Word Games

What's the Word? A picture puzzle of a game

Games

By George Ponder, Monday, Mar 25, 2013 at 9:41 am

What's the Word? is a nice Windows Phone puzzle game to pass the time with. What's the Word? presents you with four pictures and you are tasked with figuring out what common descriptive word they share.

I have to admit the puzzles start out really easy but slowly pick up speed and can be somewhat challenging.

Wordemic, speed scrabble online from your Windows Phone

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Mar 12, 2013 at 8:36 am

Wordemic is a word game for your Windows Phone that is played like scrabble but you compete online against others much like you do with Wordament.

You build as many words as possible in scrabble fashion before the clock strikes zero. You then get to see how your score compares to others who are playing with the same letter sets. Wordemic starts out slow but quickly grows on you. It's a fun way to pass the time with.

Wordament Web becomes the first browser game with Xbox Achievements

By Paul Acevedo, Thursday, Jan 31, 2013 at 5:56 pm

When exclusive Xbox Windows Phone/Windows 8 game Wordament jumped ship to iOS, we were perhaps a little disappointed. Windows Phone needs all the exclusive games it can get, and Microsoft doesn’t need to do Apple any favors. Still, the game has gone multiplatform now and there’s no turning back.

In fact, Microsoft just published the most platform-agnostic version of Wordament ever. This one’s playable via HTML5-enabled web browsers. Best of all for Xbox gamers, the web game comes with 50 GamerScore worth of Achievements!

AlphaJax Review: Spell it like you mean it

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Dec 12, 2012 at 10:51 am

New Zealish developer Marker Metro hopped onboard the WP7 bandwagon prior to that platform’s launch; their indie project AlphaJax followed the platform’s debut a few months later. We’ve long considered it one of the most polished crossword games available, despite the lack of cross-platform support. Perhaps that polish and Windows Phone exclusivity are what caused Microsoft to pick up full publishing rights from the developer this year.

AlphaJax is now a free ad-supported Xbox title, with the previous free and paid versions set to go defunct at the end of the year. We’ve spent ample time with the new version in order to give you this extremely thorough review.

Xbox Windows Phone version of AlphaJax is live and free of spelling errors

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012 at 7:20 pm

File this Xbox Windows Phone game release under "better late than never."

Yes, the highly anticipated Xbox-enabled version of AlphaJax is now available at last.

AlphaJax is a Windows Phone-exclusive online Scrabble clone that has made quite a name for itself since its debut in December 2010. The New Zealand-based developer Marker Metro got excited about the platform prior to its release that year, and they’ve never looked back since. Thanks to a beautiful UI and consistent updates, AlphaJax remains one of the most popular online word games for Windows Phone – despite lacking cross-platform multiplayer like many of its competitors.

Wheel of Wealth spins its way to Windows 8

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Oct 30, 2012 at 10:08 pm

The popular Windows Phone word game Wheel of Wealth has found its way on to Windows 8. The free game just went live over at the Windows Store and currently only has the online, turn based mode.

Game play against the computer and the pass and play mode should be added with the next update to Wheel of Wealth.

Windows Phone Game Review: Twisted

Games

By George Ponder, Thursday, Oct 4, 2012 at 8:36 am

Twisted is an online, multi-player, boggle styled game for your Windows Phone. As with most boggle styled games, you are presented with a 4x4 grid of letters that you have to build as many words as possible within a certain time limit.

You create the words by tracing connected letters to form the words. Letters have varying points values and some letters have multipliers.

Twisted is very similar to the leading boggle styled game for our Windows Phone, Wordament. However, the game takes a different approach to the game. I don't think Twisted will knock Wordament out of the number one spot, but it does make for a nice compliment to your Windows Phone gaming library.

Windows Phone Game Review: Word Sleuth

Games

By George Ponder, Wednesday, Sep 12, 2012 at 8:33 am

Word Sleuth is a Find-a-Word type puzzle game for your Windows Phone that dares you to find the 25,000+ words that are spread across 35 word categories. Word Sleuth adds a decent amount of customizations to give a very simple word puzzle a little pop.

You'll find Scoreloop integration for your leaderboards, customizable backgrounds, three difficulty levels, and four game modes to keep things interesting. If you like find-a-word type word puzzles, Word Sleuth is worth a try.

Windows Phone Game Review: WordHog

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 3:15 pm

WordHog took home second place in Microsoft's U.S. 2012 Imagine Cup and now it's a free Windows Phone game available on the Marketplace. WordHog is an interesting word game that is a little on the simple side but it has an addictive quality to help it from getting stale.

