26-Across

26-Across is a multiplayer crossword game using a board that is either:

 a single magnetic board and 26 magnetic A-Z alphabet tiles with point values
 a dry erase form and marker.

Solo or multiplayer modes.

It is played solo using either a web app or preprinted challenges.

SOLO GOAL: Beat the predetermined score of each challenge.

MULTIPLAYER GOAL: Win three rounds.

CONCEPT: Using just the 26 A-Z alphabetic letters, form as many crossed words as possible and score the result.

SETUP:

Each player grabs the necessary items as indicated above.

MULTIPLAYER GAME PLAY:

At the start of each round, the next player calls out a 4- or 5-letter word as the first "seed" word. The word can only comprise unique letters (as duplicates are not possible), for example GAME but not FUNNY. All players place the letters of the seed word anywhere on their form, left to right or top to bottom. Players have three minutes to play the round.

Players form crosswords using just the remaining letters. Players can rearrange letters as needed to maximize their score. Players are all playing simultaneously in secret.

At the end of the time period, players score their words and show their boards for all players to validate. Orphaned letters and words must be removed. Only interlinked crosswords are scored.

The player with the highest score wins the round and gains one point. If tied, no one wins the round.

Players continue to play additional rounds until someone has won three rounds.

SOLO GAME PLAY: Review a challenge and place the indicated letters on the board in their designated spots. Place as many of the remaining tiles to form crosswords. Score the connected words. If the score meets or exceeds the target score, you win the challenge.