Outspell gives you seven letter tiles, a board covered in bonus squares, and a computer opponent that will take them if you do not.
If you have played Scrabble the rules will feel familiar inside one turn. The scoring is where the game is actually won, and it is not always the longest word that wins it.
How to play Outspell
Turns alternate with the computer until the tile bag is empty, and the higher score takes the game.
- Pick a difficulty. The opponent plays a genuinely different game at each level, so start low if you are new to it.
- Place your opening word across the centre square.
- Build every later word onto letters already on the board.
- Watch the coloured squares. One kind multiplies the letter you place on it, the other multiplies the whole word, and the value sticks to that square for the rest of the game.
- Check anything you are unsure of with the built in dictionary before you commit.
- Swap awkward tiles back into the bag when the rack is unplayable. It costs you the turn.
- Play on until the bag is empty. The score at that moment decides it.
Tips and strategy
Bonus squares are the whole game. They pay once, and whoever reaches them first keeps the value.
- A short word on a word multiplier beats a long word on plain squares more often than it looks.
- Hold the S and the blank. Both are worth far more attached to something the computer has just played.
- Do not open a lane to a triple. If your word leaves the opponent one move away from it, find another spot.
- Park J, Q, X and Z on a letter multiplier or keep them until you can.
- Swapping is not a lost turn when the alternative is four points and the same bad rack next time.
Near the end the bag empties and the board tightens, so count what is left. A five point word that blocks the last open multiplier is usually worth more than a twelve point word that opens it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Outspell the same as Scrabble?
The rules are close enough to feel familiar, with tiles, a board and words built onto words, but the layout and the bonus squares are its own and you play the computer rather than another person.
What do the coloured squares do in Outspell?
One kind multiplies the value of the single letter placed on it, the other multiplies the whole word. Once a tile sits on one, that value stays with it for the rest of the game.
Can I swap letters I cannot use?
Yes. Tiles can be exchanged for new ones from the bag. It uses up your turn, which is usually worth it when the rack has nothing playable in it.
Does Outspell tell me if a word is real?
Yes. A dictionary is built into the game, so you can check a word before you commit to it rather than losing a turn to a guess.