Windows Phone Xbox Live Review: Wordament

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Monday, May 14, 2012 at 8:59 am

Windows Phone has long been host to a number of quality word games, but they were all indie titles rather than Xbox Live ones. In fact, all the good indie word games even boasted multiplayer features, something long and inexplicably missing from mobile Xbox Live games. Of those indie standouts, one reigned supreme: Wordament, from a developer called You vs. the Internet. As it turns out, You vs. the Internet is a side project of a couple of Microsoft employees. Once Microsoft saw how well Wordament turned out, they made the wise decision to publish the game and bring elevate it to Xbox Live status. Wordament truly deserves all the visibility it can get, because it happens to be one of the finest and most addictive games on the platform.

Trine's Hangman updated and gets a price reduction

Games

By George Ponder, Saturday, Apr 14, 2012 at 11:36 am

If you like playing word games on your Windows Phone, Trine's Hangman is one of the best out there. It's a simple game of hangman that is graphically well presented and you compete against other players around the world for global ranking. You have Wikipedia integration, achievements, and free ringtones. The game also has one of the best video trailers out there (see below).

The new version of Trine's Hangman, v1.20, is designed to make the game more user and budget friendly. The update makes the game more user friendly by making the ads less frequent, appearing after every eight words completed instead of after every three. Trine's is also more budget friendly for those who don't want ads with the price dropping down to $.99.

Along with updating Trine's Hangman, Gydar Industries is also focusing on a new game (no details as of yet) that will be both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 compatible. The new game will support seamless play between the PC and Windows Phone. So you can play on the go and continue where you left off on your computer when you get home.

Again, if you like word games you need to give Trine's Hangman a try. Trine's Hangman comes in two versions. You have Trine's Hangman with is a free, ad-supported version that you can find here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

You also have Trine's Hangman Pro which has a trial version that is identical to the full version but is ad supported. The ad free version of Trine's Hangman Pro is now running $.99 and well worth the buck investment. You can find Trine's Hangman Pro here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Windows Phone Xbox Live Review: TextTwist 2

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 8:39 am

There are plenty of excellent indie word games for Windows Phone (Words by Post, AlphaJax, and Spell It, to name a few). Even Wordament is available as an indie title, though it will shortly be jumping ship to Xbox Live land. But for now, there is a single Xbox Live game that involves finding words from an assortment of letters (i.e. anagrams): TextTwist 2 from Game House. Does it scratch the word game itch as well as the other games I mentioned? Well, Text Twist 2 honestly does contain both text and twisting, but unfortunately it lacks the polish and magic of other Game House titles or even its indie competitors.

Windows Phone Game Review: Word Puzzle

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Jan 3, 2012 at 8:44 am

Word Puzzle is another boggle styled word game for your Windows Phone that follows in the footsteps of similar games such as Word Arena and Wordrix. Word Puzzle presents you with either a 4x4 or 5x5 grid of letters that you have to create words from. The 4x4 grid is challenging enough but if you really want a challenge, the larger 5x5 puzzle can really be humbling.

You create words by dragging your finger from letter to letter (moving left, right, up, down or diagonally). When you're done creating the word, just lift your touch and the word is registered and you earn points. Instead of playing simulataneously against others trying to solve the same puzzle, Word Puzzle has you competing against the clock (two minute rounds) for the highest score.

Trine's Hangman back in business, extends sale

Windows Phone News

By George Ponder, Saturday, Dec 31, 2011 at 10:59 am

A few days ago we received notice that the server powering the popular Windows Phone game, Trine's Hangman, crashed due to high traffic. It was one of those good news/bad news things. Good that traffic for the game was up, bad that it crashed the server. You could still play the game but all the online goodness wasn't available.

After diligent work by the developer, we have just been informed that things are back up and running. So every should have access to the online ranking, leaderboards, definitions and score updates.

Trine's Hangman comes in two versions. You have Trine's Hangman with is a free, ad-supported version and Trine's Hangman Pro that runs $1.99 and is ad free.

Trine's Hangman Pro is currently on a half-off sale ($.99) through January 1st. In light of the events with the server, this sale has been extended to January 8th. So if you've been thinking of upgrading to the ad free version or tinkering with the free trial, you still have time to take advantage of the savings.

Windows Phone Game Review: Word Mints

Games

By George Ponder, Wednesday, Dec 28, 2011 at 4:50 pm

For those who are longing for more Windows Phone word games, we've got a dandy for you. Word Mints is a "find a word" type game that is integrated with your Facebook account. Word Mints is a tournament oriented game where you race the clock and play against other players to see who can create the most words from a six random letters. There is a lot to Word Mints including daily contests, achievements, and your own Facebook styled wall.

