The New Wordle Craze — Why People Love It
When there are too many fraudulent mirror websites and scammy duplicate apps of a popular online game, you know that it has made it big.
Yes, everyone in the social media world is talking about this humble entrant — Wordle — which has renewed interest in crosswords, online puzzles, and board games. With over 300,000 players who return to try their luck in guessing the 5-letter word of the day, it’s safe to say that Wordle won’t sink into oblivion any time soon.
What my business partner and fellow co-founder of RNF Technologies, Faisal Abidi and I love about Wordle is the fact that it’s straightforward, with no spammy messages to distract you. Designed specifically for mobile browsers, it does not suck up too much of your internet bandwidth, and neither does it take up a lot of your time, like traditional crosswords. It is the perfect game for today’s on-the-go mobile users, and it also manages to provide a profoundly social experience in a subtle manner. The UI, too, is as simple as it gets. Naturally, no one was shocked when the New York Times bought the web-based daily word puzzle game in a seven-figure deal.
What is its secret?
Why do people like the game so much? There are interesting answers floating on the world wide web.
For starters, our brains have lately been a bit more distracted and overwhelmed than usual, courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic. In such a scenario, Wordle proves to be a blessing in disguise for many as it offers the perfect blend of guesswork and challenge.
Wordle does not mess around with you with difficult words; the answer almost always turns out to be a word that you end up using every now and then. Just the right combination of vowels and consonants.
Engaging our problem-solving capacities, Wordle prods our brains into action, and yet, “winning” is not too difficult because you get six tries. You have to actively engage with the game in a purposeful manner and dig into your word memory to get it right. Every time you get a letter right, your brain gives you a small, quick shot of dopamine! In addition to this, the game reveals the answer even if you are unsuccessful; so regardless of the outcome, there will be a “eureka” moment.
In addition to this, Wordle also rides on the scarcity principle. Since everyone gets to guess only one word every day, they can’t binge on it 24/7. In a world where binge-watching has become mainstream, Wordle’s limited offering proves to be a breath of fresh air for its users.
Now, let’s talk about Wordle being a social experience. For many, solving the day’s puzzle becomes a topic of conversation with their peers. In a society where finding a common ground to connect with people around you is critical, Wordle can help to create a shared group identity while playing on our desire to compare ourselves with others in the group. Given that people can share their scores online when they get the correct answer, there’s also the “fear of missing out” that makes their extended circles try their luck with the game.
So, have you already solved today’s World puzzle?