My Take | Why Wordle is a diversion from our socially distanced lives
- The online word game’s popularity has spread exponentially, rather like the Omicron variant. Its inventor says it is just a bit of fun and we certainly need more of that
The socially distanced drudgery of life during the pandemic has left us all looking for a little diversion. We need to escape, just for a while, from thoughts of mandatory testing, lockdowns and quarantine.
Our options in Hong Kong this Lunar New Year are limited. Traditional fairs are closed, restaurant dining banned and gatherings discouraged. We are working and holidaying at home amid the fifth wave of Covid-19.
For many, one little ray of light has come in the form of a simple online word game. The popularity of Wordle has spread exponentially in recent months, rather like the Omicron variant.
For those not already gripped by the craze, the game involves guessing a five-letter word. You get six attempts. If your guess includes letters which are in the target word, but in the wrong place, they turn yellow. Letters in the right position turn green.
The game was invented by former Reddit software designer Josh Wardle as a bit of fun for his partner. At first, it was only available to his family and friends. Wordle was opened up to the public last October. The New York Times reported only 90 people played on November 1. Two months later, 300,000 took part. Now, the figure is around three million. It is gaining popularity in Hong Kong.
This is an old-fashioned game, harking back to the early days of the internet. There is no app. It costs nothing to play. There is no need to register, no ads, no pop-ups, no email sign up or notifications. You just go to the website and play.
Crucially, Wordle can only be played once a day. This is the secret of its success. There are no levels to ascend and no option of paying to play more. You cannot binge. It makes a welcome change from most online games today that seek to suck you in, get you addicted and strap you for cash.