How Wordle is Saving Us from Ourselves

Summary

Wordle, a popular daily word game, has become a cultural phenomenon that provides a social and cognitive outlet during the pandemic, potentially saving its players from more questionable pastimes.

Abstract

The web content discusses the impact of Wordle, a simple yet engaging word game that has captivated a broad audience during the pandemic. It highlights how the game's daily challenge unites people in a shared experience, appealing to individuals who may not typically consider themselves gamers. The article reflects on the game's success, its sale to The New York Times, and the sociological factors contributing to its popularity, such as the need for social connection and manageable challenges amid pandemic fatigue. It humorously suggests that without Wordle, people might have turned to more bizarre activities to fill their time and maintain a sense of community. The piece concludes by acknowledging the importance of celebrating small victories and hints at future trends that could similarly bring people together.

Opinions

The author implies that Wordle has become a positive distraction for people who might otherwise engage in less productive activities.
Wordle is seen as a game that has attracted non-traditional gamers, fostering a sense of community among players.
The creator of Wordle, Josh Wardle, is praised for his achievement in creating a game that has significantly impacted the daily routines of many individuals.
The article humorously speculates about alternative games and activities that could have emerged if Wordle hadn't become popular, such as "Diminished Personal Hygiene Bingo" or "Fridge Purge Friday."
The author suggests that the success of Wordle can be attributed to its ability to provide a challenge that is neither too easy nor too difficult, satisfying a specific social and cognitive niche during the pandemic.
There is an appreciation for the small, everyday achievements, like household chores, which have become more significant during the pandemic.
The author expresses optimism about the potential for other activities to fill the void once Wordle's popularity wanes, such as "Penny Can" tournaments or "Competitive Cat Grass Growing."

What depths might we sink to without this trending word game?

If you don’t know what Wordle is, good for you. It probably means you’ve been staying off social media. Briefly, it is a word game where you have to guess a five-letter word in six tries. It’s web-based, there is only one word per day, so everyone is guessing the same word, and you can’t binge play thus losing several hours of time. Well, unless you find a similar game on the App Store, download it to your phone, and then you can play all you want. Uh, at least, that’s what I’ve heard.

What I find most interesting is that the people who are sharing their scores are not the usual suspects. These are not the friends I regularly see seeking objects on some farming game. They are not friends who I’d consider gamers at all. In fact, they are the ones I’d be most likely to have invited to play Words with Friends a few years back. Word people are just different, you know?

I’m guessing, based on absolutely no facts, that there are a lot of people playing Wordle who don’t regularly play games. If that’s true, then good for the creator, Josh Wardle, who recently sold his game to The New York Times for a ridiculously large amount of money. It’s incredible to be able to do something that shakes up the status quo.

Why this though? There are articles that speak to the right-time, right-placeness of it all. We have short attention spans because of pandemic fatigue, an ever-growing need to feel a part of something social, and enjoy games that are difficult enough to make us feel challenged but not so difficult we feel stupid. I guess these are similar to the sociological factors that had us all baking sourdough bread, sharing opinions on the best shows to binge-watch, and purchasing Pelotons, or more affordable knock-offs.

A word game is actually one of the more socially acceptable options that could have come out of this set of needs. We might have developed more questionable games like “Diminished Personal Hygiene Bingo” or “Guess If I’m Wearing Pants Today.” During lulls in FaceTime conversations, we could have started playing “Guess The Place I’m Thinking of Visiting But Can’t Because of the Pandemic” or “I’m Thinking of a Yard Project That I Won’t Start because I’m Burnt Out from Learning to Knit, Taking Portuguese Lessons on Duolingo, and Rewatching All the Episodes of New Amsterdam.”

If Wordle hadn’t come along, I can totally see how I might have been excitedly posting my success with vacuuming the bedrooms, emptying the dishwasher, and putting away the laundry. These are things we are all doing and coming together to share our accomplishments during these tough times is important. We need to celebrate each other’s successes, be they large or small. I want my friends to know I understand how much effort they put into toasting their tuna sandwich instead of eating it untoasted and would happily “like” their achievement.

As I write about these things, I realize that as Wordle fades into obscurity along with other trendy games like Candy Crush and Temple Run, we do have other things we can do to fill our short attention spans, develop a sense of community, and provide just the right amount of challenge. Besides some of the ideas I mentioned above, I suggest Zoom tournaments of “Penny Can” (watch Cougar Town if you don’t understand the reference), “Competitive Cat Grass Growing” (Whose grass can grow the fastest and last the longest with greedy cats watching on?), and “Fridge Purge Friday” where you and your friends clean your refrigerators at the same time while offering support via video chat.

It’s soothing to realize there will be plenty to keep us busy even if the pandemic continues to force us to stay home and increase our dosage of anti-depressants. Now, if you will excuse me, it’s time for my special outing of the week: I’m walking to the mailbox. I think I’ll even put on pants.

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How Wordle is Saving Us from Ourselves

What depths might we sink to without this trending word game?