If You Love Wordle, You're Going to Be Obsessed With These Games
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New York Times Spelling Bee fanatics may have swapped their tried-and-true word game for the popular free online game Wordle that has taken the word world by storm. But there exists a vast collection of word game apps available to download on your iPhone and Android. Each has their own rules, aesthetic, and fanbase but all aim to puzzle the mind game strategists among us.
Whether you prefer something more traditional that takes inspiration from word game classics like Scrabble, or you have no hesitation in trying something new, these word game apps will entertain you for hours. If you are looking for fun ways to spend your rainy spring afternoon, free apps like Wordscapes, SpellTower, and Pictoword offer a friendly challenge for you and the kids. What's even better? These apps are all free to download and some even allow you to connect with friends, family, and fans from around the world.
Here are 11 word game apps that you should go ahead and download ASAP.
Wordscapes
If you always finish your weekly crossword puzzle, Wordscapes is a must-try. This word game has a similar layout to a crossword puzzle, with lines of empty spaces intersecting, but this time there are no clues. Instead, you are given between three and seven letters in your "wheel." You connect these letters to form words by dragging your finger across the screen. The goal is to fill your board with the correctly chosen words; however, if you spell a word that doesn't appear on the board it becomes a "bonus word" that can be used later in the game. While the instructions are pretty basic, there are various "power-ups" that bring this app to the next level, as well as weekly Wordscapes tournaments for those who are serious fans. Another fun aspect of this word game is that each level has a scenic snapshot of nature. So while you may become frustrated as you level up, the mountainous or coastal view will provide some escape as you brainstorm words.
Words with Friends 2
Words with Friends has its own cult following like other popular word games. The second version has the same objectives as the original, but with the added bonus of the latest features, including a Solo Challenge mode. The beauty of this word game app is that you can play against a friend (as the name implies) or a random player. Similar to Scrabble, players can only form words horizontally or vertically. You can use your turn to swap a tile from your rack with a new letter from the Tile Bag. The game typically ends when one player has played every tile in their rack, but there are some exceptions. To read more about these intricacies and how the scoring works, check out these helpful instructions.
SpellTower
If you aren't immediately drawn to this game by its fantastical name, then you will be soon enough after playing a round. The general gist of the game is to form words from letters on your board, almost reminiscent of Boggle. Things get a bit dicier as you experiment with over eight different modes, such as "Search" which prompts you to find the best word on the board. SpellTower has its own website that is super helpful and user-friendly for new players. The best-selling word game was developed by Zach Gage and Jack Schlesinger in 2008, and since its founding has been downloaded over a million times. Join in on the word game fun and add to the growing list of words made by SpellTower fans — it's already above a billion!
Word Cookies!
Bakers will love this word game that reimagines apps like Wordscapes with a sweet twist. You are still forming words with letters from your "bowl," but this time your guesses are designed as cookies on a baking sheet and each level has its own flavor, including (but not limited to) oatmeal, ginger, and red velvet. There are various packs and even weekly missions that players, or bakers, can take on. While the aesthetics of the app are adorable, there do tend to be a fair amount ads between rounds. But you can purchase a membership for Word Cookies! to skip the ads and get back to baking (words).
Scrabble GO
Scrabble GO is exactly what its name implies: a mobile device version of the almost century-old game. Similar to Words with Friends 2, Scrabble GO gives you the option to connect with your friends on the app, or opt to play with strangers. Either way, you will be given seven tiles from the 100 letter tile set. Just like with Scrabble, you form words vertically and horizontally and each letter also has a certain value associated with it. What sets Scrabble GO apart from its gaming app opponents are the boosts and gems you collect as you play. These help you level up your skills but also bring new challenges to the word game.
Wheel of Fortune
Are you a big fan of the sensational TV show "Wheel of Fortune?" Then the mobile version of this iconic game show is the next word game app you need to download. Spin the famous wheel and pretend to be a contestant from the comfort of your home.
Alpha Omega
Another take on the crossword puzzle, Alpha Omega asks players to unscramble letters, instead of forming words from clues. Set up with intersecting rows, the app has a clean and calming aesthetic. Each time you unscramble a word, it locks in place to help you determine the other words on your board. If you get stuck, you can click on the clue at the top of the screen. If this sounds daunting, know that the first and last letters of each word are already set in place!
Typeshift
Typeshift was also developed by Zach Gage and can be played online or downloaded for your iPhone, Android, or tablet. Regardless of how you choose to play this free word game, you will still slide columns up or down to spell out a word in the center row. There are themed puzzles such as Snowday, Take Me Out To The Ball Game, and Earth Day which ask you to form words under these themes.
Crossword Puzzle Redstone
While these crosswords are delivered to your fingertips via an app, this game is still the same old word puzzle that has been entertaining generations. There are thousands of crosswords available for free thanks to Redstone; the app has even been credited as the "crossword lover's dream app." In addition to thousands of puzzles, you can also choose between four different difficulty levels as well as make use of various features such as "Smart Look Up" which will you give you suggestions for your next move. Another perk of this app is that it can clear your errors, rather than you having to scratch out mistakes on a physical crossword.
Pictoword
Pictoword asks players to spell a hidden word with only one hint — or perhaps two hints. Each round a player will see two images appear on their screen. Below these there will be 13 scrambled letters that contain the word that the two images are trying to spell. Your job is to guess this word, not necessarily using all of the tiles available. Sometimes the word will be obvious, while other times you will have to put two and two together (literally).
WordJong
WordJong takes inspiration from Mahjong Solitaire but instead of matching winning symbols, players are solving daily word puzzles. Similar to word games like Wordle, there is a new challenge each day. If you were quick to solve that day's word, you can go back to previous days and keep playing as many rounds as you like. There are also seven different Zodiac characters who each have their own style and difficulty level. The more challenges you complete, the more gold coins and power-ups you obtain.
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