Everyone is playing Wordle - Avoid these fake apps that are charging for the free game
Do you remember the classic word game Hangman? One player thinks of a word, and then the other player has to guess the individual letters within a limited amount of tries. Prefer cards over letters? Here are some of the best online solitaire games you can play for free.
You might have seen a recent new take on the old classic that has exploded in popularity — especially on social media. The game is called Wordle and works very much on the same principle.
But there is more to this guess-the-word game than meets the eye. Read on to see how Wordle has gone from a love story to a global sensation.
Here’s the backstory
Brooklyn-based software developer Josh Wardle initially had no aspirations to make a hit word game. Although the former Reddit developer is no stranger to viral success, the beginnings of Wordle are far more humble than what you’re probably imagining.
Wardle’s partner loves word-based games, and since he is a proficient software developer, he set out to create a game that only the two could play. The game’s name is a play on “word” and his last name. The game made its way onto the family WhatsApp group, and then he released it to the public last October.
At first, there was no indication that it could become a daily challenge for thousands — let alone millions — of people globally. Around 90 people discovered Wordle a month later, and the first signs of “going viral” started to show. Two weeks ago, over 300,000 people tried to guess the daily word. This past weekend? Over 2 million.
What is Wordle all about?
Presented on a no-frills website, players see a grid that consists of six rows and five blocks in each row. A keyboard at the bottom makes it easier for mobile players to input the characters. The correct word changes every day, and it is up to players to guess what it is.
The word is five letters long, and you only get six tries before you have to come back the next day. It’s more complicated than it seems, but luckily Wordle helps you out a bit. Each time you input a word, you’ll see the accuracy of your guess.
Pro tip: There is only one place to play Wordle, and that is on the dedicated webpage. There are no iOS or Android apps. If you see an app in any mobile app store, know it is a fake.
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