Vanlexis, the word game with a theme

Vanlexis is a real-time online word game that runs in your browser, and you can play it for free. The board is a crossword board, with a twist: every match has a theme, and words that fit the theme are worth far more.

How it works, in three steps

1. The theme sits at the top. CARNAVAL in the picture above. It is in plain sight from the first turn, so you can plan.
2. Build words from the tiles in your rack. Drag the tiles onto the board, like in the classic board game. The first word goes through the center, and the next ones fit around what is already there.
3. Check the affinity before you play. The game tells you whether a word is Frio, Morno, Quente or Escaldante (cold, warm, hot, scorching) for the theme, and how much it will score, before you confirm.

Want the calm, step-by-step version? See how to play.

What makes Vanlexis different

• Vocabulary alone does not win. The longest word is not always the best one. The word that fits the theme can be worth far more, and that decides the match.
• No mystery scores. Affinity shows up in bands, and the breakdown of every move shows where each point came from.
• Bonus squares in plain sight. Letter ×2, Letter ×3, Word ×2 and Word ×3 show on the board with their own color and multiplier.
• Power cards, no permanent power. You earn coins during the match and buy cards to turn the game around. Nothing carries over from one match to the next.
• Built for Portuguese. The dictionary is Brazilian Portuguese and there are no tiles with accents or cedillas: if you build ACAO, the game understands AÇÃO.

Play alone or with friends

In Normal mode you join a queue of two to four players, and bots of a similar level fill the table if people are missing. In Customizada (custom) mode you open a room with a code, invite friends and pick the turn time, the number of rounds, the cards and the theme.

See how to play with friends or read the full rules.