The viral word puzzle app Wordle has only continued to grow since its abrupt explosion of popularity in the tail end of 2021, with more and more players getting roped in by the game's straightforward premise and accessibility. The ease with which players can share their daily scores with friends and on social media is a large part of what's helped Wordle reach so large of an audience in just a matter of months. The game can be played from just about any device that has access to web browsers, which means it's perfect for killing time on public transit or in-between emails.
That said, Wordle is, on average, a relatively short game. Players have just six guesses to arrange letters into a five-letter word, which might leave some Wordle fans wanting more. Although popular word games like Scrabble and Words with Friends might suffice, they require cooperation with other players and generally tend to be more time-intensive than something more akin to Wordle. As such, many Wordle players might instead feel inclined to look for apps that can be played in short bursts while on the go.
Fortunately, there are quite a few to choose from, especially on mobile platforms. PC and console players, however, might find it a bit more challenging to find good alternatives. Wordle-esque games Wordforward, Letterpress, and Kitty Letter have been frequently recommended as good alternatives, but there are a few other options, both free and paid, that iPhone users can find in the App Store to try out.
Wordscapes
Wordscapes is a relatively well-known puzzle game, similarly word-based like Wordle, and it offers a nearly endless selection of levels to play through. Players are presented with a crossword-like template and a wheel of letters, which they have to connect in different orders to make all the possible words that complete the crossword. The gameplay experience of working with a set selection of letters to create different words captures a similar feeling and strategy to Wordle's puzzles, and nearly every round takes a few minutes at most to complete. The game is free to download on the App Store.
Word Collect
The basic premise of Word Collect is similar to that of Wordscapes, but the selection of letters provided to players is much smaller, making it easier to play for short periods of time, perhaps while on a bus or train. There are over 2,500 levels to complete, and while this might pose a challenge for completionist players, it at least means the game has some longevity. Like Wordle, Word Collect can be played for free on iPhones.
SpellTower
Both SpellTower and SpellTower+ feature similar mechanics, with the primary difference being that the original game is free while SpellTower+ is a game only featured on Apple Arcade. Players are given a screen full of jumbled-up letters which they must connect into words in order to clear them from the board. As each word gets cleared, more letters are dropped, which makes it more high-stakes than most word puzzle games. Players should approach the game with an optimal strategy in mind, much like Wordle, in order to beat every round. There are a few different ways to play, including a player-versus-player and zen mode, which means that all varieties of Wordle fans should be able to find something to enjoy.
Although it's hard to find games that exactly copy the addicting formula that's afforded Wordle so much success, the multitude of word puzzles available on the market can at least offer a similarly challenging experience for dedicated players to try.