Bookends: Two Player Word Race Game Online
One of you draws the first letter, the other draws the last. Race to find a word that fits between them.
Word · 2 players · about 5 minutes · free to host, nothing to download, TV optional
About the game
Two players, two letters, one race. Bookends gives you a first letter and a last letter, and whoever types a real word that fits between them first takes the round. A five-round match is over in about five minutes, which makes it a good fit for a coffee break or a quick rematch.
It is made for exactly two. Sit side by side with your own devices, add a TV if you want a bigger board, or play apart on a video call with both of you on "Just this screen".
How to play
- Two players. One of you taps to draw the first letter, the other draws the last. Letters are random, and the pair always has words that fit. A roll decides who draws first in round 1; after that you swap every round. Out of time? The letter is drawn for you.
- Then race. Type a real word that starts with the first letter and ends with the last, 3 letters or more. A wrong try tells you why. Just try again.
- The first real word wins the round: 10 points, plus 1 for every letter beyond 3. If time runs out, nobody scores.
- Every round is played. Most points at the end wins; a tie is a shared win. The host picks 3, 5 or 7 rounds and how long you have to find a word.
Open a room for Bookends. No app, no accounts, free to host.
Tips to play well
- Only the first valid word scores, so speed beats length. A 3-letter word is worth 10 and each extra letter adds 1, which means a 7-letter word earns just 4 more than a short one.
- Wrong tries cost nothing. A miss tells you why (wrong first letter, wrong last letter, too short, not a word) and you can type again straight away, so keep firing guesses.
- Run through short words first. Three and four letters give you far fewer options to check in your head, and a quick BAT beats a slow BASKET every time.
- Every pair drawn has at least three dictionary words that fit, so there is always an answer. If time runs out, the round shows a few that would have worked, which is a handy way to learn the awkward pairs.
Host settings
- Rounds: 3, 5 or 7, default 5. Every round is played, even when the match is already decided.
- Time to find a word: 30 to 90 seconds in steps of 5, default 45. If time runs out, nobody scores that round.
Questions people ask
Can more than two people play?
No, Bookends is strictly for two. For a bigger group of word lovers, Five Letters and Speed Wits take up to 16.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes, the host can add a bot as the second player. It finds a word in about seven rounds out of ten, after 6 to 20 seconds, so a quick human usually has the edge.
Which words count?
Any English word of 3 letters or more that starts and ends with the two letters, checked against the same dictionary Wordsmith uses. Letters only, so no spaces or hyphens.
What if I forget to draw my letter?
You have 10 seconds to tap. After that, a letter is drawn for you and the round carries on.
Similar games
- Wordsmith: Lay your tiles, build crossing words and hunt the bonus squares. 2 to 4 players, about 45 minutes.
- Five Letters: Everyone races on the same five-letter word. The TV shows colours only, so nobody can copy. 2 to 16 players, about 10 minutes.
- Speed Wits: A word puzzle built out of type on the TV. Everyone races to type what it says; the quicker you are, the more it is worth. 2 to 16 players, about 10 minutes.
- XOXO: Three in a row, best of three. Go Ultimate for nine boards in one. 2 players, about 5 minutes.
Guides
- Games for Couples: Two Player Board Games, Card Games, 45 Question Prompts and Long Distance Ideas: The best games for couples: two player board and card games, 45 original questions for date night, and games to play online when you live apart.
- Two Player Online Games: The Best Games for Two, for Friends and Couples, Sorted by Mood (Most Free, No Download): The best two player online games for friends and couples, sorted by mood: quick, word, strategy, cards and cosy. Most are free with no download.
- Games Like Scrabble: Where to Play Scrabble Online With Friends Free, Plus the Best Alternatives: Where to play Scrabble online with friends for free, the best Words With Friends alternatives, and scoring tips that win more games.
- Game Night Games: 60 of the Best, Picked by Group Size, Crowd and Time: The best game night games for 2 to 20 people, sorted by group size, crowd, place and time, with players, minutes and what you need for each.