16 Best Word Game Apps To Play On Your IPhone Or Android 2022

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The New York Times defines Spelling Bee, its popular daily word game, as "a puzzle in which players try to make words from a set of seven unique letters while using the center letter at least once." But Spelling Bee's loyal fan base is more likely to define it as "a lifestyle."

Unfortunately, Spelling Bee only offers one puzzle a day—leaving us obsessives hungry for more vocabulary building exercises. Luckily, there are tons of other fun word game apps for iPhones, iPads, and Android smartphones that will sate our cravings. Adults and seniors will find the brain-twister Alpha Omega a challenge (in the best way), and kids will be drawn to AlphaBear's adorable graphics. Those looking for a game night with pals should head straight to Words With Friends or Letterpress.

These brain-building games have more benefits than whittling away boredom. A 2019 study completed by U.K. researches showed that individuals who frequently completed crossword and Sudoku puzzles had sharper performance "across a range of tasks assessing memory, attention, and reasoning." Essentially, these word game apps might just make you smarter, one puzzle at a time.

Below, find some of our favorite options, complete with links to download. Since most of them are free, you can try them out before committing to in-app purchases.

Alphabear

SpryFox

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Alphabear is where adorable animals meet word strategy. The wholly unique gameplay consists of constructing words around, well, bears. As players progress and rack up points, they can decorate their ursine avatar with new clothes and accessories. With its wholesome graphics and compelling story, this family-friendly puzzle game is perfect for kids and parents to play together.

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Wordscapes

PeopleFun

Price: Free with in-app purchases

You are now entering a zen space where the only thing you have to worry about is creating new words. Gameplay is refreshingly simple. Each new round of Wordscapes presents players with a batch of five letters; with each word you build, fill out the puzzle more and more.

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SpellTower+

SpellTower

Price: Free with in-app purchases.

For its blend of strategy and verbal acumen, Spell Tower is the perfect game for Tetris fans with wide vocabularies. Each round begins with a row of letters. With each word formed, more letters accumulate. See how many words you can form before the tower reaches the top of your screen. The classic 2011 game was reimagined in 2020 to create a new and improved version.

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Typeshift

Zach Gage

Price: Free with in-app purchases

The creator of SpellTower returns with another ingenious word-based game, which he describes as "anagrams meets word search with a sprinkle of crosswords." The game comes with over 100 free puzzles, and has additional packs available to purchase. The goal is to shift columns of letters up and down to form words in the center row. Challenge yourself with the daily puzzle.

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Blackbar

Neven Mrgan & James Moore

Price: $2.99

Blackbar is an innovative app that blends storytelling with word puzzles. Gameplay unfolds through a series of censored letters exchanged between friends. You'll need to fill in the letter's literal "black bars" to reach the story's next chapter.

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New York Times Crossword Puzzle

New York Times

Price: An annual subscription costs $39.95 per year and a monthly is $6.95 per month.

We'd be remiss not to include the New York Times crossword puzzle, perhaps the most classic word game of them all. The subscription unlocks the Times's archive of puzzles dating back to 1993, which means you'll never run out. If you're on the run, start with the Mini Crossword.

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Word Search Pro

Word Puzzle Games

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Whoever said word searches were for kids has never played, and been utterly soothed by, Word Search Pro. If you're finding the hidden words too easily, change up the difficulty level. Finally, insomniacs looking to relax can use the app's "dark mode" feature.

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Words With Friends 2

Zynga

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Scrabble meets smartphones in Words With Friends, one of the most popular multiplayer apps around. Start with seven randomly arranged tiles and see what you can build on the board...or off. The game's chat function has been the setting for some couples' meet cutes.

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Letterpress

Phill Ryu

Price: Free with in-app purchases

If you and your pals have lost track of how many Words With Friends matches you've played, check out Letterpress for variety's sake. The clever game riffs off of Scrabble and Risk. Players compete to spell the most words, and thus capture the board.

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Word Cookies

Bit Mango

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Like many other other apps on this list, the gist of Word Cookies is constructing words from a random assortment of letters. The major difference? Here, the letters are made out of (virtual) cookies. Fill up the jar with all the words you create. Kids will enjoy Word Cookies' sweet conceit.

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Bonza Word Puzzle

Bonza Puzzles

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Think of Bonza as a new type of crossword. Each puzzle is guided by a different clue, like "Compass" or "Things With Buttons." From there, players drag blocks of letters to form words that fall under that category. Will Shortz, editor of the New York Times crossword puzzle, is also a fan of this popular game, calling it "instantly addictive."

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Wheel of Fortune

Scopely

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Now on sale: Vowels! Here's your chance to replicate the beloved game show on your phone with thousands of puzzles. Spin the wheel, solve puzzles, and impress your friends (or competitors from around the world).

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Four Letters

PikPok

Price: Free with in-app purchases

If you're seeking a game with lightning fast rounds that you can play during life's in-between moments, Four Letters is for you. In each round, players are challenged to make as many words as they can using–you guessed it!—four letters. When the clock runs out, check out the dictionary to see the words you missed.

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Alpha Omega

BorderLeap

Alpha Omega may look like a crossword—but it's not. Each level is comprised of a series of misspelled words. The goal is to rearrange letters to fix the puzzle. Heads up: Alpha Omega will definitely build some brain muscle. This game is a challenge in the best way.

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Scrabble Go

Scopely

Price: Free with in-app purchases

With Scrabble Go, the classic board game is adapted for the digital age. "Practice Mode" is a great option for those of us hoping to sharpen our word-finding strategy skills. Thanks to the app's stat-tracking feature, you can measure your progress. Of course, if you're missing the analog days, you can always put the phone down for a classic game of Scrabble.

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