‘Scrabble for dummies?’ Mattel’s new Gen Z version of the classic divides Internet

Scrabble regulars have had mixed opinions about this. Some are optimistic about the “fun twist”, while others are outraged about Mattel ‘ruining’ what is already a simple, all-ages game. One Reddit user went as far as to call ‘Scrabble Together’ a “dumbed-down version for dummies”.

Gen Z prefers cooperation over competition, which is at the heart of ‘Scrabble Together’.

But Mattel’s decision to update Scrabble is based on research, which suggests a more ‘inclusive’ game could be popular.

By surveying Britons, they found that “over 51% of board game players use it as a way of unplugging from social media and 65% said it helped them switch off,” The Guardian quoted Mattel as saying. The survey also found generational differences in why people play. Half of players aged 34-54 play to relax, while 69% of 25- to 34-year-olds play to connect with friends.

Broadly, Gen Z shows a preference for cooperation over competition. Ray Adler, Head of Global Games at Mattel, wrote that the change is part of efforts to ensure Scrabble “remains relevant for another 25 years”. He also described ‘Scrabble Together’ as a version that “ultimately allows you to hone your Scrabble skills”.

Puritans will be happy to know that you don’t have to play the new variant. Mattel has merely expanded their menu, not replaced the dish altogether. The new version has been launched in the form of a double-sided board, which features the original game on one side, and ‘Scrabble Together’ on the other.

What do Indian Scrabble players think?

“I remember as a child, I used to be so embarrassed when I used common words and didn’t score well,” shares Aarzoo Mann, a 19-year-old student from Delhi. “If people don’t like the change, they are more than free to stick to one side of the new board, instead of bashing a company for just trying to have more people join in the fun.”

Proficiency—and thus enjoyment—on Scrabble tends to come with strong reading habits, so a more ‘accessible’ version can feel motivating to those still learning English or wanting to avoid stiff competition (read: losing).

Older players, however, are unsure if ‘Scrabble Together’ is an improvement at all.

‘No more scoring’ is an aspect that has annoyed long-time players.

“The rules of the standard game are simple enough; there isn’t much point to creating a purportedly simpler version”, says Mahasweta Bose, a 61-year-old teacher who found the new version to be ‘more complicated’ than the original. Individuals may not be able to grow their own solving skills if they’re too reliant on their teammates, explains Bose, a veteran player.

Scrabble isn’t exactly a stranger to making youthful changes. Frequent updates are made to its dictionary, the latest being in 2022 when 500 new words were added, including Gen Z buzzwords like “bae”, “stan”, and “vibing”. Netizens have also pointed out that many ‘tweaked’ variants of Scrabble already exist — Super Scrabble, Clabbers, and Scrabble Junior — so the wave of criticism online may be unwarranted.

The times they are a-changin’, and language is no passive bystander. Internet culture continues to shape new lingo and product development, including our beloved board games. If the Oxford English Dictionary — the Bible of all word games — could shed its traditional outlook to appeal to newer generations, is Mattel deserving of all the slander?