League of the Lexicon is a beautifully designed game about words and language, ideal for language lovers, quiz fiends and the incurably curious. Whilst these different games are all fundamentally similar to each other, they nevertheless offer a great amount of replay-ability. The game possibilities don't end there either. Previous editions have included rules for as many as 20 additional variant rule sets, ranging from games of patience to Lexicon Bridge and more, so for the inquisitive there’s more to discover. Final Thoughts on Lexicon

The simple, elegant design of the Lexicon cards allows for several other gaming possibilities. The modern edition of the game comes with rules for two variant games – Lexicon Riddance and Lexicon Criss Cross. The former involves players taking it in turns to form a word using the cards in their hand and one single exposed card on the table. The aim is to get rid of all their cards before their rivals. Criss Cross requires players to draw cards in turn and then write the revealed letters in a 25 square grid hoping to form complete words that will score points. An ideal gift and with World Book Day on the horizon on Thursday 2nd March, this could be the game to expand your language repertoire and boost brain health. I share this mildly unsettling context because I recently found myself instantly and inexplicably attracted to League of the Lexicon, a 2022 release from Two Brothers Games. Deemed a game “by word lovers, for word lovers,” this particular title glories in its linguistic supremacy. I was fairly certain of two things when I set out to review this game. First, I was sure that I would have a hard time getting a group on board to play a game according to the rules. Trivia games, as I said, are not common visitors to our table. But second, and more importantly, I was sure that everyone I know would enjoy exploring the questions casually. I was correct on both counts. For those seeking the perfect gift for their bookish companions, the captivating quiz game, League of the Lexicon, promises an exciting journey into the realm of words and language. Crafted by London-based Two Brothers Games, this ingenious game has garnered praise from renowned UK word enthusiasts like Stephen Fry and Susie Dent, making it a must-have for anyone who loves the magic of language.I’m neither a linguist nor a game designer, but that didn’t feel like a problem. I ran a design agency for 10 years and had two books published (one a photobook about London’s launderettes), so making the game wasn’t too daunting. I also worked with a team of question writers who shared my passion for language. More importantly, they shared my sense of curiosity, and language is endlessly interesting to curious minds. And that’s what players find in the game’s questions, which cover everything from archaic words to intriguing etymology, definitions to word trivia. This challenging game taps into the public’s passion for all things wordy. The success of Wordle, our love of crosswords and other word puzzles and the popularity of lexicographers like Susie Dent reflect a love of words and a curiosity about language shared by many people. This is a game that will test the intellect, broaden your knowledge and inspire a deeper appreciation of all things wordy.

At home with his two young sons, Joshua, Sonny and Jude made language games to avoid doing English homework. There was WordSplat, Word War, the fiendish Dojo and finally League of the Lexicon, which became an obsession. That’s what really depressed me. I was interested in finding ways to get them to think about words differently.”Whilst these different games are all fundamentally similar to each other, they nevertheless offer a great amount of replay-ability. The game possibilities don’t end there either. Previous editions have included rules for as many as 20 additional variant rule sets, ranging from games of patience to Lexicon Bridge and more, so for the inquisitive there’s more to discover. Final Thoughts on Lexicon I jokingly call myself Analogue Dad, but the truth is, I always wanted League to be a screen-free experience. That’s what makes traditional board games so special in a world that’s always plugged in and online. I’ve not challenged my mom to revisit her old stomping grounds in years. After a few decades reading on my own, I just don’t find myself particularly drawn to trivia games. Maybe it was all the losing. Who knows? Maybe my entire reading adulthood has been fueled on a psychological level by repeatedly staring at those missing slices of trivia pie before I was ten years old. They can help us to be more present in day-to-day activities. While it doesn’t appear that brain games can prevent age-related cognitive decline and dementia, growing research indicates that they may slow or delay them. Simple to learn but challenging to win, the game is for two to six players, but with six rule variations, it accommodates both solo play and large parties. And with two levels of difficulty, younger or less confident players can join in.

Making the game has been a labour of love. I researched and wrote over 2,000 questions, including everything for the new Junior Edition. Now, every time I hear something curious about what a word means or where it’s come from, my brain turns it into a question. It’s become a compulsion. But despite countless suggestions, I’ve resisted the temptation to create an online edition. The object of Lexicon is simply to have played all of your cards, so that you have none left in your hand. At the end of a round, players add up the score of the cards remaining in their hand. When someone reaches a total of 100, they are eliminated from the game. Created in collaboration with the world’s finest linguists and lexicographers, many of whom contributed questions to the game, players face the ultimate test of worldly wisdom. There are many iconic word games like Wordle, Scrabble Boggle or Bananagrams but this is different. League of the Lexicon is a highly entertaining board game about words, made by word lovers, for word lovers.The gameplay is elegantly simple yet intellectually stimulating. Players select a ‘Character’ card and answer questions to collect ‘Artefact’ cards, with the goal of amassing five that match their ‘Character.’ A deciding question awaits those who achieve this feat, leading to victory. The game’s appeal lies in its ability to ignite curiosity and spark conversations about language, etymology, and more. With such a long history it is no surprise that Lexicon has undergone a number of transformations. It has also been marketed in a variety of ways during its life. At one point it was sold as ‘The Wonder Game’ and was envisaged as a rival for more establish social games like Bridge, Whist and Canasta. Rulebooks even came with instructions on how to arrange a Lexicon drive. By contrast, it’s now presented as a light travel or filler game aimed at a more causal gaming market, although the amount of table space it takes up may preclude its actual use as a travel game. The Game