Online word games aren’t a new entertainment phenomenon, but they have become more newsworthy with the buzz around
Wordleand its
seven-figure purchase. Look, Wordle is great, but it only lets you play one round a day, so what happens when you want to play more?
Luckily for every logophile out there, you have plenty of word games to play – and you can find them right here in our list. Whether you spend a few minutes or several hours playing word games, this roundup of free online word games will test your vocabulary, spelling skills, and wit. Many offer cross-platform play, too, so you can play on all of your devices, wherever you go.
Best free word games online
Which word game is the best to play right now? Everyone we asked seemed to have their favorite word game, but there was a lot of overlap between game fans. All of the titles offer a free version, but some offer premium upgrades. We made sure to note if it's an app-only game or if you can sit and play on a desktop or tablet through a web browser.
Be aware that many word games use the same names, so relying on a Google search of the title alone may not bring you to the right place. Avoid websites that require software downloads or that trigger antivirus or firewall protection.
1. Word Wipe
If you like timed games, you should check out
Word Wipe. It’s a fast-paced word-building game where you swipe across lines of letter tiles within a big jumble of mixed letters to spell out as many words as you can.
Like any traditional word search puzzle, you can find words up, down, and across, but once you find a hidden word, click to "wipe" it out and earn extra points. Keep swiping to wipe out letters and eventually clear your board.
Word Wipe is only available as a browser-based game, so beware of any mobile versions with the same title or graphics.
2. Wordmeister
If you’re a big Scrabble fan, you may enjoy
Wordmeister. You’ll square off against a computer opponent and place tiles down to make words. Like Scrabble, you earn extra points for placing tiles on special letter spots.
Just be aware that the computer tends to use words not commonly used in the American English language.
Within the first two rounds, we saw the use of “dorp” and “oryx,” two South African terms that may be unknown to U.S. players. You can play it in your browser on desktop or mobile.
3. Word Zen
Connect letters with your fingers to spell out increasingly difficult words in
Word Zen. This game stands out because of its difficulty levels, which deliver new challenges amidst changing environments and catchy music.
You can download this app for free on Google Play, with in-app purchases available. Just be sure you look for the legit version and not several paid apps under the same name.
4. SpellTower
combines the skills of a word search with the level clearing rush of Tetris. Use your finger or mouse to connect letters in any direction for increasingly longer words. As you connect letters, they disappear, bringing down the tower in the process.
SpellTower game has 11 awesome levels that offer plenty of variety. There’s a super-fast "rush" mode, "search" mode on a super-tiny micro board, and a “zen” mode that lets you leisurely find words with no time limitations.
You can play it on desktop or download it via
Google Playand
App Storefor free. It includes in-app purchases.
5. Codeword
is an interesting crossword puzzle game where each letter is assigned a number. As you guess a letter in the first set of blanks, each blank space with the same corresponding number auto-fills with that same letter.
If you guess the wrong letter in the first set of blanks, it messes up the rest of the puzzle. However, if you guess right, you can solve it very quickly. You can also ask for clues if you get stuck.
You’ll love this game if you have any interest in codebreaking. And while there’s no background music, it boasts those satisfying "typewriter" sound effects. You can play it for free on desktop.
6. Skribbl.io
If you’re brave enough to play with strangers on the internet and you can draw with a mouse, you need to check out
Skribbl.io. You can join rooms with others or create a private room, and then you’ll pick one of three words to begin drawing.
Can others guess your creation? When it’s your turn to guess, be the first to put your word into the chat. The earliest correct chat guesses earn the most points.
Skribbl.io isn’t moderated, so play at your own risk. But it’s one of the more creative free word games for adults who want to join a quick game similar to Pictionary.
7. Words with Friends
You may have heard about
Words with Friendswhen it was all anyone was talking about. Well, it's still around and incredibly popular. Lots of people use it as a way to reconnect with loved ones or friends, and to keep their spelling skills sharp.
How does Words with Friends work? It’s a lot like Scrabble, and you can take turns spelling words on the board game at your leisure. This high-rated game is available for desktop and on the
App Storeand
Google Play.
