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Number of Players: 2-8 players (some variations accommodate more)
Objective: Be the first player to use all the letters on your tile rack to create a valid word grid and call "Bananas!"
Components:
144 letter tiles (including blank tiles)
Bag for shuffling the tiles
Setup:
Place the Tiles: Put all the letter tiles face down in the bag and mix them thoroughly.
Draw Your Tiles: Depending on the number of players, each player draws a specific number of tiles face down (usually 21 for 2-4 players, 15 for 5-6 players, and 11 for 7-8 players). Keep your tiles hidden from other players.
Gameplay:
The game is played simultaneously, with no turns or set order. Here's what happens:
All Players Start Together: On a pre-determined signal (like a shout of "Split!"), all players simultaneously turn their tiles face up and begin arranging them to form words on their playing surface (which can be a flat surface or a special Bananagrams tray).
Building Your Grid: Words can be formed horizontally (left to right) or vertically (top to bottom). They must connect to other words in your grid (like a crossword puzzle) by sharing a common letter at the intersection. You can rearrange your words on your playing surface as often as you like during the game.
Using Blank Tiles: The blank tiles can represent any letter you want in your word. Just remember what letter you assigned to the blank tile for future reference.
Winning the Game:
Shouting "Bananas!": Once you have used all your letter tiles to create a valid word grid with no spelling errors, be the first player to shout "Bananas!"
Verification: All other players stop building their grids and check the winner's grid for any spelling mistakes. You can use a dictionary to verify if necessary.
Valid Grid Wins: If the winner's grid has no errors, they win the game!
Additional Notes:
Fast and Furious: The game can get quite competitive as everyone races to use their tiles.
Proper Nouns & Abbreviations: These are not allowed in your word grid. Only build words found in a standard dictionary.
Simultaneous Play: There are no turns in Bananagrams. Everyone plays independently until someone shouts "Bananas!"
Multiple Winners: If two or more players call "Bananas!" simultaneously, the player with the longest word in their grid wins (optional rule, you can establish a different tie-breaker beforehand if desired).
Playing with Fewer Tiles: For a shorter game, you can draw fewer tiles per player at the beginning.
Bananagrams is a fun and engaging game that tests your vocabulary and wordplay skills. So grab your friends and family, shuffle those tiles, and get ready for a bananagrams battle!