The Evolution Of Wordle: A Year Of Puzzles And Popularity

It's a new year, which means another 12 months of Wordle puzzles for gamers to crack. This beloved word game, created by Josh Wardle in 2013 as a special gift for his crossword-loving partner, has taken the world by storm. Originally perfected during the lockdown, Wordle was uploaded to the internet in October 2021, quickly captivating puzzle enthusiasts everywhere.

In just a few short months, Wordle transformed from a simple game with 91 users in November 2021 to an astonishing 2 million users by December of the same year. Its meteoric rise caught the attention of The New York Times, which purchased the game for a seven-figure sum in January 2022. This acquisition led to the hiring of a dedicated Wordle editor tasked with curating daily puzzles from a database of over 2,000 words, ensuring that outdated or offensive terms were removed.

Two years later, Wordle remains a cultural phenomenon. Josh Wardle attributes the game's success to its unique "one puzzle a day" approach, which keeps players engaged without overwhelming them. According to Wardle, this model counters the traditional expectations of mobile games that often strive to keep users engaged for extended periods. Most players can solve a Wordle puzzle in about five minutes and then move on with their day.

If you're struggling with today's Wordle conundrum, we’ve compiled some helpful hints to assist you in cracking the code!

For those looking to enhance their gameplay experience, Newsweek has gathered five clues to help solve the latest Wordle puzzle:

• Hint #1: Today's Wordle answer has one repeated letter.
• Hint #2: There are two vowels in today's answer.
• Hint #3: The first letter is a vowel.
• Hint #4: It happens to everybody.
• Hint #5: Today's answer starts with the letter "A."

Today's Wordle answer is "Aging." Don't feel discouraged if you found the puzzle challenging! Josh Wardle himself has admitted that even he struggles at times, averaging four to five guesses before reaching the correct answer. He often plays with his partner, who usually solves the puzzle in just three tries.

If you can't wait for the next Wordle to reset at midnight, consider trying out other word puzzle games for an exciting challenge!