your ability to spell.

There have been studies and anecdotal reports that indicate Scrabble helps improve spelling skills. Education World published an article that reports on an elementary school teacher's experience with Scrabble. She noticed that using the game in the classroom improved her students' ability to spell.

Additionally, a blog article published by the Oxford University Press website, discusses the notes from a language expert. It states that Scrabble is an effective tool for improving spelling and vocabulary skills.

3. Enhances Your Strategic Skills

Scrabble is not only a game that requires you to create words on the board but to also have a sharp strategy. Your analytic and planning skills are put to the test. You must think one step ahead and consider various options as you make your moves. 

This stimulating activity allows you to improve your strategic thinking skills. It is a practice that extends to other parts of your life that may require sharp decision-making and planning.

In a survey conducted by Hasbro, the company that created the modern version of Scrabble, 61% of game participants reported improvement in their strategic thinking skills. The survey gained media attention and was covered in an ABC News article.

4. Encourages Healthy Sportsmanship and Competition

Scrabble can be a competitive game that allows you to have a fun and challenging experience with others. It helps to foster a healthy sense of sportsmanship and allows you to be competitive in a graceful way. Whether you win or lose, it puts your good sportsmanship to the test.

One of the ways the game promotes healthy competition is by following set guidelines and rules. The game is governed by a particular way the tiles are drawn and how the whole game is played. Abiding by these rules with your opponents, allows you to practice respect for one another and practice fair play.

Another way that Scrabble encourages healthy competition is by requiring players to strategically maximize their points to win over their opponents. This skill induces players to foster a healthy competitive mindset. They learn to value the challenge of competing against players who also have similar skills and knowledge.

5. You Can Enjoy the Game with Players of All Ages

One of the reasons why the game is so popular is because it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. No matter your background or educational level, Scrabble allows all types of players to participate. 

It is a fun and educational way to spend time with friends and families. The game can even be used in schools or tutoring sessions to help individuals of all ages expand their language skills.

The game's flexibility allows players of all skill levels, from elementary readers to advanced scholars. No matter your level of skills, the game always provides an opportunity to challenge players and expand their minds.

6. Enhances Your Memory

As you play Scrabble, you are challenged to memorize words, the values of the tiles, and the placement of the letters. It is an activity that improves your memory while sharpening your awareness of your surroundings.

Since the game requires the players to learn and retain a large number of words, it is an effective tool for the elderly population. A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine reports that playing games such as Scrabble can help elderly people prevent memory loss.

The study reported a reduced risk for older adults to develop dementia. It also concluded that playing word games such as Scrabble enhanced vocabulary retention, which not only helped prevent memory decline but also improved overall cognitive abilities.

7. You Can Play it Anywhere

One of the beauties of playing Scrabble is your ability to take it anywhere. It is a very compact board game that you can pack in your suitcase for a family vacation. You can easily take it on a road trip, to a picnic, or even to a waiting room as you prepare for an appointment.

A great way to spend your work commute is by engaging your brain by playing Scrabble. A report published by the U.S. Census Bureau, states that in 2019, the average commute increased to 27.6 minutes for one-way travel. That's a daily roundtrip commute of 55.2 minutes, almost one whole hour!

This means, that a person that has a one-hour commute per day, could be playing Scrabble and gaining all its benefits for hours every week. That's a lot of exercise for your brain!

Instead of watching mindless videos on your screen, playing Scrabble is a great way to engage your brain no matter where you are.

8. The Game is Highly Customizable

One of the amazing features of this popular game is your ability to customize your playing experience. You may change the rules, play with particular word lists, or completely create your own version of the game.

To give players a significant challenge, the game can be customized by changing the tile distribution. For example, you can add or remove certain letters. Or, you can change the number of tiles for one particular letter. By doing this, the game becomes much more challenging, even for experienced players.

The possibilities are endless, so let your creativity run wild!

9. Creates a Sense of Teamwork

Scrabble is a game that is perfect for families and teams anywhere. The nature of the game promotes cooperation and teamwork. You can create teams that collaborate to craft longer and more advanced words. It is a great way to build unity amongst team players and build strong relationships that overflow into your daily lives.

A study published by the International Journal of Game-Based Learning concluded that board games such as Scrabble can enhance communication, cooperation, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills within a group of people.

10. Advances Your Language Skills

One of the most important benefits of playing Scrabble is that it provides players with an opportunity to improve language skills. The game is designed to expose you to new vocabulary and challenge you to use the words correctly within the context.

A study reported by the Journal of Linguistics Literature and Language Teaching states that Scrabble is a game that can significantly improve language skills for non-native English speakers.

By practicing your language skills with Scrabble, you are able to become a better communicator in all areas of your life. Improving your language proficiency is one of the most important aspects of your overall success in life.

11. Relieves Stress and Anxiety

One of the best ways to improve your stress and anxiety levels is to get lost in the moment. The game requires your focus and complete attention. Therefore, getting lost in the moment while playing Scrabble liberates your mind from overanalyzing your daily life.

It is a pleasant way to unwind after a long day or take your mind away from problems. This method of relaxation resets your mind and helps you to reset your senses so that you can come back to your life feeling refreshed.

The City of Asheville published an article about the mental benefits of playing board games. One of the benefits is reducing stress. A 2017 study suggests that board games may have the ability to elevate feelings of calmness.

