Boggle Review

Boggle, a 3-minute word search game, provides a fun and challenging way to improve your vocabulary through spelling words under pressure. Like the classic board game, this version of Boggle stays true to its roots. You must spell words of three letters or greater by connecting adjoining letters. This game is surprisingly fast paced and has you thinking on your feet. Don't worry about not having someone to play against. This PC version offers an in depth online single player mode as well as a computer challenger who is surprisingly difficult. This game is a keeper and is well worth your time.

A Big Improvement Over the Board Game

This PC version of Boggle is far more developed than the classic board game. While the rules and objectives are the same, the extensive multiplayer modes as well as the online option separate this game not only from its predecessor, but also from other downloadable word games.

In Boggle you have three minutes to create as many words as you can, using sixteen letters from a four by four grid. You must use adjoining letters that must be joined in a proper sequence. To make a word you can either click on the first letter and drag the mouse over the next letters, or type the letters using the keyboard. Letters cannot be used more than once in the same word and you must spell words of at least three letters or greater. In the Masters mode (another option of play) the Boggle board is 25 letters and you have to form words of four letters or greater. Despite this change, the rules are identical.

Multiplayer Online Is a Great Feature

Boggle for the PC offers three distinct modes of play. The first is a multiplayer mode which allows you to play with anywhere from two to four other players one one computer. In this mode you take turns to create words. The game lasts a certain number of turns and you have a set amount of time to figure out the best word you can (both vary depending on your settings). The default settings are six turns and thirty seconds per turn, but this setting can be changed.

After your turns the words are tallied and the winner is determined. Point values increase as your words increase in size. One point is awarded for three and four-letter words, two for five letters, three for six, five for seven, and eleven for words of eight letters or greater. Scoring is consistent in all of the game modes.

Competition is Head to Head vs Online Players or the Computer

The next two modes are identical to the original version and have you make words of three letters or greater in a three minute time frame. In both modes you are competing, however, in Match play you are playing against other players online and in Classic mode you are playing against the computer.

Match mode is what makes this game great and standout from other downloadable word games. In Match Play you are pitted against real competitors from around the world. If you score high in one round, your rating goes up and you are matched against higher and more challenging players. However, if you do poorly, your ranking and the people you play are lowered. Match Play is great because you are competing against real people. You do not have an option to converse, yet playing someone from Australia or Baton Rouge, Louisiana is thrilling and doesn't require conversation.

A Few Minor Flaws

As far as drawbacks are concerned this game has only a few. You may experience boredom, as the game's objectives do not change. However, this feeling is an extreme and probably not an issue for most players. The second “flaw” would be the difficulty Yes, you can change the difficulty setting, but even the easiest mode might be too hard for younger spellers.

Conclusion - An Outstanding Version of Boggle, A Must for Fans

Overall, Boggle for the PC is a great game and deserves your attention. This is quite possibly the best word game on the market because of the online mode of play as well as the multiplayer option. Any monotony you might experience (a strong might) will surely pass and is not a reason to avoid this game. Boggle has always been a word spelling classic and this version is no different. This version of Boggle is a vast improvement of an already great game.