Last Letter

Last Letter is a fast-paced twist on a classic game - and we like it!

Players: Multiplayer

Duration: 5 mins +

Recommended Ages: 8+ 

Country of Origin: USA

Created By:

Joe & Dave Herbert

Published By:

ThinkFun 

Distributed By:

Coiledspring

This is another simple Thinkfun game, sent us by Coiledspring to enter in this years Imagination Gaming Family and Education Game Awards.

With 61 convoluted designs, you won't be playing 'Snap'!

In the pack you get 61 clever and intriguing illustrations, printed separately on large cards so you can get a good view of the tons of detail on each. And, along with some other players, that's all you need.

To set up, one card is placed face up in the middle of the table and 5 are dealt to each player face down. Left over cards won't be needed I this round so can be put to one side.

The dealer looks at the face up card and calls out a word that represents something pictured on that card. This could be an object, an action or an emotion  for example but must be clearly visible on the card. The player could not however attribute a something not clearly depicted, such as giving a person a name or using a specific type of object when the picture is more general (eg saying 'ferrari' when a it could be any kind of car).

If the last word was blo'W', this could be 'W'izard...

Then all players can look at their cards. They must race to find somethin pictured on anyone of their cards that begins with the 'last letter' of the word just called out. For instance, if the last word called out was "dragoN", players race to find a word that begins with "N" - like "Nail" or "Nightmare".

As soon as a player has found an acceptable word, they call it out and at the same time play the corresponding card on top of the last one in the middle of the table. If there is a tie, the player that gets their card on top of the pile first wins, and the other player must keep their card. Of course all players can now race to find a card with something beginning with the last letter of the new word and the game continues until one player has got rid of all their cards and is the winner.

... and from wizar'D', to 'D'anger...!

Last Letter is definitely one of those games that we thought would be easier than it was, it was surprising how difficult it often was to find something to use next, even when it was staring us in the face!

The cards are really beautifully designed with a range of different styles of artwork, and could be used in lots of ways. Straight away we can see lots of opportunities to use these cards to stimulate all kinds of literacy based ideas and games, and we'll be putting Last Letter to good use very soon indeed, and happily recommend you try it too!

Last Letter is already available from our online store here...

As with all the games entered for this years awards, don't forget you can come and try them all for free with us at UK Games Expo 2014 in the Family Zone, and vote for your favourite in the Players Choice Award.