word games
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Wordle’s Wordlebot will analyze how badly you played
Players can find out if they played efficiently or just got lucky.
Some gendered slurs no longer on Wordle’s word list
The (at least three) words you can no longer use on Wordle.
LetterPop gets an "A" for awesome
In LetterPop players compete against other players in turn-based matches to create the longest words from a random assortment of 15 letters. There are three rounds lasting 90 seconds each, that players compete to get the highest score from before the data is sent to the other player and it becomes a waiting game to see the words your opponent can come up with using those same 15 letters. LetterPop is compatible with iOS devices running iOS 7.0 or later. LetterPop is great for people with a lot of friends on Facebook who like word games. You can quickly invite people from your friends list to play against you. It is a lot of fun playing against friends and the matches go by quicker than in the smart matches against random LetterPop players. Smart match is nice when players want to test their skills against someone they don't know well, which adds some variety to the gameplay. However, players might have to wait awhile to hear back if they won or lost the smart match, as there is no way to tell when the other player will complete their turn. This could be remedied by a timeout feature; maybe if the opponent doesn't play their turn in a certain amount of time they forfeit the match. When players win a match, there is a great feeling of accomplishment and this feeds into the desire to play again. Even when players lose a match, there is the option to have a rematch with that opponent which foster players' engagement. LetterPop also features an in -pp leaderboard to compete for title of having the most wins for the week. This is great for friendly competitions between friends, and encourages players to keep coming back to climb higher up the leaderboard. The UI in LetterPop is very clean with pops of bright color, like on the "new game" button or the letters themselves. The menus are intuitive as well, which helps make the experience of navigating through the game more enjoyable. The only real downside to LetterPop - besides the sometimes long waits between matches - is that the game requires a Facebook login to play. LetterPop is US$0.99 on the App Store and recommended as a fun competitive word game for players who enjoy games like Scrabble.
Steal words and make them your own with WordXchange game
WordXchange is a clever multiplayer word game that's based around using a pool of just a few letters plus the words your opponent makes to create words of your own. Game options include playing against a computer, multiplayer with up to four people or pass-and-play with people you're with. To win the game, you have to make six words before the other players. It sounds complicated, but in practice it keeps you on your feet. WordXchange is free for iPhone and iPad with in-app purchases. It took me a while to grasp the concept of WordXchange. I knew that my objective was to make words from the words my opponent already made but it seemed difficult given the very few letters available in the pool. Fortunately there's a tutorial that helps you along your first time playing. You're given a few letters scattered in the middle, plus one red letter at the bottom left. While every player in the game sees and chooses from the letters in the middle, the red letter is accessible and visible to only you. When someone creates a word using these letters, your main objective is to then take that word and, without removing any of the letters in that word, make a new word. If you do this successfully, the opponent loses that word and you gain your new one for yourself. This deserves an example. My opponent plays the word "bot." I notice that I have an A to use, so I decide to steal the opponent's word and create the word "boat." This means I gain this word for my own score and the opponent loses it. It's not necessary to steal words though. Making a word with the letters available in the pool is fine, it just doesn't rob your opponent of anything. If you can't make a word at all with the given letters, skip your turn until new ones appear that are useful to you. All of the rules mentioned above are part of WordXchange's Classic mode. There's actually two other game modes: Neo-Classic and Fusion. Neo-Classic has slightly different rules like only being able to play one word during your turn and Fusion makes all tiles private and visible to just you. WordXchange also has some other gameplay options. Elect to turn a timer on or off to give players a certain amount of time to form a word before forfeiting the turn, allow or deny acronyms, choose an easy, medium or hard difficulty and choose the aforementioned game mode. Five power-ups boost your score in the game and therefore your amount of coins. You spend coins on these power-ups. Two coins gets you an additional 30 seconds (for timed games only,) three coins generates an anagram, a dictionary definition (very handy and in my opinion should be a free, included feature) costs two coins, a tile swap costs one coin and a word suggestion that would be your "best move" for the turn costs five coins. If you run out of coins, they range from a pack of 50 for US$0.99 to 5,000 for $5.99. As affordable as this price range is, I find the game extremely playable without having to spend any money. That's a true rarity among games with in-app purchases and a compliment. Everything about WordXchange is alluring. The graphics are nice for a word game, the gameplay is fun and addictive, in-app purchases are affordable and there's a plethora of game options to customize to your liking. Get for free in the App Store.
