The New York Times has recently released a new companion app for viral sensation Wordle-inspired computer games that test players' skills.
Wordle is a massively popular word puzzle game that centers around players guessing a five-letter daily word. This word resets every 24 hours, which plays a major role in the social component of the game; Wordle has a share feature that allows players to connect their social media s to the game, providing a handy graphic that shows how many tries it took to achieve the correct word. In this way, the single-player game has taken on a competitive aspect, with players comparing scores and even devising various techniques and strategies based on their unique experiences. The social component tied to the game has led to Wordle being Twitter's second most popular game so far this year.
These social and strategic aspects may get bolstered by the newly released WordleBot browser app. The app, which is detailed on The New York Times' website, processes data from a player's most recent Wordle attempt, yielding quotients for skill and luck, and measuring them against the national average. WordleBot goes on to dissect each guess, offering up alternative word choices that could have led to a more efficient play session.
There are a number of strategies that can help Wordle players arrive at the correct word in the most effective way possible. For instance, players can guess words like "heart" or "course" that contain a high percentage of vowels and that are more likely to eliminate or confirm certain letters. WordleBot offers more examples of good words for each challenge, which can lead to players improving their skills.
Although Wordle could have been much harder, it can still be challenging to some, especially those with limited English language knowledge. Thus, an app like WordleBot can serve as a useful tool, as struggling players can expand their knowledge of both English vocabulary and of the game itself. Of course, not every player will like WordleBot, as the comparisons it makes between an individual player and the average guesses of the game's other fans could turn a beloved solitary activity into something more competitive. WordleBot is completely optional, however, so it should provide valuable assistance and data to certain Wordle players while being unobtrusive to others.
