Thanks, Netflix, but we don’t need another daily word game

Netflix is adding a new title to its gaming library: a daily word puzzle that is eerily similar to a lot of other mobile games that exist already. 

Announced in October, the streaming giant teamed up with TED, the well-known non-profit media organization, to launch TED Tumblewords, a new daily word puzzle game. In this game, players slide rows of scrambled letters on a three-by-three grid to form words, creating the longest words possible, and earning points.

The market for word puzzles is heavily saturated, and it’s clear that Tumblewords is inspired by other popular mobile games, such as Word Cookies, Words With Friends, and, most notably, The New York Times-owned Wordle. Wordle already has several copycats, including Quordle and Heardle, as well as one within LinkedIn’s new collection of word games. It also joins another word game that Netflix already offers called Word Trails.

Overall, Tumblewords doesn’t wow us, but it could be an option for those looking for something to help pass the time during their morning commutes.

Netflix’s new game features three different modes, all revolving around the same concept of forming words using a total of nine letters arranged on a board that can be moved up and down or left and right. Like Scrabble, each tile has a different point value, and players can earn bonus points for starting words with certain letters. Players can only shuffle the board a maximum of six times. 

The first mode, “Daily Six,” challenges players to form six words and try to beat their high score each day. “Daily Ladder” mode consists of five levels that players must reach, each requiring a specific number of points to advance. “Daily Match” mode lets players compete against TED’s bot. Players can also challenge friends or strangers online in turn-based matches. 

Netflix’s game is most closely related to BitMango’s Word Cookies, which was released in 2016. It works as one would expect; players must connect letters on a puzzle board and build as many words as they can. A year later, in 2017, a clone called Word Connect emerged, highlighting the ongoing trend of game developers imitating each other and capitalizing on popular titles. 

Tumblewords copies Wordle’s streak feature, which encourages users to return daily. Players can share their results with friends on social media, which could also help to attract more users.

One way Tumblewords differs from the rest, however, is TED’s use of collectible “Knowledge Cards,” which feature a different fun fact related to various topics, such as the arts, business, health, and literature. Players unlock badges every time they complete a collection of cards.

Starting today, TED Tumblewords is now available to download on iOS and Android devices. Users must have a Netflix subscription to play on mobile. However, it’s also free to play on TED.com/games. 

In addition to the new word puzzle, Netflix has several upcoming games set to launch, including Netflix Stories: Outer Banks, The Ultimatum: Choices, and Monument Valley 3. Additionally, a game inspired by the popular series “Squid Game” is in development.