Frenetic is a word game and one of my favourite educational family board games. It’s super simple to learn but hard to play, with a great balance of strategy and a little periodic table familiarity! And although you don’t need to know the periodic table to play it helps. My eldest is a chemistry wizard and whoops us all every time we play as she knows all the symbols.
Frenetic thrives on a simple yet ingenious premise: players use element symbols from the periodic table to create words, scoring points based on the atomic numbers of the elements used. This unique twist not only makes for an engaging gameplay experience but also offers an educational angle, subtly introducing players to the periodic table.
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What’s in The FReNeTiC Game Box
Inside the box you’ll find;
- A foldable game board
- 96 colourful element tiles
- 4 FReNeTiC tiles
- A 45-second sand timer
- 4x score pads to keep track of each player’s points
- 4x pencils
- Playing guide/rule book
All the components are good quality, and the game board is a nice substantial size, giving plenty of room for a clear, well-printed periodic table. The element tile pieces are also of excellent quality with clean smooth edges, good colour, and clear print.
Useful Extras To Add
- Scrap paper/printer paper sheets to use for scribbling down ideas and noting the element symbol tiles in play, as the score pads are quite small.
- A wipe board or large sheet of paper for listing and keeping track of new words
- A timer with an alarm (we use our mobile phone)
- A calculator (some of the numbers to add are large)
- Paper to do calculations on (great for helping younger kids with addition)
If you like this blog post you may also be interested in these other word-based games we’ve reviewed; Lex-Go, Team Story and Codenames.
Aim Of The Game
The aim of FReNeTiC, is to score the highest number of points by creating words using elements on the periodic table. For example, using Scandium (Sc), Oxygen (O), and Neon (Ne), a player could form the word “ScONe“. Points are awarded based on the atomic number of the elements used in the words created. So the higher up the periodic table your elements are the higher your point scoring will be.
How To Play FReNeTiC
FReNeTiC is played in timed rounds with each player scoring points at the end.
Game Set Up
The game setup is quick and simple.
- The periodic table board is placed in the center of the playing area, within easy reach of all players.
- Each player is handed a pencil, score pad, and any scrap paper required. T
- The bag of tiles is jiggled to mix them up and given to the first player along with the timer.
Rounds
The first round is unique in that the player draws eight tiles out of the bag. All rounds after that only have 4 tiles drawn.
The tiles are placed, face-up, on the matching element on the board. The timer is flipped over and all players write down as many words as they can, using the element letters before the timer runs out. The player who picked the tiles gets to read their words first!
Words cannot be duplicated by players so with each round, the first player has the advantage as they get to read off their words first. Any players with the same word(s) must cross it off their list. Each player follows taking turns to read their unique words. And again, any duplicate words with other players must be crossed off. When all players have read out their words points are scored by adding up the atomic number of each element used.
For the next round (and all proceeding rounds) the next player takes the bag of tiles and only draws 4 element tiles to add to the board. The timer is flipped and all players race to make as many words as they can using all the element tiles currently on the board.
Winning
Play continues until a player reaches 1000 points in total.
Special Tiles
4 special tiles do not have elements on them. These are FReNeTiC Tiles. These are special tiles that can be used like a joker and are not placed on the board. They can be used as any element to help make a word in any round, in any word BUT you can the tile once. They also score the same points as the element tile they are being used as.
Word Rules
- The letters must be kept in the order they are written on the element.
- If you create a word using a red element square your score doubles!
- Any element that has a green square around it has a name that can be made using the tiles.
- Each word must use at least 2 tiles
- You can play plurals
- You can use element symbols more than once in a word (this is often forgotten)
- You can’t duplicate a word already used in any previous round unless it’s the same word using different tiles
- You can’t use; suffixes, prefixes, abbreviations, hyphenations, acronyms or foreign words not in the dictionary.
There is also a booklet you can purchase that lists over 3000 words you can make using the game if you need a little help.
Special Words
13 element names can be spelt using the element tiles. If you spell one of these, you can claim all the FReNeTiC Tile that have been put aside (used), any being held by other players. And, if you used one to make the element name… you can re-use it! The elements in question are highlighted with a green square around them on the board.
Alternative Ways To play Frenetic
Frenetic’s flexible design allows for various alternative ways to play, catering to different group sizes, ages, and educational goals. Some variations include:
- Solo Play: A single player can challenge themselves to see how many points they can score within a set number of rounds, focusing on improving their own high score.
