League of the Lexicon is a beautifully designed game about words and language, ideal for language lovers, quiz fiends and the incurably curious. That’s what really depressed me. I was interested in finding ways to get them to think about words differently.”

I’ve not challenged my mom to revisit her old stomping grounds in years. After a few decades reading on my own, I just don’t find myself particularly drawn to trivia games. Maybe it was all the losing. Who knows? Maybe my entire reading adulthood has been fueled on a psychological level by repeatedly staring at those missing slices of trivia pie before I was ten years old. The game features 2,000 questions probing every corner of language, from definitions and archaic words, to etymology, usage, and language trivia. But this isn’t any old quiz game; the world’s finest linguists and lexicographers have contributed questions to the game, making it the ultimate test of wordly wisdom.Puzzles and games, especially those involving novelty, can stimulate and challenge key parts of the brain including language, logic, reasoning, visual perception, attention and problem-solving. The League of the Lexicon itself, after whom the game is named, is a company of outcast lexicographers on a quest to secure rare lexical Artefacts. This intriguing cast, from the esteemed Doc Johnson to Roget, the martini-drinking badger, are the character cards used during play and have been brought to life by the illustrator Stavros Damos. Whilst these different games are all fundamentally similar to each other, they nevertheless offer a great amount of replay-ability. The game possibilities don’t end there either. Previous editions have included rules for as many as 20 additional variant rule sets, ranging from games of patience to Lexicon Bridge and more, so for the inquisitive there’s more to discover. Final Thoughts on Lexicon They can help us to be more present in day-to-day activities. While it doesn’t appear that brain games can prevent age-related cognitive decline and dementia, growing research indicates that they may slow or delay them. The simple, elegant design of the Lexicon cards allows for several other gaming possibilities. The modern edition of the game comes with rules for two variant games – Lexicon Riddance and Lexicon Criss Cross. The former involves players taking it in turns to form a word using the cards in their hand and one single exposed card on the table. The aim is to get rid of all their cards before their rivals. Criss Cross requires players to draw cards in turn and then write the revealed letters in a 25 square grid hoping to form complete words that will score points.

For those seeking the perfect gift for their bookish companions, the captivating quiz game, League of the Lexicon, promises an exciting journey into the realm of words and language. Crafted by London-based Two Brothers Games, this ingenious game has garnered praise from renowned UK word enthusiasts like Stephen Fry and Susie Dent, making it a must-have for anyone who loves the magic of language. I share this mildly unsettling context because I recently found myself instantly and inexplicably attracted to League of the Lexicon, a 2022 release from Two Brothers Games. Deemed a game “by word lovers, for word lovers,” this particular title glories in its linguistic supremacy. The possible actions may seem limited. However, they allow for a sophisticated and surprisingly tactical game that rewards inventiveness, lateral thinking and critical reasoning. When a player chooses to add letters to an existing word, they aren’t restricted to placing them at the beginning or end. Instead, unlike Scrabble, they can insert letters anywhere in the word. Swapping letters out from an existing word for those in your hand allows you to gain the cards you need for a word you intend to play on a subsequent turn. However, by not getting rid of any cards you run the risk of running out of time to play that word.

At home with his two young sons, Joshua, Sonny and Jude made language games to avoid doing English homework. There was WordSplat, Word War, the fiendish Dojo and finally League of the Lexicon, which became an obsession. The object of Lexicon is simply to have played all of your cards, so that you have none left in your hand. At the end of a round, players add up the score of the cards remaining in their hand. When someone reaches a total of 100, they are eliminated from the game. And this is what’s exciting about language, that we can keep working on these special editions for as long as people have an appetite for it.” The team is also working on a specific American edition with US-related questions. This thrilling board game is great for players of all ages and word games support cognitive health. They can help to increase focus, concentration, and memory. Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up my for the Inside Big Issue newsletter

Making the game has been a labour of love. I researched and wrote over 2,000 questions, including everything for the new Junior Edition. Now, every time I hear something curious about what a word means or where it’s come from, my brain turns it into a question. It’s become a compulsion. But despite countless suggestions, I’ve resisted the temptation to create an online edition. An ideal gift and with World Book Day on the horizon on Thursday 2nd March, this could be the game to expand your language repertoire and boost brain health. League of the Lexicon boasts an impressive roster of celebrity endorsements, with Stephen Fry hailing it as “a logophile’s dream” and Susie Dent deeming it “a fiendish delight for all word lovers.” This accolade-rich game offers much more than mere entertainment—it’s an immersive exploration of words and language that transcends traditional gaming experiences.This article is taken from The Big Issue magazine, which exists to give homeless, long-term unemployed and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy! The gameplay is elegantly simple yet intellectually stimulating. Players select a ‘Character’ card and answer questions to collect ‘Artefact’ cards, with the goal of amassing five that match their ‘Character.’ A deciding question awaits those who achieve this feat, leading to victory. The game’s appeal lies in its ability to ignite curiosity and spark conversations about language, etymology, and more.