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There are few games that reach the height of cultural phenomena quite like Wordle has. Since its launch last year, the easy to play word-of-the-day browser game is quickly approaching its 300th decipher, however, the buzz surrounding each mystery word on social media suggests no signs of slowing down. Spawning countless clues and even a Wordle-themed birthday cake, the mark the puzzler has made in casual gaming and the internet this year isn't cryptic.
Recently acquired by The New York Times, certain changes have been made to the simple premise of Wordle. Some are positive, like the inability to use explicit words, however, some players are concerned Wordle may eventually find itself behind a paywall under the publication. Additionally, the removal of its archive that allowed fans to play previous puzzles disheartened many getting into the craze. Still, its core gameplay remains true to its humble beginnings and continues to produce many fan-made clones showcasing creative tweaks and iterations to Wordle.
One Redditor by the name caljed has shared their version of Wordle that allows players to participate in a multiplayer element of the popular game. Posted to the official Wordle subreddit, the game, which was coded by the original poster, lets users input their own five-letter word, name, and then share the browser link with others to guess their word.
Available via the browser Wordlewithfriends.com, this will surely add a greater competitive aspect to Wordle, motivating some wordsmiths to dig deep into their eclectic vocabulary before testing peers in group chats. Much like the boom of the multiplayer game Among Us during the COVID-19 pandemic, the drive for party-based and easy to pick-up premises with friends is a market Wordle could easily pitch a stake in.
Yet, Wordle has no shortage of fan interpretations and clones for enthusiasts of the word solving game. Included in the extensive line-up is the likes of Survivle, which tasks players not to solve its five-lettered word. While an adaptation on handheld platforms like the 3DS or Nintendo Switch wouldn’t be out of place, the inclusion of a multiplayer element or social media integration would surely benefit the title.
Despite uncertainty for Wordle’s future under The New York Times’ domain, its popularity and continued support through fanmade spin-offs grant more life to the premise of the puzzler than ever. With one player adapting Wordle onto a custom Game Boy Color cartridge, its port to systems doesn't seem necessary when linguists can attempt to solve five-letter words in an array of browsers pushed further by devoted fans of the game.
Wordle is available now as a browser game.