Word-Building Puzzle-Piece Placement Strategy + Connection

Build words. Lock tiles. Create connections.

PUZZINGO™ is a word-building puzzle game where players use interlocking jigsaw-style letter tiles to form valid words in a shared, connected layout and score points by creating, extending, and creatively connecting words in any direction.

Learn How to Play View/Download the Game Guide

2–4 players • Playtime 90–120 minutes • Ages 8+

100 Letter Puzzle Tiles Free-Form Play (No Board) Bonus Scoring & Special Tiles Optional Game Modes

Get updates for the Kickstarter launch

Join the list to hear about launch timing, preview content, and early backer perks. No spam.

Media

Playtest with Kory & Gen Body
Iris, Tess, and Lily Montgomery playtesting PUZZINGO™
Plastic Tile
Plastic Double/Triple Word Tiles
Wooden Tile
Tile Rack (Front/Back)
Gameplay
How-to / Promo Video
Video coming soon
Video Placeholder 1
Playtest with Kory & Gen Body
We brought PUZZINGO™ into the home of Kory & Gen Body, authors of the Fuzzy Furry Forest children’s book series, for a first-time playtest...and it delivered! Kory & Gen caught on to the game and figured ways of using bonus scoring to score more points. Check out the video to see some gameplay and to hear their thoughts on the game.
Playtest with James & Delayna Goins
We brought PUZZINGO™ into the home of James & Delayna Goins in Palmdale, CA for a first-look playtest, and it delivered exactly what we love about this game: quick learning, clever connections, and lots of “Wait… that scores how much?!” moments.
Testing out Timed Mode
Testing out Timed Mode gameplay using the PUZZINGO™ online timer. Timed Mode is one of the optional game modes you can play with PUZZINGO™. See the Game Modes section for more details.
Video
Video coming soon
Video Placeholder 4

What’s in the box

What’s in the box

  • 100 Letter Puzzle Tiles
  • 4 Tile Racks
  • 1 Drawstring Bag
  • 2 Quick Reference Cards
How PUZZINGO™ Is Made

The Standard Edition of PUZZINGO™ includes white plastic tiles with blue letters and numbers. Double and triple word tiles feature orange lettering for easy identification. These tiles are produced using our in-house 3D printers and finished with a smooth satin coating.

The Deluxe Edition features wooden tiles with engraved letters and numbers. These tiles are crafted using our in-house laser machine, then carefully stained and finished with the same smooth satin coating used on the plastic tiles.

All tile racks are also produced in-house using our 3D printers. The tile racks are precisely designed to comfortably hold seven tiles, whether plastic or wood.

The drawstring bag is sourced from a trusted supplier and features a soft, velvet-like texture to protect and store the game tiles.

How to Play

PUZZINGO™ is a free-form tabletop game (no board). Players form valid words by interlocking tiles into a single connected layout.

The PUZZINGO™ Play Series

Watch The PUZZINGO™ Play Series to see the game in action, learn advanced strategies, and experience real gameplay moments.

PUZZINGO™ Play Series Thumbnail
▶ Watch the Series
General Info
Quick Setup
  1. Word validation: decide whether to use a dictionary (group vote if not).
  2. Play area: choose a tabletop surface.
  3. Prepare tiles: mix thoroughly and place tiles into the drawstring bag.
  4. First player: each player draws one tile; closest to “A” goes first (a “PZ” wildcard tile beats all letters).
  5. Starting tiles: each player draws 7 tiles onto their rack.
Turn Structure
  • Use one or more tiles to form a valid word (minimum 2 letters).
  • After the first turn, every word must connect to at least one tile already on the table.
  • Words may be formed in any direction as long as tiles interlock (no diagonal lines).
  • Score all new words formed during your turn, then draw back up to 7 tiles.
Tile Orientation
  • You may rotate tiles in any orientation, provided they interlock correctly.
  • Letter orientation does not affect word validity, as long as the final word is clear and agreed upon by the group.
Tile Orientation examples (tap to expand)

Valid Tile Orientation (3 examples)
Direction Rules
  • Words may be formed in any direction, including left-to-right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, or bottom-to-top, or combinations of these directions.
  • Directional rules are evaluated using the declared spelling order of the word. The starting letter is the first letter of the word as declared, even if the word is spelled in reverse.
  • A word may travel across multiple directional lines, but any change in direction must occur at a tile placed during your current turn. The turning point must be one of your newly placed tiles.
  • A word you form may intersect with existing directional lines, as long as:
    • Every letter grouping created forms a valid word, AND
    • Every tile you place connects (directly or through other tiles) to the word you are forming, AND
    • Your entire placement becomes part of one single connected structure that links to the existing layout (at least one newly placed tile must connect to a tile already on the table).
  • Words that read in opposite directions may form more than one valid word. Scoring for such words is defined in Basic Scoring.
  • Diagonal word lines are not allowed, as tiles would not interlock.
  • A tile may only be used once in the spelling of a word.
Direction Rule examples (tap to expand)

