Easy2–8 players·15 min
Bananagrams
Race to build your own crossword grid from a pool of shared tiles — no board needed.
Bananagrams is a fast-paced tile word game played without a board. All 144 tiles are placed face-down in the centre (the "bunch"). Each player draws tiles and races to build their own personal connected crossword grid. When a player uses all their tiles, they call "Peel!" and everyone must draw one more tile. The first player to use all their tiles when the bunch is empty wins by shouting "Bananas!"
Core rules
- Starting tiles: 21 for 2–4 players, 15 for 5–6, 11 for 7–8.
- All words must connect in a single grid — no isolated words.
- You can rearrange your entire grid at any time (unlike Scrabble).
- "Dump": at any time, return one of your tiles to the bunch face-down and draw three new ones instead.
- If the winner's grid contains an invalid word, they are declared a "rotten banana" and the next fastest valid player wins.
Strategy tips
- Don't hoard awkward tiles. Dump Q, X, or Z aggressively if you can't place them quickly — losing three tiles from the bunch slows you down less than a blocked grid.
- Build your grid loosely with open ends that can accept new tiles easily. A tight, interlocked grid is hard to rearrange when you need to add QU words.
- Know your two-letter words. They save you when you can't build anything longer with your current tiles.
- Speed matters more than elegance. A valid grid of 3-letter words beats a brilliant grid that isn't finished.