If you return to the game after a long hiatus, don’t despair. Words with Friends saves all your game info, records, and wins, so you don’t have to start from scratch. Keep in mind that you need to create an account to save your progress. And to actually play with friends, you must connect a Facebook account.
8. Wander Words
works a lot like other games on this list because it tasks players with connecting letters to spell out words. What makes it unique is you’ll use all of the letters to create a word or phrase.
Figuring out where to start and dragging your fingers in the right order to connect every letter is a challenge, and the difficulty ramps up as you go. The word/phrase category is revealed at the beginning of each round, so you know if you’re spelling a film director, actor, food, or TV show.
Wander Words is completely free to play in your browser on desktop.
9. Wordscapes
Wordscapes is a mobile app game for Android and iOS that some players claim is more peaceful than other games. Swipe the letters in any order to create as many words as you can. The difficulty gradually increases with each level, but the different environments and nature settings help to relax the tone and pace.
Wordscapes is ranked highly on both mobile platforms as one of the best anagram games. It’s free to download and play via the
App Storeand
Google Play.
10. Word Bird
Word Bird is a cute, little owl-inspired game that challenges and educates you at the same time. Play to beat your time, or go at a leisurely pace. The game offers daily challenges, so you’ll never get bored. Plus, it boasts 65,000+ puzzles to play. Best of all, you’ll see definitions for every word you try to guess so that you can improve both your spelling and your vocabulary over time.
For those who like to earn badges and brag to friends, Word Bird really shines as one of the best online word games. You receive badges for each accomplishment, and you’re sure to collect several throughout your journey. The adorable owl graphics, whimsical music, and art help to make this game stand out, too. The one downside is that it’s only available for iPad and iPhone devices at this time.
What online word game is best?
There’s no shortage of free word puzzle games to try out. You may find that one isn’t for you after just a few rounds, while others may offer hours and even weeks of excitement before you move on.
The top three games on our list – Word Wipe, Wordmeister, and Word Zen – have fans who have played every day for years. The game you end up liking will depend on your preferred way to play (mobile vs desktop) and your personal tastes. Details like color design, sound effects, and how many free tries you get each day can greatly affect your enjoyment.
People also play for different reasons. If you like a sense of community, try an app with a “compete against friends” feature like Words with Friends. If you use apps to chill out at the end of the day, you’ll love Word Zen’s soothing music and minimal sound effects. And for those word game lovers who want to increase their brain power with increasingly challenging games, SpellTower is the one for you.
With all of these fun, easy-to-play word games available online, you never have to stop playing after you solve the day’s Wordle puzzle.
About the Author: Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.
FAQs
Are there any free games like Wordle? ›
If you love Wordle and want a puzzle game that takes more brain power, you'll want to check out Quordle, Octordle, Dordle and Sedecordle. Each of these four word games look very similar to Wordle, but add more rows, columns and words to solve. Dordle requires you to solve two words at once. Quordle, four at once.
What word game is popular right now? ›Wordle is 2022's biggest word game, but if you want even more puzzles to keep the mind ticking, there are a ton of games worth your time. Wordle asks players to figure out a five-letter word in six or fewer guesses (we have some tips if you need them).
What is the new word game that everyone is playing? ›Wordle gives players six chances to guess a randomly selected five-letter word. As shown above, if you have the right letter in the right spot, it shows up green. A correct letter in the wrong spot shows up yellow. A letter that isn't in the word in any spot shows up gray.
Can word games help your brain? ›Regularly doing word games like crossword puzzles can improve how long you can keep your focus on a desired task. It also activates your working memory. These skills can promote better thinking or cognitive function over a period of time.
Who makes the popular word game? ›The best-selling word game was developed by Zach Gage and Jack Schlesinger in 2008, and since its founding has been downloaded over a million times. Join in on the word game fun and add to the growing list of words made by SpellTower fans — it's already above a billion!
Which is the right Wordle? ›There is only one official version of Wordle and that's the browser-based game, it is simply not available on the app store on your mobile phone. So, do not download any apps claiming to be Wordle on your phone.
What is the newest word game? ›Wordle is an online 5-letter word game.
Each day a new word is released and players have six attempts to guess what the word of the day is. During the guesses, tiles will change colour to help players get the word.
