- BGG rank
- BGG #27,981
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Ghostly Galleon
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1991
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,786
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Wordsearch
1988
Rules assistance for Wordsearch
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Wordsearch
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Wordsearch is a board game released in 1988 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Malcolm Goldsmith and Michael Kindred and its main mechanics are Spelling and Pattern Building.
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About the game
Wordsearch - for 2 to 4 players Ages 8 and up COMPONENTS Wordsearch gameboard and 96 wood letter tiles SETUP Randomly place the letter tiles, face up on every gray circle. The four red circles in the center of the board are left empty. Choose a player to go first. Score with paper and pencil (not included) PLAYING The active player slides one or more letters to make a word according to the following rules: A) Each letter must be moved in a straight line - horizontally, vertically or diagonally - one or more spaces. A letter must not jump over another letter or change directions. B) Each letter MUST form part of the word being made. A letter may not be moved out of the way to let another letter through. C) The word formed may include letters which the players has not moved. D) The word formed may read forwards or backwards, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. E) Only one word may be formed or scored on a turn. SCORING After forming the word, players add up the values of the letters in the word formed and multiply by the number of letters in the word.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Waddingtons
- Canada Games Company Lmt.
- Pavilion
- Pressman Toy Corp.
Questions and answers
Wordsearch supports 2–4 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 Wordsearch is 45 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 Wordsearch 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.
Wordsearch has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Wordsearch belongs to these categories: Word Game. Its main mechanics are Spelling and Pattern Building. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Wordsearch are: Malcolm Goldsmith and Michael Kindred. 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 Wordsearch 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.