Wordrix is a fun puzzle, but a puzzling game
Wordrix is available for iPhone and iPad, optimized for iPhone 5, requiring iOS 6 or later. A kind of Scrabble for the iPhone lover, it is free but features an in-app store where the user can purchase coins to unlock different features (base pack starting at US0.99). This is a fun pastime that will predominately appeal to the casual gamer, but its increasing complexity will also find a niche among experienced and determined gamers. However, there are a number of oddities that may give players of all levels pause. Meant to appeal to lovers of word games and puzzles, Wordrix features 72 levels of increasing and diverse challenges, divided into different chapters. Players must create words by dragging their finger across lettered tiles. Only connecting tiles can be used, and each letter is assigned a particular numerical point value. The player is supposed to score a certain number of points per level, and words should be chosen wisely, as the number of moves per level are limited. In addition to rationing movements, players must also incorporate various challenges into game play, such as using all of the tiles covered by split ink. Wordrix also features "powerups," including the ability to erase a tile (replaced with a new letter), swap any two tiles, and be shown a high-scoring word. Differently colored tiles feature bonuses, such as doubling or tripling the value of a letter or an entire word. Upon the completion of a level, the player will view a screen detailing the points they won, if the time limit had to be reached, and their all-time best word and score. Within 60 seconds I was able to score over 700 points and create a word worth 180 points ("freeze"). Within each level it is possible to win a bronze, silver, or gold trophy depending on how quickly the player wins the necessary number of points and in how many moves. Here, perhaps I could have been a little faster or a little more ingenious with my movements, as I only scored a bronze trophy. Players have the option of viewing each chapter's levels as a whole upon completion. The highest-attained trophy is displayed along with any specifics of the particular level, such as its move limit (shown in the lower right-hand corner) whether it involved inked tiles or was timed. Clicking non each book will show more details, as well as an option to replay the level. The iTunes description said the game was addicting, and that was certainly true! As a lover of words and language, I had to call upon both my extensive mental library and my powers of logic to figure out how to maneuver the highest-scoring words in sometimes very intricate ways. Still, despite the clever idea, attractive graphics, and streamlined interface, there were several issues which left me scratching my head. I did not expect the game to have an Oxford English Dictionary level of linguistic finesse, but some of its word choices puzzled me. For example, two-letter words such as "no," "is," or "on" are not allowed, but what I first assumed were proper names ("Ben," "Tom," and "Lea") were actually extremely obscure words. Another was a form of Japanese currency. This did not really hurt my overall gameplay, but the seeming randomness made the game exceptionally confusing and less fun. A far greater critique is the in-app store. While playing, I could not figure out why some of the powerups were being offered but were unusable. A closer look revealed the store was to purchase coins to use in the game to buy different features (including critical powerups). In fact, it was my lack of further powerups coupled with my unwillingness to shell out almost $3 for fake coins that made me stop the game after level 16. Making players pay good money for fake coins risks alienating players who appreciate the game's ingenuity and challenge, but are not committed enough to buy in-game coins. Overall, Wordirx is a neat little game, a brainteaser for the electronically literate. Its seemingly obscure word choices and its play-crushing requirement to spend real money in exchange for fake (but progression-necessitating) money make it a puzzle in ways I doubt the creator intended.
Daily iPhone App: Letter Rush puts a new spin on spelling games
Word games are probably my least favorite genre on the App Store at this point -- I think they're overused, and many companies these days are just kicking out half-baked spelling games in the hopes of reaching a large casual audience. But Letter Rush, put together by a former Zynga studio, is different enough that it's worth mentioning: It's a word game that will probably make you better at word games. Most word games give you a set of tiles and ask you to spell words with them, and Letter Rush does that as well. But this game also gives you the words to spell, as they move across the top of the screen towards the left. That makes it a much different game than usual -- it's more about learning to spot words than actually spell them. And it could even teach you to be better at word games, to look for ways to spell certain words that might not be readily apparent at first. The goal is to spell all the words on screen before they hit the left side, but you do have a few extra powerups helping you out. Occasionally, words will have blanks in them, and in that case, you can use any letter in that spot (though that sometimes backfires, as it appears the word still needs to be legit, so there may be only one letter that fits in that space). And sometimes you'll get a bomb letter tile, which, when used, will clear the entire board for you. The game is essentially endless, but when words reach the far side of the screen, it's game over. Letter Rush is an interesting take on the oft-visited word game genre, and it's different enough that it's worth a look even if you're bored of spelling games on the iPhone. Letter Rush is available as a free download right now.
Daily iPhone App: QatQi is a free word game that's different enough to try
QatQi is, I am almost sorry to say, a new word game on the App Store. To be quite honest, I'm tired of spelling things out on my iPad's screen. That's not to say that there aren't good word games out there. Spelltower and Puzzlejuice are two great recommendations, but it's easier than ever these days to get all word-gamed out. I still recommend QatQi. It doesn't exactly transcend its word game roots. It has a lot in common with crossword puzzles, which are some of the oldest word games out there, but it's stylish and well-designed enough that it's worth downloading and playing a few levels to see if you like it. As you can see in the video below, the biggest twist is that you're building words on a limited playing space. Not only do you need to arrange your letters in the right order, but you need to do so within a confined grid, trying to earn as many points as possible. QatQi (pronounced "cat-key") is free, which makes it all the more appetizing. There's a lot of content too: One puzzle for every day in a year, which is very impressive. The app's paid for with in-app purchases in the form of undos, but I found that there were plenty of free undos to be had before I had to spend anything. Even if you're as burned out on word games as I am, QatQi's still worth a look.
