For Scrabble enthusiasts, there's nothing that can beat the classic game but there are a few other Scrabble ventures that could switch up Scrabble game night without wandering too far from the classic.

If you are hooked on Scrabble but don't have the time to play a full game, then there is a way to enjoy the word game. It's called Scrabble Express and it takes 20 minutes to play. It's portable, so you can enjoy a good game of Scrabble anywhere from the break room to your favorite restaurant.

All the game pieces are stored in the game pod. Included are 12 letter dice, a small game board, a one-minute timer, black pouch, pad, and paper. Players roll usually around 7 dice that they draw from the black pouch. Then players have 1 minute to place their word on the board. They score their word - taking into account any double or triple point spaces. Play continues until a player reaches 200 points.

While this game does carry the Scrabble name, it is different than the classic version. Scrabble strategy need not apply to this Scrabble Express since you are dealing with a different atmosphere of creating words. There's no way to possibly plan a game plan when your word choice is totally dependent upon the roll of the dice.

If you're tired of waiting on other player's to place their words, then try playing Scrabble Apple. Scrabble Apple comes with 100 tiles and unlike Scrabble, everyone plays at the same time. Players call out words they see but they have to be fast because their word can be stolen by another player. Play continues until all of the tiles are gone.

While nothing can take the place of the classic Scrabble game, it is good to know there are ways to play the game that are portable and faster. Scrabble Express offers the core game play of Scrabble in less time while Scrabble Apple gives the game a more competitive, free-for-all challenge. Both games give Scrabble fans the familiarity of a favorite board game but with a few twists.