Over the last couple of months, Wordle has quickly proven itself to be one of 2022's first viral games, drawing in players week after week with its snappy and easy-to-learn premise. Arguably one of the largest contributors to Wordle's success is how quick it is to play. Each round, of which there is one a day, only lasts through six guesses, and the guesses can only be five-letter words. It strictly limits the amount of time players can pour into it, unlike other popular word-based games like Scrabble or crossword puzzles. It's perfect for playing just before work or while taking public transportation.
It's probably no surprise, then, that Wordle clones and copycat apps have begun to pop up more and more frequently in the first month of 2022. Many don't tend to catch on, at least not to the extent that Wordle has, in large part because of Wordle's easily-accessible social features that allow players to easily post their scores to social media and compete with friends. Another important distinction is that Wordle is free, and can be accessed from either mobile devices or computers, enabling it to reach a wider audience.
To that end, some of the best Wordle alternatives are those that capture the spirit of the original game, requiring players to learn how to solve quick-paced Wordle-style puzzles with a bit of thinking and a wide pool of knowledge. Anyone looking for another brain exercise to engage in after solving the daily Wordle puzzle should consider trying out some of these similar games.
Daily Word Puzzle Games Like Wordle - Squirdle
Squirdle is, at its core, a game for Pokémon fans who enjoy the challenge of daily puzzles like Wordle. Rather than guessing words, players input the name of Pokémon - either from the entire series' Pokédex or just the first generation - and are then told how closely their guess aligned with the answer's generation, types, weight, and size. Squirdle only allows for five guesses, so it might be challenging for players who aren't hardcore Pokémon fans, but it's another fun way to quickly challenge the brain after players have found the solution for the daily Wordle puzzle.
Daily Word Puzzle Games Like Wordle - Absurdle
The goal in Wordle is to correctly guess a pre-determined word in a certain number of attempts. Absurdle is almost the exact opposite, where players have an infinite number of attempts to outsmart the game's algorithm, which is programmed to essentially avoid giving players the correct answer, even if that means entirely changing the solution halfway through the game. Absurdle requires a different thinking pattern than what might work well in Wordle as a result, requiring guesses with a diverse range of letters in order to find the quickest solution. It's an interesting way for players to stretch their minds in a new direction after their daily Wordle game.
Daily Word Puzzle Games Like Wordle - Lewdle
This Wordle-clone gained quite a bit of attention when it was discovered that Star Wars writer Gary Whitta designed Lewdle. The overall premise is almost identical to Wordle, even down to its use of exclusively five-letter words, but with a more adult spin on the tone. Whereas in Wordle the solution to each puzzle is never lewd in nature, the words in Lewdle are entirely that. Aside from its more vulgar dictionary, though, everything from the UI to the game's sharing feature is so similar that Wordle fans should be able to easily add Lewdle to their daily gameplay session.
Daily Word Puzzle Games Like Wordle - Sweardle
Like Lewdle, Sweardle is a nearly-identical Wordle clone with a more crass premise, utilizing an entirely profanity-based dictionary. Unlike Wordle, the words are only four letters long, which might even make it significantly easier to complete quickly. It also utilizes Wordle's iconic box-shaped social feature so friends can get in on the fun.
