So, you’ve already completed the day’s Wordle and won six games of Scrabble against your phone. What’s a bored word lover to do? Allow us to suggest a game show!
That’s right—while we’ve all been playing on our phones, TV and radio game shows have quietly become one of the most riveting ways for certified wordies to get their fix. From new Wordle-inspired games to updated classics like Pyramid and Chain Reaction, there are so many exciting word games that will have you shouting the answers at your TV, tablet, or phone screen. There are even word-based radio game shows to keep you company on the commute to work. If you’re as obsessed with words and language as we are, here are the 11 best word-focused game shows you need to check out.
1. Lingo
If you never miss a round of Wordle, it might be time to add Lingo to your watch list. The game show originated in the late ’80s, but the latest version premiered in 2021 and is hosted by RuPaul. In it, players compete to decode words of five letters and longer after being given only the first letter. Much like in Wordle, letters guessed are illuminated to show whether they’re in the correct place. The faster contestants solve the puzzles, the more money they can win. Later rounds expand to include a 10-letter word and a 12-letter Super Lingo word, taking the magic and challenge of Wordle to a whole new level.
2. Wheel of Fortune
What’s the most iconic wordie game show of all time? We’d like to solve the puzzle: it’s Wheel of Fortune! Not only is this one of the longest-running game shows of all time, but its also had the same hosts since 1981. Wheel of Fortune contestants spin for prizes as they compete to solve challenging word-based puzzles that feature word play, common sayings, and unique phrases. The puzzles challenge players with missing letters, much like Hangman, so the bigger your vocabulary, the more likely you are to fill in the blanks quickly.
3. Password
If you thrive on crossword-style clues and word association, this one’s for you. In the NBC game show Password, celebrities and contestants compete to guess mystery words by giving each other one-word clues. For instance, if the word is popsicle, clues might be “frozen,” “cold,” or “treat.” It’s the perfect opportunity to put your knowledge of synonyms to the test. The original Password premiered in 1961. The current version was revived in 2022 with actress and comedian Keke Palmer as the host.
4. Pyramid
Pyramid is the name of a series of game shows that have been airing since the ’70s, and for good reason. In the game, teams composed of a celebrity and a contestant work together to guess categorized lists of words to win money. One person gives clues while the other teammate tries to figure out what the words are. To make things even more challenging, they only have 60 seconds to figure them all out! Pyramid first came to TV in 1973, hosted by the legendary Dick Clark. Variations have included $10,000 Pyramid, $50,000 Pyramid, and even $100,000 Pyramid. The current game is hosted by Michael Strahan.
5. 25 Words or Less
Meredith Vieria, previous host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, heads up another game show that challenges people to test their smarts. This time, the challenge goes to the word lovers. On 25 Words Or Less, contestants have to use synonyms and clever word play to help a panel of celebrity guests figure out a list of words. What’s the catch? They can only do it in 25 words or less. In fact, they have to place bets on how few words they can use to give all of their clues. In this game, an expansive vocabulary and a love of clever puns is definitely an asset.
6. Tug of Words
What if you took a classic playground game of tug-of-war and combined it with a word game? Well, then you’d get Tug Of Words, a show in which teams of two compete to guess a series of words based on clues. With each correct guess, the flag on the tug-of-war rope moves towards the winning side. The best part is that the words get more complicated with each round. Can you figure them out before the contestants do?
7. Says You
This nationally syndicated public radio game show is a delightful way to test your word knowledge. The show involves a variety of word questions and puzzles. During its Bluffing Round, for example, rather than guessing words, contestants are given a term and three different definitions, only one of which is actually correct. Can you figure out which one it is? You can listen live each week or play old episodes. And if you feel up to the challenge, you can even submit your own words and clues on the show’s website.
8. Chain Reaction
You’ve heard the phrase “one thing leads to another.” In this game show, one word leads to another. Players on Chain Reaction are tasked with solving six-word puzzles comprising terms that are all logically or linguistically connected. Think: wide, open, sesame, street, car, alarm. That’s one example from the show where each word logically fits with the term that comes before and the one that comes after it. This clever play on the traditional word puzzle game show has delighted folks who love wordplay since the 1980s.
9. People Puzzler
If you thought crossword puzzles were a solo endeavor, think again. People Puzzler challenges three players to compete against one another while they solve the week’s crossword puzzle from People magazine. The clues are sometimes entertainment focused, so a knowledge of pop culture helps, but the crossword puzzles also require word skills like word association, fantastic spelling, and a broad knowledge of synonyms and antonyms. We bet you can solve the puzzle before the players do!
10. Jeopardy
When you think of word games, Jeopardy might not come to mind immediately, but it definitely counts. The long-running trivia show relies heavily on word-based categories that stump contestants and viewers alike. If you’ve forgotten how it works, contestants pick trivia categories and then answer a series of questions in each category to compete for cash prizes. Past categories on Jeopardy have included compound words, 10-letter words, synonyms, slang words, and other word-focused trivia that challenges you to bring all of your vocabulary skills to the table. We’ll take that for $400!
11. Ask Me Another
NPR describes Ask Me Another as “an amusement park for your brain.” The radio show is recorded in front of a live audience and includes a thrilling mix of trivia, word games, and puzzles. Oh, and there are also celebrity guests! Word games include guessing well-known figures based off of puns on their names, playing with synonyms, and even an emoji quiz. The show stopped recording new episodes in 2021, but the website still has links to nine years’ worth of past weekly episodes to enjoy for free.
