The 10 Best Wordle-Like Games for Your Daily Puzzle Fix
From Heardle to Framed and Nerdle to Absurdle, here are 10 daily Wordle-like games you need to play!
Wordle Has Some Serious Competition
If you spend any time on social media, you've almost certainly heard about Wordle. Since it was developed by software engineer Josh Wardle and released in October of 2021, the daily game has taken the world by storm. The concept of Wordle is pretty simple: You get up to six guesses to figure out the day's secret five-letter word, gaining a bit more information with each guess until you get it right. Then, you can share how you did with your friends online and see who guessed the word the quickest.
One of the coolest things about the Wordle phenomenon is the number of similar games it has inspired. Although you may only be able to play Wordle once per day, you can always hop over to one of these other awesome daily games and keep the fun going.
Jump to a game:
1. Nerdle
Some of us are right-brain oriented, and some of us are left-brain oriented. If a word puzzle game like Wordle isn't your cup of tea, maybe a daily math puzzle game will suit you better! Nerdle has the same basic six-guess concept as Wordle, but instead of figuring out a secret word, you need to figure out a secret math equation. All of the equations will be mathematically correct, but don't worry; there's no advanced algebra or trigonometry; only addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
2. Waffle
If the only thing you enjoy more than playing Wordle is completing crossword puzzles, then Waffle will be a dream come true. Instead of featuring one five-letter word to solve, Waffle presents you with six of them, which are organized in a waffle-like grid pattern. Plus, instead of starting you with a blank slate, it gives you a full host of letters. The colors tell you whether the letters are in the right spot, the wrong spot in the correct word, or the wrong word entirely. You simply have to move the letters around to turn the whole board green.
3. Heardle
Do you consider yourself a music buff? Do you find yourself shouting "I love this song!" before the third note has even played? If you do, Heardle should be right up your alley. In this daily game, you listen to the beginning snippet of a musical track and must determine which song it is. You get up to six guesses, and each time you guess incorrectly, you get to hear another chunk of the track. Once you nail it, you're free to jam out to the first 30 seconds of the tune before moving on to your next daily game.
4. Framed
If you're a film enthusiast, Framed should present a fun challenge. When you play the daily game, you're shown one still frame at a time, and you have to determine what movie it's from. When you throw out a wrong guess, the only hint you receive is one more frame from the film. In total, you get six guesses to get the movie right before you lose that day's round. With Framed, a lot of it comes down to luck of the draw; if the day's movie is one you haven't seen, you better be a fantastic guesser!
5. Squirdle
Squirdle is one of the most unique Wordle-inspired games out there, and if you're a Pokémon fan, you absolutely need to try it out. As you may have guessed, the goal is to guess a specific Pokémon. With each incorrect guess, you're shown info about the Pokémon's type, height, weight, and which generation it originated from. If you only know the original 150 Pokémon, you can change the settings so that you only have to guess those that came from the first generation. Personally, my first guess is always Jigglypuff!
6. Crosswordle
Crosswordle is another game that anyone who enjoys crossword puzzles will want to try. You start with a five-by-four grid of squares, with some of them already colored in and certain letters provided. Using the color-coded hints, you have to figure out the correct way to fill in the entire crossword puzzle. Instead of having a limited number of guesses, each Crosswordle puzzle is timed, and it will give you indicators whenever you've made a mistake. Plus, there are several other game modes to choose from, including the option to build your own Crosswordle puzzle!
7. Wordle!
Despite the similar name, Wordle! is quite a bit different than Wordle. In fact, Wordle! is a mobile app that features a variety of word puzzle game, including one that's virtually identical to the original. There's also a challenging three-guesses mode, in which you have to guess words in only three tries each. Another option is the timed challenge mode, which puts you up against the clock to solve and spell words as quickly as possible. Opening the Wordle! app for a few minutes each day is a great way to stimulate your mind and have a little fun.
8. Dungleon
If you enjoy things like Dungeons & Dragons, dungeon-crawlers, or just the fantasy genre in general, Dungleon should be your kind of game. Dungleon features cool little animations that evoke nostalgia for '90s gaming, and perhaps the coolest interface of any daily game. The object of the game is to figure out the secret dungeon composition, choosing from a variety of unique characters and items. You get six guesses to figure out what your dungeon contains, and there are also secret rules that frequently come into play.
9. Squabble
Have you ever wished that you could play Wordle against your friends? Squabble takes all of the stimulating fun of Wordle and adds an exciting head-to-head battle royale aspect. In this intense word game, you face off against several opponents, solving Wordle-like puzzles as quickly as you can. When you get a word right, it will heal your health bar and do damage to your opponents. Whoever is the last one standing with health remaining will be the victor. Throughout the game, you can also see how well your foes are doing, which adds some serious intensity to the experience.
10. Absurdle
If you've ever played Wordle and thought "I wish this were more frustrating," then Absurdle should be just what you're looking for. Of course, the frustration is all part of the fun. When you guess, Wordle gives you hints to help you solve the puzzle. Absurdle, on the other hand, actively withholds information, changes the word mid-game, and does everything it can to prevent you from winning. The good news is that you get unlimited guesses, although the best you can to solve the puzzle after four.
Wordle-Like Options for Everyone
These days, if you enjoy Wordle-like games, there's probably at least one out there that caters to your interests. While these ten daily game are certainly some of the best, there are many others that you can try as well. Whether you want to pick one and stick with it or hit each game daily is up to you. Either way, it's time to get online and start playing.
Have fun and happy guessing!