How to Make a Word Scramble Puzzle
One of the most challenging parts of word games is coming up with the right words for the moment. Sometimes, it's just hard to see them there--and that's where a word scramble puzzle can help. Word scrambles make anagrams of the solution words, and then leave the player to figure out what the puzzle should mean. Sometimes, the words are randomly thrown together, but other times, they hide a message.
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Instructions
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1
Brainstorm and come up with a list of words for the scramble puzzle. Consider things like whether or not these words should form a message, or whether they are connected by a theme. The words could also simply be a random list of words.
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2
Choose as many words as you would like, and put them in a list, in order. Choose at least five words, and probably not many more than 20. While you can use more words than that, your players may soon lose interest if the puzzle seems to go on forever. The number is really up to you.
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3
Underline blank spaces for each of the letters in the first word on your list on a fresh sheet of paper. Repeat for the remaining words on your list.
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4
Jumble up the letters in the first word. You can either do this in your head, simply rearranging the letters as much as possible so they do not resemble the actual word, or you could do it with physical letters. For example, you could spell the word out in letter tiles or by writing out the letters and cutting out pieces of paper, then shuffling the tiles or papers and laying out the letters in a new order.
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5
Write down the jumbled letters next to the blank space for the first word. Repeat the jumbling and rewriting process with the remaining words on your list.
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6
Pass a copy of the completed puzzle to a friend or player and let them complete it.
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Tips & Warnings
You may want to test your original puzzle out a few times with friends or players before considering it a final version. Your puzzle may initially be too hard or too easy, and you can readjust a few of the jumbled words before giving it to your real audience.
You can save time (and paper) by creating the word jumble online by using digital versions of word jumble puzzles (see References). After choosing your words, go online instead of writing anything else on paper.
