The Game: Scrabble

Number of Players: 2 to 4. (If playing with more than two, it’s best to work in teams or as one against two.)
Play Time: 1 hour.
Ages: 8 and up (or 5 and up for Scrabble Junior).
To Buy: $13, www.hasbrotoyshop.com.

Great For...

Anyone who loves words. “But you don’t have to study the dictionary,” says Stefan Fatsis, a tournament player and the author of Word Freak (Penguin, $15, www.amazon.com). “You just have to exert some mental energy figuring out the best way to use your letters.”

How It's Played

You know the drill: Players blindly select seven tiles and make words on a board. When all the tiles are used, tally the score. (Try quixotic. In the right location, it can earn you 356 points. But no one may want to play with you again!)