Chess or Letter Hunt?
Both games come with Gather. Here’s how they differ and when each one fits better.
The key differences
- From 3 players on, only Letter Hunt works: it goes up to 10 players, Chess only up to 2.
- Letter Hunt is quicker to learn than Chess (explained in a minute vs. takes experience).
- Letter Hunt needs a TV, or an iPad or Mac as the table; Chess also runs on phones alone.
- Letter Hunt is louder than Chess (lively vs. silent).
- Only Chess can be played against the computer – Letter Hunt needs real players.
- Chess rewards skill more than Letter Hunt (pure skill vs. mostly skill).
- Chess works from age 6, we recommend Letter Hunt from 9.
- Letter Hunt is over sooner: usually 10–25 minutes, while Chess takes 10–40 minutes.
At a glance
| At a glance | Chess | Letter Hunt |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Board and dice games | Party games |
| Players | 2 players | 2–10 players |
| Length of a game | 10–40 min | 10–25 min |
| Age | ages 6+ | ages 9+ |
| Luck or skill | pure skill | mostly skill |
| Noise level | silent | lively |
| Learning curve | takes experience | explained in a minute |
| Interaction | you react to each other | you react to each other |
| TV | not needed | needed |
| Against the computer | yes | no |
| Teams | no | no |
| Bluffing | no | no |
| Reading needed | no | yes |
Which one suits you?
Chess
Two players, one board, no luck: whoever plans better wins. With a clock it turns into a race against time; without one there’s room to think things through.
Pick Chess when two people want a calm, focused game.
Letter Hunt
The classic word game without pen and paper: one letter, several categories, and whoever finishes first calls “Stop!”. You score together – dodgy answers can be challenged and the majority decides.
Pick Letter Hunt when you enjoy playing with words and don’t mind a friendly argument.
What they have in common
- Both only work with exactly 2 players.
- Both come free with Gather and need no account.