Games Like Wordle You Can Play After Solving Your Daily Word

Fun, free-to-play daily word game "Wordle" has become a smash hit — perhaps even keyboard-smashing for those who keep finding themselves a few squares shy of the daily word. Twitter is largely responsible for helping "Wordle" take over the internet, thanks to a fan-created function that allows users to share their daily attempt at the 5-letter word through spoiler-free, color-coded squares. Players can go for bragging rights or regret their incorrectly guessed letters by sharing their unique combination of green squares indicating the right letter in the right place, yellow squares signaling a correct letter in the wrong place, and gray squares representing a letter that isn't in the daily word.

The satisfyingly straightforward game has become a success story for its aptly-named creator Josh Wardle, so much so that multiple clones and copycats have popped up trying to profit off his creation that he wants to keep ad- and payment-free. Fans are pushing back against clones and supporting the original, but there is still a growing desire for similar word games that are equally enjoyable with enough notable differences to keep things interesting. As entertaining as it is to try a new round of "Wordle" every 24 hours, it can leave players wanting more in the meantime, since each day only allows six guesses for one word. For "Wordle" gamers who just can't get enough, there are plenty of similar games out there that may provide a similar thrill.

For those who enjoy reconfiguring a set of letters into multiple possible words — which is often part of the "Wordle" guessing process once yellow and green boxes start popping up — "Wordscape" has a lot to offer, and gameplay is easy to grasp. Basically, players are presented with a crossword puzzle and corresponding letter bank that they have to unscramble. So, if the letters S, C, T, and A were present, some of the correct words would be "cat" and "sat." As players progress, the game gets harder, though the scenic backgrounds remain relaxing throughout the duration of "Wordscapes."

Described on Google Play as "tremendous brain challenging fun," "Wordscapes" provides just the right combination of satisfaction and suspense. The app claims that 10 minutes of daily gameplay "sharpens your mind and prepares you for your daily life and challenges," and while that can't be guaranteed, a good time is a sure thing for fans of "Wordle."

One notable difference between the two games is the fact that "Wordscapes" allows unlimited guesses for the over 6,000 available puzzles, while "Wordle" limits users to six guesses a day. In addition to the clear similarities in gameplay, another shared trait between the two games is the fact that both allow you to play with friends, a feature "Wordscapes" added in 2020. "Wordscapes" is available for free on both Android and iOS to keep brainy gamers busy between their daily "Wordle" attempts.

"Bookworm" is the throwback free-to-play desktop game from 2003 that is just as much worth indulging in now as it was back then. It's up to players to feed hungry bookworm Lex with words created from an evolving selection of letter tiles that repopulate with new ones after players use them for a word. Adjacent letters can be used to spell the longest word possible for the highest number of points, creating a more complex landscape of choices than "Wordle" offers. Though, this also makes the game easier in a way since the board typically presents multiple viable options for earning points as opposed to one single correct answer.

Interestingly enough, "Bookworm" features color-coded tiles like "Wordle," but for an entirely different reason. Red burning tiles are a threat that can set the whole library on fire. Green and gold tiles offer extra points, the latter for words of 5 letters or more only. Finally, diamond and sapphire tiles pack a big point punch after a player creates a word with at least two gold or green tiles. With many differentiating elements as well as the shared common thread of strategic word formation, "Bookworm" is sure to please "Wordle" fans whether or not they played it back in its prime.

Not quite as old as "Bookworm" but still a throwback to the good old days of 2009, "Words With Friends" bills itself as "one of the world's most popular social word games," making it a clear choice for fans of "Wordle." It's likely most gamers have heard of "Words With Friends" due to its massive following, as well as the fact that it is free to play, but for those who haven't, it's very similar to the classic board game "Scrabble" with a few key differences, according to Business Insider.

Though the dictionary inconsistency and lack of a 50-point bonus for clearing all of one's letters in a turn could irritate experienced "Scrabble" players who switch over to "Words With Friends," most won't notice. What is noticeable is the differences in the board layout which will change the strategies "Scrabble" players typically use to rack up bonus points by spelling on certain squares.

Clearly more time-consuming than "Wordle" with hours of daily play possible, "Words With Friends" will keep fans busy between daily words, while sharpening their vocabularies for the task. For those who played in the past, it'll be nice to know that "Words With Friends" has still saved old games and progress for anyone ready to jump back in. With more than four million players active these days, this oldie is definitely still a goodie. 

For any tabletop game fans who have experienced the whimsical joy of "Exploding Kittens," it'll be exciting to learn that the folks behind the "award-winning card game" also have a free-to-play word game for both Android and iOS called "Kitty Letter." In this charming game that leads with a pun as cheeky as the game itself, players are tasked with unscrambling letters which turn into kitten armies that get bigger with word length.

The main mode of gameplay in "Kitty Letter" is 1v1, so "Wordle" fans will relish the opportunity to get playfully competitive with friends or strangers as they defend their respective homes from neighboring kittens across the street. One promo for "Kitty Letter" even describes the game as "words with enemies," making a clever reference to none other than "Words With Friends."

Though the multiplayer head-to-head mode is where the real action happens, the "Kitty Letter" single-player campaign is a "giant playable Oatmeal comic" created by one of the two folks behind the original "Exploding Kittens" card games. So, whether for the words, the aesthetic, or the cats who could blow up at any moment, "Wordle" fans who want a change of pace still rooted in solving letter puzzles will probably get a kick out of "Kitty Letter."

After trying out all these word and letter games that are perfect for fans of "Wordle," gamers will probably need a snack break. Enter "Word Cookies," described by its creators as "an addictive cross between all the word games you love" for both Android and iOS. Functionally quite similar to "Wordscapes" in that the goal is to unscramble letters to form the highest number of words possible, "Word Cookies" adds a highly themed baking aesthetic that is an appetizing change of pace.

In addition to thousands of levels, hints, and unlimited time to solve the sugary puzzles, "Word Cookies" also features daily rewards, making it the perfectly indulgent checklist item for "Wordle" fans to add to their everyday routine. And yes, it's also free!

Whatever direction gamers take their word wits after a daily go at "Wordle," there are plenty of options that will only help players grow their skills across all these enjoyable games.