Acceptable Forms of TOW example

Unacceptable Forms of TOW example

Acceptable Intersecting Directional Lines
Spell "BEET" and secondarily spell "LET"

Unacceptable Intersecting Directional Lines
Cannot spell "THE" because "E" does not also spell a word with "HCT"

Two Words: BAT and TAB Forward and Backward

One Word: Same Word in Both Directions
Basic Scoring & Standard Bonuses
The PUZZINGO™ Online Scoreboard can be used for live score tracking during a game.
Basic Scoring
  • Add the point values of all new words formed during your turn.
  • If you form more than one word in a turn, score each word separately, then add totals.
  • If a single placement of tiles creates two different valid words when read in opposite directions, score each word separately. If the letters spell the same word forward and backward, it is scored as one word only.
  • Only words created or extended as a result of tiles placed on your turn are scored.
(Full letter distribution and values are in the Game Guide.)
Standard Letter Bonuses
  • Double Letter: when a word is four or more letters long and includes the letter V, J, or Q, each V, J, or Q used in that word scores double its normal point value.
  • Triple Letter: when a word is four or more letters long and includes the letter X or Z, each X or Z used in that word scores triple its normal point value.
  • Standard Letter bonuses are applied before all other bonuses.
Standard Word Bonuses
  • Double Word (DW): any word that includes a new or existing corner tile scores double (corner tile itself is 0).
  • Triple Word (TW): any word that includes a new or existing “PZ” wildcard tile scores triple (“PZ” itself is 0).
Special & Puzzle Bonuses
Special Bonuses
  • Bridge Bonus: +10 points when you connect two separate clusters into one structure.
  • Full Fit Bonus: +50 points when you use all 7 tiles in one turn.
  • Shared Play Word Extension Bonus: +5 points when using the Team Play (Individual Racks) Game Mode and you extend a word previously played by your teammate.
  • Shared Play Connection Bonus: +10 points when using the Team Play (Individual Racks) Game Mode and your new word connects to tiles previously played by your teammate.
Puzzle Bonuses
  • Cluster Bonus: +5 points when you create a 2x2 block of tiles forming one 4-letter word.
  • Multi-Direction Bonus: +5 points when a single word travels in 4+ directions.
  • Multi-Word Corner Tile Bonus: +10 points when a corner tile is used as the beginning and/or ending of two words.
  • Ring Complete Bonus: +25 points when a word is formed by completely surrounding one or more empty spaces.
Bonus examples (tap to expand)

Bridge Bonus example

Cluster Bonus example
Spelling LAVA

Multi-Direction Bonus example

Multi-Word Corner Tile Bonus examples

Ring Complete Bonus example
Spelling MATCHBOX

Game Modes

Standard Gameplay

The standard free play approach to PUZZINGO™ is described in the How to Play section. This is the normal way of playing the game without any of the other optional game modes.

View/Download the Game Guide for full details on gameplay.

Category Mode
  • The group decides if the category will change each round or each turn.
  • At the start of each round or turn, reveal one category.
  • All words played during the round or turn must fit the chosen category.
  • Formed words must still comply with PUZZINGO™ rules.
  • Challenges to whether a word fits a category are voted on by the group.
  • Players can use the same word.
Timed Mode
  • At the start of each turn, start the timer.
  • The player must form a word before time runs out.
  • If time runs out before a word is formed, the player loses their turn.
  • It is ok if after the word is formed time runs out while calculating your score and drawing tiles.
Solo Mode
  • The game is played by a single player.
  • Keeping score is optional.
  • Players may focus on creating high-scoring words, completing puzzle bonuses, or challenging themselves with limited turns.
Team Play (Shared Rack)
  • Partners share a single tile rack.
  • Teammates may freely discuss tiles, words, strategy, and scoring.
  • Teams take turns as a single player.
Team Play (Individual Racks)
  • Each partner has their own tile rack.
  • Partner scores are combined into one team score.
  • Teammates may not freely discuss tiles, words, strategy, and scoring.
  • This mode enables certain Shared Play bonuses.
Combine game modes for an even more challenging and exhilarating PUZZINGO™ experience.

Game Guide

Want the full rules, examples, and scoring details? View the official PUZZINGO™ Game Guide below or download the Game Guide to your device.

Download Game Guide
PUZZINGO™ Game Guide

Want a quick look at the gameplay rules and scoring system? Download the official PUZZINGO™ Quick Reference Card.

Download Quick Reference Card

Kickstarter (Coming Soon)

We’re preparing our Kickstarter campaign for PUZZINGO™. When it’s live, you’ll be able to back the project and help bring the game to more tables. In the meantime, sign-up for the email list so that you are notified when our Kickstarter campaign begins.

Founding Backers

We’ll proudly list the names of our Founding Backers here after the Kickstarter launches.

Reviews & Testimonials

“For people who love puzzles and word games it’s the best of both worlds!”

“Loved the game unc! It’s a fun new twist on Scrabble and I liked the added challenge of fitting the puzzle pieces to be able to spell a word!”

