Trickster (board game)

Trickster, marketed as Scrabble Trickster, is a word game created by Mattel and announced on 6 April 2010 as a spin off product built on the mechanics and brand recognition of the company's existing Scrabble word game. The game was planned for European release beginning in July 2010, but was not brought to North America because Hasbro, rather than Mattel, controls Scrabble publishing rights in that territory. Two to four players compete, drawing and placing lettered tiles under a ruleset intended to be faster and more chance driven than classic Scrabble, with a recommended setup time of only two to six minutes. The game is recommended for players aged eight and up and draws on skills including anagramming, bluffing, basic mathematics, spelling, strategy and vocabulary. Trickster illustrates how established tabletop brands are periodically refreshed with faster, more casual spin off editions aimed at drawing new or younger players into a franchise's existing fan base.