Arkadium Has the Best Free Online Word Games
Check out Word Wipe and word connect, two of our most popular word search games.
7 Little Words contains 25 puzzles that you can play for free. Two new puzzles are available for free each day without any purchase.
How can I get Wordle games for free? ›- First, go to the official Wordle website in the Chrome app.
- New, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Finally, hit the download icon (arrow pointing down at a line) to download the Wordle webpage.
Where can I find Wordle games? ›
Wordle does not have an app. You gotta play it on a web browser. You need to open the New York Times Games site and play. Though the Wordle website originally hosted the game, which was designed by its founder Josh Wordle, it was eventually bought by New York Times in February this year.
What is the average Wordle score? ›Most people should, on average, get it in at least 4, even on days where it is harder. Especially if you aren't making risky moves, four guesses should supply you with enough information to make a correct guess.
Which game can I play online without downloading? ›- Cut The Rope.
- Slither.
- Flappy Bird.
- PacMan.
- 2048.
- Copter.
- Sudoku.
- Ten Bullets.
| Game title | Publisher | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | ROBLOX | Roblox Corporation |
| 2. | Minecraft | Mojang Studios |
| 3. | Fortnite | Epic Games |
| 4. | The Sims 4 | Electronic Arts |
- Mahjongg Dimensions. Mahjongg Dimensions is a 3D take on the popular tile-based game. ...
- Sudoku is a classic logic puzzle that first appeared in Japan in 1986. ...
- Spider Solitaire. ...
- Bubble Shooter.
- AUDIO.
- AULOI.
- AUREI.
- LOUIE.
- MIAOU.
- OUIJA.
- OURIE.
- URAEI.
Two Different Versions of Wordle Exist After its Recent Sale to The New York Times | Martha Stewart.
Is there another game like spelling bee? ›Launched in 2019, Letter Boxed, like Spelling Bee, relies more on vocabulary than knowledge of trivia: Three letters are featured on each side of a square and players must connect the letters to make words that are at least three letters long.
Do word games Prevent dementia? ›Researchers determined that, out of the participants who eventually developed dementia, those who frequently did crossword puzzles demonstrated a much slower decline in memory. On average, crossword puzzles provided about a two and a half year delay in memory decline compared to those who did not do crossword puzzles.
Does Wordle prevent dementia? ›Games like Wordle are a great stimulation activity that protect brain function and help prevent dementia and cognitive decline.
Which is the original Wordle app? ›
Originally, Wordle was hosted exclusively on the developer's personal website at powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/.
What is the word game that The New York Times bought? ›The New York Times has acquired the popular puzzle game Wordle, the publication has announced. The company purchased the game from its creator Josh Wardle, a software engineer in Brooklyn, for a price “in the low seven figures,” TheTimes said on Monday.
Do most people solve Wordle? ›The same survey found that only 14% admit to doing so. Wordle players have up to six tries to guess a five-letter word of the day, with the game offering feedback after every try. If a player identifies one of the correct letters, Wordle will highlight it in a shade of yellow.
How do I install Wordle? ›- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three vertical dots in the upper right to access the overflow menu.
- Tap on Add to Home screen > Add. 3 Images. Close.
- Tap Add again in the secondary pop-up to finish; Wordle is now on your home screen. Close.
When we acquired Wordle in January, it had been built for a relatively small group of users. We're now busy revamping Wordle's technology so that everyone always receives the same word. We are committed to ensuring that tens of millions of people have a gratifying and consistent experience, every day.
How do I start Wordle? ›Start with a random word that has vowels
Choosing a common word that has at least three vowels is a good way to start Wordle. For example, words like 'saute', 'adios', 'aisle' and 'lemur' have a mix of vowels and consonants and can help you finish the game with fewer guesses.
The answer for Wordle 260 is “cloth”, which one Twitter user said was the “easiest one yet”. Another user, who guessed the word on their second try, said: “Well... huh.
Is wordly app free? ›You can now download the game for free on iOS or Android. The game is supported via ads, which can be removed via a one-time purchase of $4.99.
What is the word online game? ›Simply put, Wordle is a free word-guessing game available online: guess the five-letter word in six tries or fewer. Wordle explains its rules in a handy pop-up the first time you load the game, but it's all fairly straightforward: if the letter from your guess isn't in the target word, that letter will turn grey.
