A new Wordle clone is now available on Nintendo Switch, and it's currently free to download if players own another of the developer's game releases. It follows closely on the heels of other Wordle clones like Octordle, which seek to capitalize on the game's popularity by presenting different takes on the now-established formula.
Ever since the original Wordle went viral earlier this year, as with many other online games, internet users have seen a wave of copycats presenting their own games in the same mold. The hooks to make these clones stand out from the rest can be quite inventive in their own right, and many have found their own success, especially those based on established franchises like The Lord of the Rings or Magic: The Gathering. Other similar games offer different gameplay, ranging from simply increasing the number of words to solve, to challenging players to avoid the correct Wordle answer altogether. The variety of options available to switch up players' daily games means that dedicated Wordle fans are seldom without something new to try.
Mokuzai Studio's Words With Freds is a relatively basic Wordle-inspired release, but for those looking to enjoy a word puzzle on Nintendo Switch, it could scratch the itch. The name itself is apparently a parody of long-running Scrabble clone Words with Friends, and the game returns to the standard Wordle formula, now presented in a pixel-art format. As in Wordle, players have six attempts to correctly guess a five-letter word, with each incorrect attempt providing hints to the answer in the form of color-coded highlights. This means that players will be able to apply their established strategies for Wordle to this new game without issue. Should players own one of the company's other titles (Kuso, LOVE, or Pulsario) on Switch, then they will be able to obtain the game for free until the end of March, according to creator Fred Wood. The game otherwise costs $1, but ComicBook notes that as this is the same price as Pulsario, interested gamers without the latter title are actually able to obtain both games for the price of one.
Although simple in execution, a major draw is the fact that, unlike Wordle, Words With Freds can be played more than once a day. The daily restriction of the original game most likely helped boost Wordle's popularity, and allows players around the world to compete on social media and compare scores. Words With Fred removing this limit means that avid puzzle fans will be able to enjoy much longer spans of time playing, although it also lessens the potential for social competition.
With Wordle itself having been obtained by the New York Times, some players are understandably concerned that the game may end up behind a paywall. Should this end up being the case, a small one-time payment to obtain a similar game for Nintendo Switch may quickly prove to be a popular choice. For the time being, Words With Freds offers players the chance to satisfy their itch for word puzzles for a low cost, or perhaps even no cost at all.
Sources: Fred Wood/Twitter, ComicBook