Bananagrams

1 Overview

Bananagrams is a fast-paced word tile game for 1 to 8 players created by Abe Nathanson and published by Bananagrams Inc. Players race simultaneously to arrange all their letter tiles into a connected crossword grid. No turns, no board, no waiting. The first player to use all their tiles and successfully call out when the bunch is empty wins.

Bananagrams won multiple toy-of-the-year awards and is one of the best travel games ever made -- it fits in a small banana-shaped pouch and plays anywhere. Often described as "Scrabble on speed," it is faster and less strategic than Scrabble but more chaotic and energetic.

2 Components

• 144 letter tiles (same distribution as Scrabble, roughly)
• 1 banana-shaped pouch

Letter distribution: A x13, B x3, C x3, D x6, E x18, F x3, G x4, H x3, I x12, J x2, K x2, L x5, M x3, N x8, O x11, P x3, Q x2, R x9, S x6, T x9, U x6, V x3, W x3, X x2, Y x3, Z x2.

3 Setup

1. Turn all 144 tiles face-down in the center of the table. This is the "bunch."
2. Each player draws tiles from the bunch based on player count:
   • 2 to 4 players: 21 tiles each
   • 5 to 6 players: 15 tiles each
   • 7 to 8 players: 11 tiles each
3. Keep your tiles face-down until the game starts.
4. When everyone is ready, one player calls "Split!" and all players flip their tiles and begin.

4 Gameplay

All players build simultaneously -- there are no turns. Each player arranges their tiles into a personal connected crossword grid (words intersecting vertically and horizontally, like a crossword). All words must read left-to-right across or top-to-bottom down.

You can rearrange your entire grid at any time. If a letter doesn't fit, restructure everything. There is no penalty for rearranging.

When you have used all your tiles in a valid crossword grid, call "Peel!" -- then take one tile from the bunch, and all other players must also take one tile from the bunch.

If you have tiles in your grid that you cannot use (bad letters), you can dump: place one of your tiles face-down into the bunch and take 3 tiles back. You can dump as many times as you want, but each dump costs 2 net tiles.

5 Special Calls

6 Winning

When the bunch has fewer tiles remaining than there are players, the next player to use all their tiles calls "Bananas!" The other players inspect that player's grid. If all words are valid, they win. If any word is invalid, they are the "Rotten Banana" -- they are eliminated and their tiles return to the bunch. Play continues until a valid winner is found.

7 Strategy Guide

Start with a Long Word

Place a 5 to 7 letter word first. Long words give you the most branches to attach new tiles to. Starting with only short words creates a dense, inflexible grid that's hard to expand.

Keep Your Grid Open

Avoid building in a line -- spread your grid two-dimensionally. An "L" shape or cross shape leaves more free edges for future tiles. A long horizontal strip has only the top and bottom edges available for new words.

Prioritize Difficult Letters

Q, X, Z, J, and V are the hardest letters to use. When you draw them, immediately think about words that use them: QI, QAT, XI, XU, ZAG, JAB, VAV. Holding a Q without a plan stalls your grid.

Know High-Value Short Words

Two and three letter words are your best friends for filling gaps: AA, AE, AI, OE, XI, XU, ZAP, ZIT, JAW, QI, QAT. Build these into your vocabulary and use them constantly to place difficult tiles.

Dump Strategically

Dumping a bad letter costs 2 net tiles (return 1, draw 3). This is worth it when you have a Q with no U in sight, a Z you cannot place, or a letter creating a grid deadlock. Dumping early is often better than stalling.

8 Variants

Banana Cafe (Cooperative)

All players work together to build one shared crossword using all 144 tiles. Time yourself and try to beat your record. Good for solo play or cooperative groups.

Bananagrams Party (Teams)

Split into 2 teams. Each team builds a shared grid together. First team to use all their tiles wins.

No Dumping

Remove the dump rule entirely for a harder version. You must work with every tile you draw. Forces creative word-finding under pressure.

9 FAQ