Tile values, ranking, and what Game Mode optimizes for
Every word in Game Mode is scored using the standard English Scrabble tile values. One-point tiles (A, E, I, O, U, L, N, S, T, R) make up the majority of the bag. Two- and three-point tiles (D, G, B, C, M, P) raise the floor. Four- and five-pointers (F, H, V, W, Y, K) tip a word into bonus territory. The premium tiles (J, X at 8; Q, Z at 10) make or break a play.
Game Mode ranks results by their total tile value, with longer words breaking ties. That's a different ranking from any other mode on the site. In Kid Mode the ranking is grade-level-up. In Student Mode it's learnability. In Game Mode it's points — because in a word game, points are what wins.
Two practical consequences. First, a six-letter word with two Z's beats a seven-letter word of all one-pointers on the result list. Second, words you'd never play in conversation — perfectly legal but stylistically strange — are not penalized. They sort by score like everything else, exactly the way a competitive player wants.
Scrabble tile values, at a glance
A blank tile (wildcard) is worth zero points but can play as any letter. Use ? or * in the input box to represent one.
Three practical workflows for serious players
1. The bingo check
A bingo (playing all seven tiles in one turn) is worth a 50-point bonus and often decides games. Type your full rack into the input, set minimum length to 7, and switch to Game Mode. Any result that comes back is a bingo. If nothing comes back, you know to focus on smaller plays or to plan a tile-swap.
2. The hook play
You spot a word on the board you can extend with one of your tiles. Use the must-include filter to lock in that letter, type your rack, and Game Mode returns only words containing the hook letter — ranked by score. This is faster than mentally permuting your rack against every board word.
3. The Q-or-Z escape
Stuck with Q and no U? Z with no good landing? Type Q (or Z) plus your other tiles, switch to Game Mode, and check the short results. Words like qi, za, zed, zip, jib, jab are score-saving tools that experienced players memorize. Game Mode surfaces them in seconds.
Who Game Mode is for
Scrabble players
From living-room players who want to settle "is that a word" disputes, to tournament players checking parallel plays. The scoring matches official Scrabble values exactly.
Words With Friends players
WWF uses slightly different tile values, but the same dictionary mostly applies and the relative ranking of plays is nearly identical. Game Mode is reliable for picking among candidates.
Anagram enthusiasts
Game Mode's permissive dictionary surfaces every legal anagram from your input letters. Use minimum length equal to your input length for strict anagrams (same letters, rearranged).
Daily-puzzle solvers
For Spelling Bee, Bookworm, Wordscapes, and other letter-pool games: Game Mode returns every valid word from a pool, ranked by what you'd play first. Use the must-include filter for daily required letters.
Short words that win games
Most players underrate two- and three-letter words. They feel like consolation plays. But a Q-bearing two-letter word played across a triple-letter or triple-word square will outscore most "bigger" plays in your rack. A few worth memorizing — Game Mode will surface them whenever they're playable:
These are scoring tools. Memorizing them is the single highest-return habit you can develop as a recreational Scrabble player.
Frequently asked questions
Does Game Mode use Scrabble tile values? ▾
Yes. Each result is scored using standard English Scrabble tile values. A, E, I, O, U, L, N, S, T, R are 1 point; D, G are 2; B, C, M, P are 3; F, H, V, W, Y are 4; K is 5; J, X are 8; Q, Z are 10. Results are ranked by total points, with longer words breaking ties.
Does it work for Words With Friends? ▾
Yes. WWF tile values differ slightly from Scrabble (most notably H is 3 in WWF), so absolute scores are slightly off, but relative ranking is virtually identical for the words you'd consider playing. Reliable for choosing between candidates.
How do I find a bingo from my rack? ▾
Type all seven tiles, set minimum length to 7, switch to Game Mode. Any result that comes back is a bingo and qualifies for the 50-point bonus.
Can I use blank tiles or wildcards? ▾
Yes. Use the question mark or asterisk in place of a blank. The unscrambler treats each wildcard as any letter, so you'll see every word your rack can legally form. Wildcards score zero, like real blanks.
Does it know about the board — bonus squares, existing letters? ▾
Game Mode scores words in isolation; it doesn't yet model bonus squares or existing letters. For most rack-improvement decisions that's enough. For full-board solvers, the tool helps generate candidates you then evaluate against the board.
Other modes worth trying
Play your highest-scoring word.
Open the unscrambler in Game Mode and let the points sort themselves out.
Open the unscrambler →