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Description
Letter Jam is a 2-6 player cooperative word game where players assist each other in composing meaningful words from letters around the table. The trick is holding the letter card so that it’s only visible to other players and not to you.
At the start of the game, each player receives a set of face-down letter cards that can be arranged to form an existing word. The setup can be prepared by using a special card scanning app, or by players selecting words for each other. Each player then puts their first card in their stand facing the other players without looking at it, and the game begins.
The game is played in turns. Each turn, players simultaneously search other players’ letters to see what words they can spell out (telling the others the length of the word they can make up). The player who offers the longest word can then be chosen as the clue giver.
The clue giver spells out their clue by putting numbered tokens in front of the other players. Number one goes to the player whose letter comes first in the clue, number two to the second letter etc. They can always use a wild card which can be any letter, but they cannot tell others which letter it represents.
Each player with a numbered token (or tokens) in front of them then tries to figure out what their letter is. If they do, they place the card face down before revealing the next letter. At the end of the game, players can then rearrange the cards to try to form an existing word. All players then reveal their cards to see if they were successful or not. The more players who have an existing word in front of them, the bigger their collective success.
—description from the publisher
Year Published
2019
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 11
This page: 11
Sentiment:
pos 11 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–11 of 11
Video 8PGspnGSWUU
Chairman of the Board top_10_list at 6:18 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11497 · mention_pk 33815
Click to watch at 6:18
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fun cooperative puzzle
- easy to teach
- great balance of thinking and accessibility
Cons
- depends on group synergy
- not as tight with very large groups
Thematic elements
- communication and teamwork in a word-puzzle context
- cooperative word-assembly and deduction
- lighthearted and collaborative
Comparison games
- Scrabble
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative word deduction — players clue and deduce letters to form words
- letter-token clues — revealing letters to teammates to help deduce missing letters
- role of perspective — each player sees different information to solve a puzzle collectively
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's breezy and quite relaxing to be honest
- it's so easy to teach
- it's never really let me down with whoever i brought this out
- it's inviting being easy to play but still having the interest there
- it's a hidden gem in terms of being a gateway game
- I really do just sit back and enjoy the process of a game like this
- the best deduction game i've ever played
- it's a 30 to 45 minute game that can be tailor-made to how you want to play it
- it's almost like a step up from a game like Scrabble
- it's a puzzle style game with pirate theme
- the layout of these tiles is extremely interesting
- this game has a unique twist that adds a lot of interest
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 67M31UhLdJ4
Actual top_10_list at 16:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11455 · mention_pk 33688
Click to watch at 16:05
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong social deduction feel with cooperative cooperation
- Accessible word-building that remains mentally engaging
Cons
- As a word game, some players may find it less replayable
- Careful group dynamics needed to avoid confusion
Thematic elements
- Word deduction with hidden letters and visible hints
- Cooperative word-building using shared clues
- Collaborative deduction with humorous reveals
Comparison games
- Code Names
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative word deduction — Players guess a secret word using clues derived from visible letters
- letter placement cues — Players indicate letter positions with numbers to guide guesses
- secret letters — Each player has a hidden letter that influences clues and guesses
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Babylonia pulls you between the competition over cities and ziggurats
- Deep Blue is an incredible game
- Ishtar is a tile laying game in which you're growing gardens in the desert
- Pret-a-Porter is not a game for the light hearted or like-minded
- I am in love with how well Kings dilemma tells its story
- Letter Jam is a cooperative word building game from the makers of Code Names
- City Skyline is based on the popular video game and SimCity
- Valley of the Vikings is my top pick for a kids game at Essen this year
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video D23pxUErRiE
general_discussion at 2:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10798 · mention_pk 31877
Click to watch at 2:17
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Cooperative deduction mechanic is engaging
- Approachable for players who enjoy word games
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- word deduction
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative deduction — players collaborate to deduce words and unscramble them using clues
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "I played a lot of smaller games"
- "we didn't get to sample any of those eight"
- "Don't Get Got"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video o5aOOmL4R5s
Unknown Channel general_discussion at 12:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9744 · mention_pk 28777
Click to watch at 12:30
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Unique cooperative word deduction
- Hanabi-like hidden information dynamic (letters visible to others)
Cons
- Complex to explain to new players
- Pacing can hinge on group dynamics
Thematic elements
- Word construction and clue-based deduction
- Cooperative word-deduction game
- Collaborative puzzle-solving
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative_play — All players collaborate to assemble valid words
- deduction — Players deduce their own letters and words based on clues from others
- token_clue_system — Use of tokens to indicate letter positions and clues
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we're going to show you our shelves
- not too much rhyme or reason to the way that we organize our games
- we may consider doing like a shelf of shame series in the future
- Letter Jam is a fully cooperative deduction word game
- the Night Cage is very different gameplay
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video r5DjJluD0EM
Chairman of the Board top_10_list at 7:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7348 · mention_pk 21712
Click to watch at 7:12
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Creative and tactile word-deduction experience
- Strong player collaboration and team tension
- Solid fit for word-game fans seeking something modern
Cons
- Some players may find it cryptic or fiddly at first
- Requires good communication and cooperation
Thematic elements
- letter clues, teamwork, word formation
- Cooperative word game with hidden letter clues
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative deduction — Team members deduce the letters by interpreting clues to form valid words.