SpellTower offers fun word-based board-clearing game
For US$3.99, SpellTower (now on the Mac App Store) provides an amusing diversion for anyone who likes word games. Although it's similar to other "find the word" board-clearing games, it adds in just enough bonus features to differentiate it from the pack. The blue and black squares provide extra destruction powers and "minimum word size" indicators nicely ramp-up game play as they force you to build extra-long words. Words of at least 5 letters supply extra board-clearing power. These extras combine for a quicker game pace tempered with a few extra challenges. Game Center integration and multiple play modes (tower mode, puzzle mode, and rush mode) mean you won't bore from gameplay any time soon. I preferred the Tower Mode (no pressure, 150 letters, max out your points) to Puzzle Mode (think "Tetris," adding a row each time you make a word). Your mileage may vary. All in all, I enjoyed giving SpellTower a whirl. It's light, it's fun, and I don't think you'll feel cheated by your four dollar outlay. #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Merriam-Webster announces Dictionary API for developers, coming to a word game near you
Merriam-Webster just announced its new Dictionary API, which gives developers access to the full dictionary and thesaurus, along with more specialized content like medical, Spanish, ESL and student-targeted vocabulary lists. The API will let app makers integrate word definitions, etymologies, audio pronunciations and more. While this content will no doubt make it into a slew of educational apps, Merriam-Webster says it will also enhance word games, so maybe Scramble and Words with Friends will finally start accepting those obscure three-letter words you have up your sleeve.
7 Little Words offers great fluffy fun but not enough content
Recently, developer Christopher York pinged me and asked me to take a look at his latest offering, 7 Little Words. He's the developer who brought us the well-designed Moxie 2 last year. Being a word-aholic, I was happy to take a peek at this new title. A freemium-styled game, 7 Little Words ropes you in with a sampler of 25 short word puzzles, which you can then upgrade to a paid set. The game play is simple but engaging. The app splits seven words into component letters. It's up to you to recombine those words using the clue list. "Four score" is EI + GH + TY, six letters long. Some of the clues are a bit pop-culture-y and over-thirties may be at an advantage for these. It's really easy to play in short spurts, and there are 25 free levels in total. The problem is that those levels go very quickly, and there's only a single premium upgrade set currently available for purchase, with more promised on the horizon. I really enjoyed 7 Little Words -- I just wish there were more of it available for in-app purchase today.
Kindle 2 gets more game, Kindle 1 gets more wrinkles
Sure, Jeff Bezos may be keen on keeping Kindle a "purpose-built reading device" (for now, at any rate), but that doesn't mean you can't have a little multimedia fun, right? Amazon has published two diction-centric games, Shuffled Row and Every Word, free of charge and available now for delivery via Whispernet. Both involve word creation -- the former with 60 disposable letters and the latter with six or seven reusable tiles à la Scramble -- and neither seem to be available for the Kindle 1. Second-generation and DX owners seem to be playing without issue, but the most faithful of early adopters? You just got another reason to upgrade -- a minor one, yes, but it very well could be a sign of Things to Come.
Hands on with WordCrasher: word puzzles meet Tetris
WordCrasher [iTunes link] is a little gem that deserves a much wider audience than it's currently receiving at App Store. With just 17 ratings to date, this little $0.99 application needs better exposure. Hopefully this review will help. WordCrasher offers a word puzzle game that mixes Tetris-style game play (don't let the letter tiles reach the top of the screen) with Scrabble-like word creation strategy (build words from the letter tiles to eliminate them from play). If you're a word puzzle enthusiast, you'll definitely want to check out WordCrasher. Developer Kevin Ng's graphics are phenomenal, which might be hard to tell from this low frame rate video, which shows me playing the app for a level. A lot of work has gone into them, making the moment-by-moment gameplay extremely satisfying. I particularly loved the rotating menu sequence that starts each session. It's a visual style I haven't seen on other apps, and it gives WordCrasher a unique visual "voice" that stands out from the crowd. WordCrasher offers two game styles: marathon, where you play until you Tetris out of room, and flood panic, which introduces the cool concept of slowly filling the bottom of the game level with "water". Tiles begin to float up from the bottom as well as pile in from the top. It's a nice twist, and especially challenging. If I have any complaint, it's that the built in dictionary tends to be fairly prosaic. A lot of Scrabble-standard words are regularly denied. I'd love to see Ng offer more flexible dictionary support for those of us who tend to geek out on word games. On a side note, WordCrasher uses OpenFeint to manage its top scores system. Seeing OpenFeint initially made me think there might be some sort of interactive gameplay between anonymous participants, say Crash Wars or something like that. but alas no. That's not to take away from my opinion about the quality of the game as is. As it stands, WordCrasher is fabulous. It is likely to be staying on my phone for a while. Word game enthusiasts will love it. Recommended. TUAW is commonly provided with not-for-resale licenses or promo codes to permit product evaluations and reviews. For more details, see our policy page. Promo code requests are not guarantees of reviews.
