Letter Tycoon

A word game where you patent letters and get paid whenever others use them.

Designer: Brad Brooks
Published by: Breaking Games
Editions by: Squirmy Beast

Letter Tycoon is the word game for people who want to be capitalists about it. On your turn you build a word from a seven-card hand plus a three-card community pool, and you earn money and stock rewards depending on the word you make. Spend that money to buy a patent on one letter in your word, and from then on, whenever another player uses your letter, the bank pays you. Rarer letters carry special abilities, so owning an X is worth more than owning an E. When enough of the alphabet is claimed, the round finishes and everything owned gets scored. It is quick, a little cunning and more about smart investing than about the longest word.

Buy patents on lettersEarn when others use your lettersRare letters have special powers

Who it's for

You like word games but want an extra layer of money and timing. Good for groups of three where everyone is happy to hunt for words.

Not for you if…

Word games make you freeze, or you want pure vocabulary showdowns with no economy. The money layer is half the point.

Vibe's take

Brisk and clever. You think about words, but also about which letters will pay you back and which you should let others grab.