Wordle, the popular online word puzzle game, was created by software engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Palek Shah, who loves crosswords. Originally meant to be a simple pastime during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wardle quickly realized that other puzzle enthusiasts might enjoy the game as well. After sharing it with friends and family, Wordle gained immense popularity, going from 91 players to 2 million in less than three months after its web launch in October 2021. The New York Times took notice of Wordle’s success and purchased the game for a seven-figure sum, making it their most popular word puzzle game.
Despite the plethora of internet fads that come and go, Wordle’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its unique format of five-letter words and six guesses allowed. Wardle explained that through testing various word lengths and the number of tries allowed, he found that five letters and six tries struck the right balance between challenge and accomplishment. Additionally, the limitation of one puzzle per day adds to the game’s appeal, creating a shared communal experience as players around the world attempt to solve the same word at the same time. This model was inspired by the success of similar puzzles, like The New York Times’ Spelling Bee, during the pandemic when Wardle and his partner were engaging in crossword puzzles.
If players are struggling with a Wordle puzzle, Newsweek provides hints to help solve the daily puzzle. For example, a recent puzzle contained two vowels, no repeated letters, began with the letter “P,” and was both a verb and a noun, with the answer being “Paint.” For those eager to play more word puzzle games, Newsweek recommends trying other popular online games as a way to challenge conventional wisdom and find common ground within the online community. In the end, Wordle’s success can be attributed to its engaging format, daily play limit, and ability to create a shared experience among players worldwide.
