The Rise Of Wordle: From Concept To Cultural Phenomenon

It's hard to believe that just a few short years ago, there was no such thing as Wordle—at least in the lives and minds of the greater public. The game, which has since captured the hearts of millions, began as a simple idea by Josh Wardle, a Welsh-born software engineer based in New York City. During the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, he refined Wordle and released it to the public in October 2021, sparking a gaming craze that would take the internet by storm.

Following its public debut, Wordle saw a meteoric rise from just 90 users on November 1, 2021, to around 300,000 by January 2, 2022, according to Statista. The game’s growing popularity caught the attention of The New York Times, which purchased it for an undisclosed seven-figure fee shortly afterward. This acquisition marked Wordle as the publication's most popular game, and its simple yet engaging gameplay contributed significantly to this success.

What makes Wordle so appealing? A large part of its charm lies in its simplicity. Players are given six attempts to guess a five-letter word, with color-coded tiles providing feedback on their guesses. Gray tiles indicate that a letter is not in the word, yellow signifies the letter is in the word but in the wrong position, and green confirms the letter is in the correct spot. This straightforward mechanic allows players of all ages to enjoy the game and fosters a sense of community as they share their results and strategies online.

Erhan Aslan, an expert in applied linguistics at the University of Reading in the U.K., shared valuable insights on strategies for playing Wordle. He emphasized the significance of choosing a strong starting word, suggesting that players begin with words that include commonly used vowels like 'e' and 'a,' along with consonants such as 'r' and 't.' According to Aslan, starting with complex letters like 'q,' 'z,' 'j,' or 'x' may not yield the best results, as players receive more feedback after a few guesses.

For those eager to solve today’s Wordle puzzle, hints have been provided, but caution is advised if players wish to figure it out independently. The game not only entertains but also encourages players to engage their phonics knowledge to narrow down possibilities effectively.

'Wordle' #1,196, Clues for Friday, September 27

Newsweek has compiled five hints to assist players in uncovering today’s Wordle solution.

• Hint #1: Today's answer contains two vowels.
• Hint #2: "F" is the first letter of today’s word.
• Hint #3: There are no repeated letters.
• Hint #4: Today's answer is both a noun and a verb.
• Hint #5: For the correct answer, think of loyalty or belief.

Today’s answer to Wordle is “Faith.” The game updates daily at midnight, making the next puzzle available for eager players. Newsweek will continue to offer hints and tips for each new game, ensuring that the excitement remains alive.

For players looking for more word-based challenges while awaiting the next puzzle, engaging with other games such as Typochondria and Spellspire can be a great way to pass the time!