The Concept

Contracktions is a card game centered on contractions—the shortened word forms that trip people up in writing and speech. The game is designed to be fast, easy to learn, and unexpectedly competitive. It works for two players or a full table.

How It's Played

Players are dealt cards representing word pairs and contractions. On each turn, players race to correctly match pairs, call out contractions, or challenge opponents' plays. Points are scored for speed and accuracy. A round takes about fifteen minutes.

Design

The card layout went through several iterations to get the hierarchy right—what you need to read quickly under pressure versus what can wait. Typography was chosen for legibility at the small scale of a playing card. The name is a deliberate misspelling: a contraction of "contract" and "contractions."

Status

The game has been playtested with friends and continues to be refined. Full rules and printable card sheets will be posted here once the design is locked in.