Boggle Rules: How to Play Boggle? (Beginner’s Guide)

Can you think of a game that uses more dice than Boggle? While there might be one out there, Boggle is definitely a contender. But the dice in Boggle aren’t quite what you’d expect are they? This really shows you everything you need to know about Boggle. 

With 16 dice covered in letters, Boggle is a fun word game that may seem similar to Scrabble. You have to make words; the longer the word is, the more points you get. But Boggle plays very differently from Scrabble. 

Before we look at the rules and gameplay, let’s take a deeper dive into this wondrous word puzzle game. 

What is Boggle?

Boggle was created in 1972, by game designer Allan Turnoff. Originally the game was sold in a value pack along with two other games. However, the popularity of Boggle quickly led to it being sold on its own. 

Boggle, like many games during the 70s and 80s, was owned by the Parker Brothers. Now it’s sold by Hasbro and you can find many different variants available. However, unlike the many themed sets of Monopoly, these differences aren’t just cosmetic. 

Different variants of Boggle usually include more or less dice. This can change the gameplay greatly. There is even a version that combines elements with Twister called Body Boggle. But in this guide, we’ll be focusing on classic/ traditional Boggle. 

What You’ll Need 

One of the great things about Boggle is just how simple it is! All you really need is a Boggle set/ board, paper, and pens. You will also get a mini-hourglass with most Boggle sets as well. But you can use a stopwatch or a smartphone instead. You just to ensure you are getting the right Boggle set. 

The classic Boggle set will contain 16 dice in a 4 x 4 grid. However, these days much larger sets are available usually under the name Boggle Deluxe. Some sets will contain different combinations of letters as well. 

We recommend sticking with the classic 4 x 4 version of Boggle if you’re new to the game. The product below gives you an example of what to look out for. 

The Dice 

Your standard Boggle set will come with 16 dice. You simply place them in the gird and clip the cover on, and you’re ready to play Boggle! Each face of the dice will have a letter on it. When you shake the board the dice will move about and new letters will be shown. 

While most dice will only have a single letter on them Q is an exception. This letter will show Qu since most words then begin with Q will be followed by a U. It’s important to remember that for scoring purposes, this counts as two letters, not one, despite only one dice being used.   

The Board

It’s worth briefly talking about the board used in Boggle as well. A standard Boggle board will contain a grid of 16 squares, in a 4 x 4 pattern. Once the dice are put in a large square-shaped plastic cover is placed over them. 

At the start of each round, a player will shake the Boggle board. This will rearrange the dice inside, the cover can then be taken off and play can begin. 

Pens and Paper 

There really isn’t much to say about these. Every player will need a sheet of paper and a pen/ pencil to write down their words. Just make sure you have some on hand, as most Boggle sets don’t come with them included.