Maven

Maven (aka Word Squares)

Designer: Prof. Marcelo Epstein
Type: Pen and Paper, Word
Status: Free
BGG entry: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/10210
Available from: http://boardgames.about.com/od/wordsquares/a/rules.htm

Equipment: Each player needs a piece of paper and a pen or pencil.

On each piece of paper, draw a 5x5 grid of squares. The first player calls out a letter. Each player writes that letter into one of the 25 available squares. Moving clockwise, the next player then calls out a letter (which may be the same as or different than any letter previously called out). Each player then writes that letter into one of the remaining squares. Repeat this until 25 letters have been called. All 25 squares will be filled on every player's grid.

Words in each column and each row are scored -- the longer the word, the bigger the score. Highest overall score wins.

Maven originated in Argentina and was introduced to North America by Dr. Marcelo Epstein, an Engineering professor at the University of Calgary.

Printable sheets are available from this game's BGG entry.