12. Provides an Opportunity for Quality Socialization

Although you can play the game alone, using the game as a tool for socializing improves the quality of your life. Some people get together to watch television without realizing the lack of interaction they experience with that activity. Instead, Scrabble allows you to have quality interactions with other players and creates a great opportunity to engage with everyone who participates.

Scrabble provides people with long-lasting memories and helps to build stronger relationships. It is also a great game to play with a stranger that allows you to get to know them better. You can introduce it on a first date or when socializing with a stranger at a cafe.

13. You Can Enjoy a Low-Cost Activity

Another reason to play Scrabble is its accessibility. Once you have the board game, it doesn't cost anything to play it. The game doesn't require any type of maintenance or equipment. You can enjoy the activity for hours without needing to spend any money. It is a great way to save money when you want to spend quality time with your friends and family. 

As they say, some of the best things in life are free!

14. Improves Your Cognitive Abilities

Scrabble is a game that is truly considered to be food for your brain. It improves your cognitive function because it challenges your mind to use critical thinking. This activity enhances your problem-solving skills and improves your attention span.

ScienceDaily reports that word-building games such as Scrabble increase neural and brain plasticity. Researchers concluded that children who did not have a formal education but played Scrabble frequently demonstrated word-building skills similar to educated children.

15. It is an Effective Educational Tool

It is very exciting and productive when a game can be used as an educational tool. This is particularly true when you are looking to teach someone language skills. This game is not limited to children who are learning to read and write, it is also great for adults who are learning a new language.

Additionally, people of all ages can use Scrabble to expand their vocabulary, improve their spelling, and teach their brains new language skills. It is a fun and engaging way to develop a love for language and learning.

One example of Scrabble being used as an educational tool is an instance where it was used to improve the critical thinking skills of engineering students. This educational experience concluded that Scrabble is a powerful tool that helped the students improve analytical skills, creative critical thinking, and logic.

16. Allows You to be Part of a Timeless Classic

Scrabble can become a nostalgic family tradition with your loved ones. It is a timeless classic that can be carried on by generations to come. The game has stood the test of time by continuing to provide people with hours of entertainment.

There are many groups of Scrabble lovers around the world that gather to participate in the game and celebrate it. The game creates a timeless sense of community that can be enjoyed with people who share this common interest.

17. Improve Your Ability to Focus

In our modern world where we have a screen on our faces most of the time, Scrabble provides a breath of fresh air. The game requires focus and concentration as you think of your next strategic move and create more words. Practicing focus and concentration while playing the game expands into other areas of your life such as school and work.

As reported by The New York Times, Scrabble is a great way to encourage children to learn through creative play. It helps enhance the focus of students by providing a creative and engaging way to learn that demands their focus and undivided attention.

ScienceDirect reported that advanced Scrabble players used the part of their brain associated with visual perception and working memory, a skill that requires a high level of concentration.

18. It is a Multi-Cultural Game

One of the interesting twists of playing Scrabble is that you are not limited to playing in English. The tiles have letters that allow you to play in many other languages such as Spanish, French, and many others. This makes it a diverse game that can be enjoyed by people from many cultures. It also provides you with an opportunity to learn other languages as well.

According to Time Magazine, Scrabble has been translated into 22 languages. Since its creation in 1931, it has been sold in 121 countries amounting to over 150 million sets in circulation. The article reports that a diverse group of people such as Queen Elizabeth II, Barack Obama, and Keanu Reeves are fans of the game.

19. Allows You to Have Fun While Exercising Your Brain

As you deliberately expand your brain, you want to engage in activities that are fun. It is disappointing when an activity is supposed to help your mind grow but bores you! This is why many children lose interest in school.

It is easy to be bored when there's a lack of creativity and excitement when learning a new skill. While expanding your learning, you want activities that improve your cognitive function and make you enthusiastic. It is a healthy balance for your brain.

Few games accomplish both entertainment and education, Scrabble is certainly one of them!

20. It is Available Online

Scrabble is one of the most classic board games of our time. It has been a favorite for many generations of all ages. It is an intellectual game that challenges your cognitive, strategic, and language skills. You can play it with people or even by yourself. 

The game was created in the United States in 1931 by Alfred Mosher Butts. It quickly gained popularity and is now played by millions of people worldwide in dozens of languages.

In this article, we will show you 20 reasons why you need to play Scrabble now. Let's begin!

Many games are now digitized. Fortunately, Scrabble is one of them! It is a huge advantage as more people are abandoning board games and choosing online access. This allows you more opportunities to play the game anywhere you are.

It also opens up endless possibilities to connect with players from all over the world. In addition, online Scrabble is an intimate way to connect with your friends and family when you're not able to be together in person.

BBC reports that there's been controversy around the online version of Scrabble. The Scrabble app at one point had 2.5 million daily players, who spent 100 minutes per day playing the game on a daily average.

The app was at risk of being replaced by Scrabble Go, a newer version of the game. Fans protested against this change with digital petitions amounting to nearly 1,200 to keep the original version. That's how popular this game has become! We will likely continue to see new digital versions evolve.

Final Words

As you can see, playing Scrabble has many reasons why you need to play it now. It is a fun and engaging game that has a long list of benefits. Some of the major advantages to playing the game are enhancing your cognitive abilities, improving your language skills, and having quality social interactions.

No matter if you're intention is to grow your vocabulary, improve your analytic skills, or simply enjoy a fun activity with your loved ones, Scrabble provides hours of fun and learning.

The opportunities are endless as you explore the limitless potential of playing Scrabble!