- BGG rank
- BGG #2,671
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Fairy Ring
- 2–4 players
- 40 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,939
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Word Bank
2019
Rules assistance for Word Bank
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 15 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Word Bank
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Word Bank is a board game released in 2019 for 2–5 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Fabien Tanguy.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,365
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Cubosaurs
- 2–5 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,934
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Welkin
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,090
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Color Clash
- 1–8 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,211
- BGG rating
- 5.3
Bamboozle
- 2 players
- 10–15 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #116
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Decrypto
- 3–8 players
- 15–45 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #160
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Just One
- 3–7 players
- 20–60 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #162
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Codenames
- 2–8 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #265
- BGG rating
- 7.6
So Clover!
- 3–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #279
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Codenames: Duet
- 2 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #761
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Paperback
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,016
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Letter Jam
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019
About the game
To set up Word Bank, each player takes 12-20 gems depending on the number of players, then you shuffle the letter cards and lay seven of them in a circle to create the bank. Each letter card has room on it for a number of gems. On a turn, you give a "password" to the bank, saying it out loud, then choosing a starting letter and going clockwise or counterclockwise around the circle, placing a gem on each letter present that's also in your password. Note that you can't circle the letters more than once, and you can use letters only if they appear in the order that matches the order of the letters in your password. After you turn, if all the spaces on a letter card are full, claim this letter, then reveal a new one from the deck in this position. As soon as a player has no more gems in front of them, the game ends. Each player counts all their gems in front of them and on letter cards in play, and whoever has the lowest sum wins. Ties are broken in favor of the tied player who has claimed the most letter cards.
Questions and answers
Word Bank supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Word Bank is 15 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Word Bank for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Word Bank has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Word Bank belongs to these categories: Word Game. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Word Bank and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Word Bank are: Fabien Tanguy. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Word Bank as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.