Trine's Hangman updated and going on sale

Games

By George Ponder, Thursday, Dec 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm

Gydar Industries is at it again. They have released another update to the popular Windows Phone game Trine's Hangman and will also be offering it at half price for the Holidays. Version 1.14 adds more words into the mix, fixes a few bugs, and adds two Christmas themed wallpapers to the game.

The half off sale will drop the price of Trines Hangman Pro from $1.99 to $.99. The Holiday sale will run from December 25, 2011 to January 1, 2012. You still have Trine's Hangman available which is a free, ad-supported version but at $.99, the Pro version is a real steal of a deal.

For those not familiar with Trine's Hangman, it is a hangman game for your Windows Phone that has you playing against a global online community of thousands for leaderboard braggin' rights. The game can be personalized with wallpapers and the music can be saved as a custom ringtone for your Windows Phone. There's even an online braggin' rights page you can share via email, Facebook, Twitter or SMS message (here's mine).

If you haven't tried Trine's Hangman now is your chance to take advantage of a great offer on the ad-free version. You can find Trine's Hangman Pro here (remember starting Dec. 25th it's half off) at the Windows Phone Marketplace and Trine's Hangman (the ad supported version) here. Trine's is a mango app so you'll need to be running Windows Phone 7.5.

Trine's Hangman goes Mango

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 10:44 am

The popular Windows Phone word game Trine's Hangman has gone mango. Version 1.13 brings fast resume, deep tile links to take you straight to your game screen, and ringtones. Yes, ringtones. If you like the songs used in the game you can save them to your Windows Phone as custom ringtones.

The deep link tiles are a nice feature to allow you to skip the intro screens and menus to get right to the heart of the game. It's also a nice feature if multiple players are using the same Windows Phone. Just create a tile for each player to give everyone quick access to Trine's. Along with all the mango features, the update includes the following changes to Trines.

Added functionality so you can report misspelled words to me with one click
Improved the WikiPedia-look-up, it will give results more often
Now you can look-up words with Bing and Google in addition to WikiPedia
Adjusted space for scores and highscores in the game page and high scores page
Added option to share your player-page by Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn
Added option to share info about the game to friends by SMS/e-mail/Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn

You also have various spelling corrections and bug fixes with the update including fixing the problem of listening to Zune while playing Trine's Hangman. Gydar Industries, Trine's developers, are already working on the next update to the game as well as another hangman game based on everything they learned and that has been suggested from the Trine's Hangman game.

The update went live this morning so expect to see the update notification soon for those who are already enjoying Trine's Hangman. For those who haven't given Trine's a try, it is offered in two versions. There is an ad-supported, free version of Trine's Hangman here at the Marketplace. You also have Trine's Hangman Pro which is an ad-free version that runs $1.99 and you can find it here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Oh... the trailer is from an earlier version of Trine's but it's such a good trailer we couldn't resist sharing it again.

You, Me and Words - Review

Games

By George Ponder, Monday, Oct 17, 2011 at 2:12 am

You, Me and Words joins the healthy list of Boggle type games on the Windows Phone Marketplace. But there's something different about You, Me and Words that sets it apart from the other games such as Wordrix and Word Arena.

For starters, instead of a 4x4 grid of letters, You, Me and Words has a 3x3 grid. If my math is correct, that means you have seven fewer letters to build words off of. You also don't have to link the letters together, you simply tap the letters in sequence to build the word.

To read more on You, Me and Words just follow the break.

Saveman - Review

Games

By George Ponder, Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 6:57 pm

Trine's Hangman quietly gets updated

Games

By George Ponder, Thursday, Sep 22, 2011 at 7:22 pm

The popular Windows Phone word game Trine's Hangman was recently updated to version 1.12.0. The update fixes a few bugs, improves performance and merges the high score page and sharing page to give the game more of a metro feel.

An invalid word was removed and the game versions recieved a name change. The free, lite version is now "Trine's Hangman" and the full, paid version is now "Trine's Hangman Pro". The developer felt that since the lite version, while ad supported, is no longer limited in functionality the name change was in order.

A Mango update is also in the works that will bring the fast resume feature into play, live tiles with information about your current position in the game's leader board, one-on-one multiplayer mode, and a deep-link tile that will go straight to the game screen.

If you haven't tried Trine's Hangman yet and are looking for a very good word game for your Windows Phone, it is definitely worth a try. You can find Trine's Hangman here (opens Zune) and Trine's Hangman Pro (running $1.99) here at the Marketplace.