Wordle, a word puzzle game, was created by Josh Wardle, a software engineer based in New York, during the coronavirus lockdown. Wardle’s original intention was to create a game for himself and his partner to enjoy, but the game quickly gained popularity after its release to the public in October 2021. Players began sharing their results on social media, leading to a global sensation. In January 2022, The New York Times acquired Wordle for a seven-figure sum, although the game remains free to play.
Erhan Aslan, an applied linguistics professor at the University of Reading, offered some advice for Wordle players in a previous interview with Newsweek. He emphasized the importance of choosing a starting word that includes commonly used vowels and consonants, such as ‘e’ and ‘a’, ‘r’ and ‘t’, respectively. Aslan also suggested avoiding words that start with less commonly used letters like ‘q’, ‘z’, ‘j’, or ‘x’. By drawing on knowledge of phonics and analyzing feedback from guesses, users can narrow down or eliminate potential words to solve the puzzle more effectively. The game challenges players to guess a five-letter word within six tries based on feedback provided by the game.
On January 13, 2022, Newsweek provided hints and tips for solving the Wordle puzzle of the day, which included clues about the composition of the answer word. The hints suggested that the answer contained two vowels, had no repeated letters, was associated with synonyms like “susceptible” and “willing”, and ended with a vowel. The final hint referenced the saying, “There is no ‘I’ in team”, hinting at the absence of the letter ‘i’ in the solution. The puzzle for that day was revealed to be the word “prone”, which is defined by Merriam-Webster as having a tendency or inclination. Players were encouraged to continue playing and improving their skills over time.
The popularity of Wordle continued to grow as players worldwide engaged with the daily puzzles and shared their results on social media. The game’s simplicity and accessibility contributed to its widespread appeal, with players of all ages and backgrounds enjoying the challenge of guessing the hidden word. The acquisition of Wordle by The New York Times was a significant milestone for the game, indicating its cultural impact and potential for further growth. Despite the acquisition, the game remains free for all players to enjoy, maintaining its accessibility and inclusive nature.
Wordle’s success can be attributed to its engaging gameplay, word-based challenge, and social media presence. Players are drawn to the daily puzzles as a way to test their vocabulary skills, problem-solving abilities, and perseverance. The hints and tips provided by Newsweek and other sources offer guidance for players seeking to improve their performance and tackle the puzzles more effectively. As the game continues to evolve and attract new players, its status as a global sensation is likely to endure, providing entertainment and mental stimulation for audiences around the world.