— Iris & Tess Montgomery, Atlanta, GA
“You took a regular 2D movie and made it 4D. Everything is coming at you from different angles. You're looking at words backwards, forwards, sideways, clusters, multi-directional, and that's just the stuff we learned. I was getting really into it. I was sad when it ended.”
— Kory & Gen Body, Fontana, CA
“Anything can happen, ANYTHING! You don't know how it's gonna go, and that's what makes it fun. It can be anybody's game. So, you think you're losing, maybe five minutes later, you're on top of the world.”
— James & Delayna Goins, Palmdale, CA
“Puzzingo is a spin on a classic word-building game that adds a puzzle element which completely changes the game. What I really enjoyed was how it engages multiple parts of your brain at once. You're thinking about vocabulary, planning your word placement, solving the physical puzzle of how the pieces fit together, while also trying to earn the special bonus points. For those who love puzzles, strategy games and want their word knowledge challenged, this is the game for you! Julian and Debbie really created something unique here. As a homeschool mom, I especially love that it is both fun and educational.”
— Shalonda Richards, Los Angeles, CA

FAQ

PUZZINGO™ blends word-building with jigsaw-style puzzle tile placement, letting words move in multiple directions while rewarding clever connections through bonus scoring.

It’s up to your group. If you use a dictionary, decide which one before starting. If you don’t, word challenges can be resolved by a group vote. We recommend the Merriam-Webster Official SCRABBLE® Dictionary.

PUZZINGO™ supports 2–4 players (or teams) and typically plays in about 90–120 minutes, depending on player style and optional modes. Players can either be individuals or they can be teams when using the optional Team Play (Shared Rack) mode. Playtime can be reduced by using the Timed Mode Game Mode depending on how much time your group allows per turn.

Yes. If you prefer not to use pen and paper, PUZZINGO™ offers an Online Scoreboard for live score tracking during your game.

The host can enter player names and choose whether scoring edits are limited to the host or shared with the entire group. Scores update instantly across all connected devices, and totals are calculated automatically, making it easy for everyone to stay focused on strategy and connection.

There are several ways to play and enjoy PUZZINGO™. In addition to standard gameplay, there is Category Mode, Timed Mode, Solo Mode, Team Play (Shared Rack) and Team Play (Individual Racks). See the Game Modes section for more details.

While you can determine your own categories, PUZZINGO™ does provide an online Category Selector that is a great companion when using this game mode.

PUZZINGO™ offers an online Timer for use with the Timed Game Mode.

Letter Point Value Tiles
A 1 9
B 3 2
C 3 2
D 2 4
E 1 12
F 4 2
G 2 3
H 4 2
I 1 9
J 8 1
K 5 1
L 1 4
M 3 2
N 1 6
Letter Point Value Tiles
O 1 8
P 3 2
Q 10 1
R 1 6
S 1 4
T 1 6
U 1 4
V 4 2
W 4 2
X 8 1
Y 4 2
Z 10 1
PZ 0 2
* At the end of the game, unused “PZ” tiles are worth 5 pts.
There are 100 tiles in total with 4 corner tiles and 32 single straight edge tiles.

No. While all tiles with the same letter share the same point value, their shapes may differ. Because of this, it’s important to pay attention to the tile shapes on your rack and ensure they will properly interlock with tiles already in play when forming a word.

PUZZINGO™ was designed to blend elements of jigsaw puzzles with word-building gameplay. When thinking about puzzles, we focused on square and rectangular designs, which are defined by straight edges and four corners.

Because of this, PUZZINGO™ includes four corner tiles with two straight edges, as well as many tiles with a single straight edge. All corner tiles are Double Word tiles, making them especially valuable when forming words. In certain situations, using a corner tile as part of multiple words can also qualify you for the Multi-Word Corner Tile Bonus.

When forming words, straight edges can also be used strategically to block directional lines, making it more difficult for other players to extend or build off the words you’ve placed.

View the How to Play section for more details on scoring.

Yes. While PUZZINGO™ shines as a strategic game with bonuses, clever connections, and advanced placement, it’s also very flexible. You can simply play it as an interlocking, word-building game and ignore bonus scoring or advanced strategies. This makes it easy to adapt for younger players, casual players, or mixed-experience groups.

The Standard Edition comes with white plastic tiles with blue and orange lettering. The Deluxe Edition comes with engraved wooden tiles. The tile racks and drawstring bag are the same in each edition.

We are unsure at this time as to when the Kickstarter campaign will begin. Add your email address to the email list, and you will be notified when we launch the campaign.

A mobile version of PUZZINGO™ is part of our long-term vision. We love the idea of playing online with friends and family, connecting with players around the world, or enjoying a solo game on your device as you wind down.

That said, our current focus is entirely on the physical version of the game. PUZZINGO™ was created to be a tabletop experience that brings people together in person. We value gathering around a table, sharing food or a favorite beverage, laughing, and connecting face-to-face while playing.

While the tabletop game comes first, thoughtful planning for a future mobile version is already underway and remains an important part of where PUZZINGO™ is headed.