Smart Mouth (2001) Board Game

Smart Mouth is a party game released in 2001 that challenges players to think on their feet and come up with words that fit a specific category. It was designed by Theo Coster, Ora Coster, and Theora Design and published by Binary Arts and ThinkFun. The game has received the prestigious Mensa Select award, indicating its high level of intellectual challenge and engaging gameplay.

Game Components of Smart Mouth

Letter Getter device with cover

36 START Letter Tiles

36 END Letter Tiles

Instructions

Tile Listing

2 Green Tiles and 2 Orange Tiles of each letter (A, B, C, D, E, G, H, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, W, Y).

How To Setup Smart Mouth

To set up Smart Mouth, players simply need to ensure all the letter tiles are placed within the Letter Getter device. The device is designed to randomly reveal a START letter and an END letter. Players can then proceed to the gameplay phase without any additional setup.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Party Game, Real-time, Word Game

Number of Players: 2 to 6

Age: 8 and up

Playing Time: 10-20 minutes

Objective: To be the first player to shout out a valid word that starts with the START letter and ends with the END letter revealed by the Letter Getter. The word must be at least five letters long.

Winning Condition: The player with the most valid words shouted out wins the game.

Player Experience

Smart Mouth is a lightning-fast word game that is both fun and challenging. Players race against each other to come up with words that meet the criteria set by the Letter Getter. The game is highly customizable, allowing players to adjust the rules to suit different age groups or preferences. For example, players can decide whether to allow proper nouns or set a minimum word length. This flexibility makes it enjoyable for both children and adults, and it is ideal for parties or family gatherings.

Pros

Fast-paced and Engaging: The game is quick to learn and plays rapidly, making it perfect for short sessions or multiple rounds.

Customizable: Players can adjust the rules to suit different skill levels or preferences.

High Replay Value: The random nature of the letter combinations ensures that the game remains fresh and challenging over multiple plays.

Educational Value: It can be used as a fun teaching tool to build language skills and word recognition.

Cons

Limited Letters: The game does not include the letters F, I, J, Q, U, V, X, or Z, which can make some challenges less diverse.

Large Box: The game comes in a box that is larger than necessary, making it less convenient to store.

Personal Thoughts on Smart Mouth

Smart Mouth is an underrated word game that packs a punch with its fast-paced and engaging gameplay. It is ideal for families, parties, or anyone looking for a quick and fun word game. While it has some drawbacks, such as the limited letter set and large box, these do not detract significantly from the overall experience. If you find it at a reasonable price, it is definitely worth giving a try, especially if you are looking for a game that combines fun with educational value.

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