Is Word Connect 2022 free? ›Are you a real puzzle game master? DOWNLOAD Word Connect for FREE! Start your word story and enjoy the brainstorm NOW! Simply swipe the letter blocks and build words to collect coins! Find the clues to solve the crossword puzzles!
Is there a free version of Spelling Bee? ›
What is Free Bee? Free Bee is an enhanced Free Software clone of The New York Times game Spelling Bee. It has all the features of the original game and more, including the ability to play a nearly infinite number of randomly generated games. No longer are you stuck with only one game per day.
What is a fun word game? ›Anagram-a-rama
Break out a pad of paper and give everyone a sheet. Start with a random word (ideally at least six or seven letters long) and set the timer. Players try to rearrange the letters to form as many new words (at least three letters long) as they can. The player with the most words wins.
Unfortunately we will no longer actively support the 7 Little Words app on the Kindle platform as of December 31, 2021. Why is this happening? Amazon has informed us the app must be updated to a new version of the Android operating system by the end of 2021 in order to remain in the app store.
What are Blue Ox games? ›Blue Ox Family Games, Inc. is an independent studio that creates original family-oriented mobile apps and other entertainment products.
How can I get Wordle games for free? ›- First, go to the official Wordle website in the Chrome app.
- New, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Finally, hit the download icon (arrow pointing down at a line) to download the Wordle webpage.
The latest internet game, Wordle, has become a viral sensation, and now there's a new website, Wordle Archive, that allows players to complete more than one game a day.
What other types of Wordle are there? ›- Absurdle. If Wordle isn't enough of a challenge, this one will have you stumped. ...
- Dordle, Quordle, Octordle, and Sedecordle. First there was Dordle which is playing two words at the same time. ...
- Lewdle. ...
- Primel. ...
- Sweardle. ...
- Queerdle. ...
- Taylordle. ...
- Wordle-BTS.
Two Different Versions of Wordle Exist After its Recent Sale to The New York Times | Martha Stewart.
What 5 letter word has the most vowels? ›- AUDIO.
- AULOI.
- AUREI.
- LOUIE.
- MIAOU.
- OUIJA.
- OURIE.
- URAEI.
There is only one official version of Wordle and that's the browser-based game, it is simply not available on the app store on your mobile phone. So, do not download any apps claiming to be Wordle on your phone.
Is there a free Wordle app? ›
No, Wordle does not have an app on Android. Like iOS and PC, you can play the word-guessing game on Wordle's website only.
Can you go back if you miss a Wordle? ›Players can also go back and have a go at any old Wordles that they missed, allowing multiple games to be played in the same day.
Does everyone get the same Wordle word? ›This practices has raised questions about whether all players receive the same word. The short answer is yes. On a given day, players around the world have access to the same puzzle. However, the game updates based on the timezone of the player, meaning that some have access to a new word more earlier than others.
Does Wordle use plurals? ›There is nothing from stopping Wordle answers from being plural. However, none have been plural so far in 2022, suggesting either that the makers are choosing not to use plurals or that they are just very rare. Three Wordle answers have ended in S in 2022, but they are FOCUS, REBUS and TRUSS.
Where can I get Wordle game? ›Where to find Wordle. There's no official app to download, but the game is available online at powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle. You can play using a mobile or desktop browser.
How do I get more Wordle? ›Put green letters at the positions where they occur. Re-use yellow letters in a different place than before and you should have good chances of guessing the daily WORDLE.
How many 5 letter words are there? ›The Free Dictionary lists more than 158,000 words with five letters. The the Official Scrabble Dictionary (which allows some pretty obscure five-letter words), puts the number at about 9,000.
What is the Wordle 285? ›The Wordle answer 285 is “LOWLY.”
Is Agora a Wordle word? ›In February, the same month The New York Times confirmed its acquisition of Wordle, players were presented with "agora" and "aroma" as the correct answers. The newspaper told CNN it had removed words that were too difficult or may be rude or offensive.
What is today's Wordle March 30? ›The answer to today's Wordle (Worle 284, March 30) is STOVE.