A game system for playing a game between a plurality of players, the system comprising: a plurality of matching tile groupings, each one of the matching tile groupings defined by a plurality of tiles having a machine-readable identifier configured to identify its corresponding tile, wherein each one of the matching tile groupings is distinguishable from one another based on a distinct human-readable identifier disposed and viewable only on its bottom surface; a board comprising a plurality of distinct positions for placing each tile; and a scoring brick configured to: maintain each player's score, determine a penalty matching tile grouping and a bonus matching tile grouping, read the machine-readable identifier, and adjust the player's score, wherein the player's score is penalized for a penalty tile, and the player's score is rewarded for a bonus tile or for a predetermined number of consecutively read tiles.