- Team Play: Players can form teams, combining their knowledge and strategies to compete against other teams, which adds a cooperative element to the game.
- Extened Time: The 45-second timer is quite fast so extending the time to 2-3 minutes can help anyone that needs additional time to process.
- Allow Duplicate Words: This can help when playing with younger kids
- Specific word length: Teachers or parents can use the game as a teaching tool, focusing on specific groups of elements or word lengths to tailor the game to educational needs.
- Matching Game: Get kids to have fun placing the tiles in the correct position on the board
- Play Without The Board: The playing board spreads out the element letters. If it’s removed the element letters can be placed close to each other on the table making it easier to see potential words.
Reaching 1000 points can happen quite quickly depending on the element tiles drawn and the players involved in the game. To extend gameplay time increase the points needed or play a specific amount of rounds with the winner being the player with the highest score.
Playing Tips
- Have stronger players sitting to the side or top of the playing board
- Give each player a notepad or scrap paper to keep a note of the elements tiles in play as it helps to identify words.
- Notice where the colour blocks of tiles are on the playing board
- Remove some of the tiles so to make it easier for younger kids to make words
- Print out a list of words that can be made using the element tiles to help younger players
- Print out a list of the element names that can be used using the element tiles
Educational Value
Not only is Frenetic’s great fun to play but it also has fantastic educational value. Integrating the periodic table into its core gameplay provides a fun way to learn and memorise the elements and their symbols. It naturally reinforces learning through the process of repetition and practice, making it a valuable educational tool disguised as play!
Children (and adults) will start to recognise where the elements sit on the table, and remember what the elements’ atomic number is. And, thanks to the clever use of colour will even start to form an idea of how the elements are grouped on a periodic table.
oh! And let’s not forget about the maths! Some pretty big numbers need to be added together during the game. This is fantastic practice for children whether it’s adding up in their score on paper or in their head.
What Did We Think Of Frenetic
If you love word games you’ll love Frenetic and if you love the periodic table you’ll love Frenetic. It’s a fabulous fusion of education and entertainment, offering a gameplay experience that is as enriching as it is enjoyable. As a parent, I found it an invaluable game for familiarising my kids with the periodic table as well as making them think about word construction, and of course, there’s that little extra maths element.
It feels like a lot of thought was put into the look and feel of the game. With all the game components being made from good quality material;
- the element tiles that have lovely smooth gently rounded off edges.
- the board is large, but not too large, providing a clear image of the periodic table with decent-sized spaces to place the element tiles.
- The colour scheme is mindful and calming
- the tile bag is nice material with a solid Frenetic logo printed on it
- The insert, although plastic, is sturdy and well-planned
The rules are straightforward enough for children to understand yet challenging enough to keep adults engaged, making it an excellent choice for family game nights. And the game’s pace and competitive edge also make it a hit at parties and social get-togethers, providing a lively and interactive way to bond with friends and family.
Some kids (and adults) may struggle with the 45-second timer, but an easy workaround is to extend the time allowed for each round. I would suggest you do this as a matter of course when first playing the game to help people settle into the style of the game. It takes a while for the brain to get used to visualising words using a mix of upper and lower case letters that don’t naturally flow.
I would also suggest using a timer with an alarm as it’s easy to get absorbed in the creation of words and miss the timer ending! And have extra paper to scribble ideas and keep a record
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your vocabulary, learn the periodic table, or simply enjoy a competitive game with friends and family, Frenetic delivers on all fronts. With its broad appeal and innovative gameplay, Frenetic is much more than a game. It’s a prime example of the power of board games to educate, challenge, and bring people together.
And if you fancy winning yourself your own FReNeTiC game enter fill in the Rafflecopter game below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway– This giveaway is open to residents of the UK only.
– ONE winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
– The winner will be contacted by e-mail within 3 days of the competition end, if they do not respond within 28 days another winner may be chosen.
– Your details will not be passed onto any other third parties, apart from Accentuate Games Ltd representatives, by TheToyScoop.
– The winner will be sent a copy of FReNeTiC directly from Accentuate Games Ltd.
– Delivery is not the responsibility of TheToyScoop and may take some time to arrive.
– Any damage or problems with the prize is not the responsibility of TheToyScoop and all queries should be directed to Accentuate Games Ltd.
– Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will be disqualified.
– There is no cash alternative.
– Competition starts on 23/02/2024 – 08/03/2024 midnight