- Information visibility — Most players see letters while the active player does not, creating puzzle-like tension.
- word construction — Players assemble words from shared-letter clues to progress.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I thought 2019 was a really strong year for board gaming.
- it's just a nice, pleasant game there and I really hope this one gets some wind behind it sails because it's a really nice game.
- an absolute masterpiece in my opinion.
- Trismegistus the ultimate formula definitely my top game of 2019.
- this is undoubtedly the best deduction game out there.
- Museum is as you can see it has to be wonderful to look at artwork by vintage rate, who is undoubtedly probably the best artist in the business.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video pe6N_GDsxSE
Board Games Hitting My Table general_discussion at 10:48 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7129 · mention_pk 21116
Click to watch at 10:48
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Cooperative and pleasant; easy to teach
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- team-based deduction with clue giving
- Cooperative word-building challenge
- pleasant and relaxed
Comparison games
- Codenames
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative word clues — Provide hints to teammates to assemble the final word
- letter drafting and scrambling — Letters serve as clues; players select letters to form words.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the market is manipulated because you have these cards that are sat between you and one of your neighbors
- the rules are so thin
- it's fantastic I think it's criminally underrated
- the rich and the good definitely one of the highlights of the period
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qDW92bXKY-w
Actual Lowell general_discussion at 2:46 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6935 · mention_pk 20539
Click to watch at 2:46
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- clever cooperative deduction
- strong thematic integration
- engaging when multiple players contribute
Cons
- initial iconography and rules can be confusing
- some groups may produce less talk and more silent deduction
Thematic elements
- cryptic word deduction and collaboration
- cooperative word-building with hidden own letters
- puzzle-driven cooperation with transparent others' information
Comparison games
- Code Names
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative word-building — players collectively form words using letters shown to others
- Hidden Information — you cannot see your own letters, only others' letters are visible
- information deduction — use letters from others to deduce your own word
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a pro Chabal strategy game that feels very different to anything I've played
- the Berlin map on the other side is a great bonus
- it's a cooperative word building game where you can't see your own letters
- it's a murder deduction game
- it's very simple in terms of rules but it has twists
- I can't wait to play this one again properly when it comes out
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AjCLbCyY2Bw
Off the Shelf top_5_list at 2:34 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3753 · mention_pk 11029
Click to watch at 2:34
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Best word game of all time
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Word Game
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This shelf is undoubtedly the hardest shelf for me that I've had to do of the three
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5QXJnD78iiw
Jonah's Games general_discussion at 13:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2604 · mention_pk 7699
Click to watch at 13:30
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong cooperative tension with engaging word-deduction
- Accessible and good for casual game nights and larger groups
- Strikes a balance between deduction and teamwork
Cons
- Win condition is less explicit in some plays; not a traditional competitive endgame
Thematic elements
- team-based language puzzle solving
- Cooperative word-deduction experience
- cooperative, puzzle-centric
Comparison games
- Code Names
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative word deduction — players deduce their own word from letters seen by others, using a shared process of clue-giving and discussion
- hidden-letter sharing — letters are dealt face-down and revealed progressively; players clue each other to infer words
- round-based clue allocation — rounds involve revealing letters and deciding on clues; associations and gaps drive deduction
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- income is super important this is almost more of an engine building game than it is really a worker placement game
- this is a fully cooperative game and everybody is simultaneously trying to figure out all of their words
- this game hums along at a great pace
- the events being integrated into the overall action row was such a cool idea
- it's a gateway level to have a game like Nations
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 2Ws2hJ2anmY
One Stop Co-op Shop top_20_list at 14:34 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2049 · mention_pk 5885
Click to watch at 14:34
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- adored it
- best word game for my taste
Cons
- slightly less accessible than Some Clover for new players
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative word-guessing — players give clues to deduce letters without seeing own letters
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The card play is fast and furious.
- it's a solid one if you like a quick playing Solo or competitive card game.
- we had a blast.
- the combos are cool here.
- I absolutely adore it.
- it's so fun it's so accessible.
- the code breaking is fun.
- definitive edition smooths away almost all of the unfun parts.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video OCzj6hWP1rk
The Broken Meeple top_10_list at 3:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1141 · mention_pk 3280
Click to watch at 3:32
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- More gamery than Just One
- Supports large groups
- Simple rules
- Word game appeal
- Alternative to Just One
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Word puzzle and deduction
- Cooperative puzzle
Comparison games
- Just One
- Scrabble
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — Team works together with alternating roles
- deduction — Players deduce the word from the letters spelled out
- Word building — Players spell out words each round using available letters
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a bit of a different top five to what i'm used to doing because normally i do a solo top 10 or i do a collaboration with other people
- so you're getting 10 games for the price of five basically we'll call it a special deal because it's christmas
- palette cleanser you know i'm full i'm stuffed after that meal can we just do something simple now
- this is basically i got a big group of people at christmas most of them aren't gamers we just want something a little bit light
- you literally destroy pretty much every content in this box in order to finish the game
- for a tenner what does it matter you get yourself a good 90 minutes of solid puzzle solving fun
- this is a really cool twist on the love letter series
- this is a really ingenious innovative like trick taking game which is a cooperative game
- this is definitely the one that i put my stock behind in that sort of genre
- it's one of my favorite two player games in existence
- every time i teach this to people they go out and buy it it's that much of a success
- it's only a game bye for now
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–11 of 11