Review Scrabble app

There are a lot of clones of the most famous word game we all know as Scrabble in the world. After having reviewed so many copies of this famous concept, it is now time to take a look at the official Scrabble app for iPhone and iOS devices.

The Original Scrabble

Since the debut of mobile devices like iPhone or the Samsung Galaxy on the market, quite a few word games have been released. These word games share the same concept as the original Scrabble, but don´t carry the original name. One example is the very popular Words with Friends. Game producer Hasbro (who owns the license for Scrabble in the USA and Canada) has now released its own official Scrabble app. We quickly fell in love with it and think that it was about time.

The Scrabble app is absolutely free for iOS devices like the iPhone, the iPod Touch, and the iPad. You do, however, have to watch commercials in between moves. If you want to discontinue them, you have to buy the commercial-free version for 1.99 dollars. The iPad version is more expensive and costs 4.99 dollars. If you have an Android device you can also download the Scrabble app. In this article we only review the iPhone version.

Easy to Start

The introduction is exemplary. You get very detailed explanations of every aspect of gameplay. Everything is very uncomplicated and easy to handle. Electronic Arts has done a good job adapting Scrabble to the iPhone. Playing the game is like playing a real match of Scrabble. The aim of the game hasn’t changed in its virtual version. You get seven tiles and then start forming words. After you have ended your turn and received your points, your partner has the chance to score.

Scrabble fans will feel very comfortable from the beginning. If you still have questions, you can take a look at the game’s guide. Any useful information will be listed here. You will find information about the point system, the rules, and the word lists.

If you play the Scrabble app in its English version you have the choice between the following three dictionaries: The Tournament wordlist (which is the official dictionary for North America), the Merriam Webster wordlist (based on OSPD4, the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary) and the Collins-Dictionary. If you are a professional English-speaking Scrabble player, this is a great reason for you to choose this app. This is because, in contrast to the original, it is sometimes unclear which wordlist is being used when playing the Scrabble clones. This means you can use the official Scrabble app to train for upcoming competitions.

Play it Differently

This app is playable in many different language versions like French, Italian, Portuguese, German and Spanish. The thing is that it’s not clear which word lists are in use while playing these versions. If you need some help finding words in the German or Spanish version, we recommend that you visit one of our partner sites wort-suchen.de, word-grabber.com or palabr.as. There you can find and use our word generators, which will make your next Scrabble game a little bit easier.

Scrabble as Usual

So is there a difference between the Scrabble app and the real board game? Mattel is adding just a few meaningful features to the game such as the mentor. This function is very interesting for competitors. After you have laid down your words, the mentor will show the combination that would have earned the most points. Beginners and more experienced players alike can improve their game with this feature. You also have the opportunity to take a look into the word list at all times. With this feature you can check your words before you lay them down.

All your previous actions are listed and you also get a point counter. We can praise all of these features, because in other word games you usually have to pay for them. If you play the iOS Version of Scrabble you can log in with your Apple game center account. You also have the option to log on with your Facebook profile or your Origin account (which is Electronic Arts’ own distribution system). With so many possibilities, it is easy for you to find opponents. Even if you have no account whatsoever, you’ll find somebody to play with. These opponents are chosen by the system. The only thing that’s missing is the capability to play tournaments like in Words with Friends.

Scrabble Offline

If you are not into online gaming and you just want to have a match with your friend, who is sitting right next to you, you can use the Pass N´Play function. You just make your move and then give the iPhone to your opponent so he can make his. You can play Scrabble like this with up to four players, which makes it a perfect activity for long journeys on a bus or train. If you buy the full version of the game, you can even play against the computer.

Like in Words with Friends, you can play several matches simultaneously while waiting for your opponent’s move. Via the internal chat you can stay in touch with all players. We think that there are too few possibilities to personalize the game. You only have a few boards and tiles to choose from. We wish that there were more options and extra content. Maybe the developers will add additional features in the future.

What do you think about the original Scrabble app for iPhone? Have you already played it?