Boring Phone Game Wordscapes Is Also A Lovely Self-isolation Activity

Home » How Many Levels In Wordscapes » Boring Phone Game Wordscapes Is Also A Lovely Self-isolation Activity

Maybe your like

The Mashable 101 Creator Hub Tech Science Life Social Good Entertainment Deals Shopping Games Search Cancel
  • Search Result
The Mashable 101 Creator Hub Tech Apps & Software Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Cryptocurrency Mobile Smart Home Social Media Tech Industry Transportation All Tech Science Space Climate Change Environment All Science Life Family & Parenting Health & Wellness Sex, Dating & Relationships Sleep Careers Mental Health All Life Social Good Activism Gender LGBTQ Racial Justice Sustainability Politics All Social Good Entertainment Games Movies Podcasts TV Shows Watch Guides All Entertainment SHOP THE BEST Laptops Budget Laptops Dating Apps Sexting Apps Hookup Apps VPNs Robot Vaccuums Robot Vaccum & Mop Headphones Speakers Kindles Gift Guides Mashable Choice Mashable Selects All Sex, Dating & Relationships All Laptops All Headphones All Robot Vacuums All VPN All Shopping Games Product Reviews Adult Friend Finder Bumble Premium Tinder Platinum Kindle Paperwhite PS5 vs PS5 Slim All Reviews All Shopping Deals Newsletters VIDEOS Mashable Shows All Videos

Like everyone else, I wanted to play Animal Crossing: New Horizons during social distancing. Unfortunately, this wasn't in the cards for me: The Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite are pretty much sold out, and I cannot afford to pay $800 for one on eBay. (This is maybe not the wisest time to become a gamer from scratch.)

So my isolation game of choice ended up being a little different. It's a word puzzle game on my phone that is not new, features zero adorable characters, and is not particularly collaborative. In fact, it is a little boring. It's also doing wonders for my mental health right now.

Wordscapes, which is available for iOS and Android, is kind of like a word search-crossword puzzle hybrid. (Forgive me for explaining the game as if it's new; again, it is several years old.) Each round, you're given a bank of letters, which you must then use to make words that fit into an empty crossword. If you get stuck, you can use the "coins" you win after completing levels to buy hints or freebie letters. After you complete all the puzzles in a level, you're rewarded with a pleasant new background for gameplay — perhaps a nice waterfall or a stately mountain range.

You May Also Like

The background elevator music is also lovely.

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. Loading... Sign Me Up Use this instead By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
SEE ALSO: 4 wholesome browser games to play if you love plants

For me, the game's main draw is that it's simultaneously rewarding and incredibly low-stakes. Some puzzles are really difficult, but it's not really possible to lose. Plus, the game isn't timed, which means it's super low-stress. If you want to take a break, you can close the app and resume your level later at the same place. There are no consequences for pausing.

Still, it feels great to complete a puzzle — similar to the thrill of completing a New York Times mini crossword — and you can feel that feeling as many times in a row as you want. And yes, there's a congratulatory sound effect.

It's simultaneously rewarding and low-stakes.

Wordscapes is not a collaborative game. You can't even communicate with other players inside the app. That doesn't mean you can play it socially, though, at least with the other people you're in isolation with. My family, four members of which I am holed up with right now, will often pass our phones to each other silently, hoping someone else can figure out the word that's been stumping us for hours. This doesn't always involve a lot of talking (sometimes we just say "it was [the answer]? oh") but when we figure out a word together it's a nice moment nonetheless.

Since social distancing began, there's been a near-constant discourse online about what we should be doing if we're lucky enough to practice isolation. I know I shouldn't feel pressured to write King Lear or organize my entire apartment, but what if I just want to feel like I'm doing something, exercising just a tiny crumb of my brain? Wordscapes is great for that — it's a way to keep your mind on something vaguely academic without feeling the stress of a time crunch or a project with an endpoint. Because Wordscapes has no endpoint. It just keeps going and going forever.

OK, fine, it has 3700 levels. But I'm only on 257, so it is essentially infinite to me.

Topics COVID-19

Mashable Image Chloe Bryan

Chloe was the shopping editor at Mashable. She was also previously a culture reporter. You can follow her on Twitter at @chloebryan.

Mashable Potato Recommended For You Trying to go analog in 2026? Stay entertained with these 7 activity books. Yes, we support adult coloring books. 02/05/2026 By Samantha Mangino A coloring book, Murdle book, and sudoku book on a table. A coloring book, Murdle book, and sudoku book on a table. Did you know Apple launched a new product today? Get the Hikawa Phone Grip. The quirky iPhone stand is also an accessibility device. 11/20/2025 By Chase DiBenedetto Three iPhones at different angles, each with phone grips magnetized to the back of the device. Two of the grips are bright green while one is a speckled grey pattern. All three are pyramid shaped with a large hole through the center. Three iPhones at different angles, each with phone grips magnetized to the back of the device. Two of the grips are bright green while one is a speckled grey pattern. All three are pyramid shaped with a large hole through the center. The Game Awards 2025: Biggest announcements, surprises, winners In addition to naming the game of the year, we're also expecting news on the hottest titles of 2026. 12/11/2025 By George Yang still from death stranding 2: on the beach still from death stranding 2: on the beach Is Kim Kardashian Neuralink's next ambassador? The internet thinks so. The billionaire is coming up with a plan to address low brain activity, and fans theorize it's a brain chip. 12/01/2025 By Chase DiBenedetto A red carpet photo of Kim Kardashian in profile. Behind her is her mother and manager Kris Jenner. A red carpet photo of Kim Kardashian in profile. Behind her is her mother and manager Kris Jenner. Shop the best Black Friday deals on self-emptying robot vacuums: Save on Roborock, Eufy, Roomba, and more Put your feet up and let the robots do the work. 11/21/2025 By Lois Mackenzie Selection of robot vacuums against Black Friday background Selection of robot vacuums against Black Friday background More in Life How to watch Australia vs. Zimbabwe online for free Live stream all the action from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup without spending anything. 50 minutes ago By Joseph Green Marcus Stoinis of Australia bats Marcus Stoinis of Australia bats How to watch Daytona 500 live: streaming details The Great American Race returns for its 68th year. 3 hours ago By Christina Buff drivers Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and William Byron posing at Daytona International Speedway drivers Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and William Byron posing at Daytona International Speedway How to watch Latvia vs. USA in men's ice hockey online for free Live stream all the action from the PalaItalia and Fiera Milano from anywhere in the world. 4 hours ago By Joseph Green Ice hockey face off Ice hockey face off How to watch Czechia vs. Canada in men's ice hockey online for free Live stream all the action from the PalaItalia and Fiera Milano from anywhere in the world. 4 hours ago By Joseph Green Ice hockey players Ice hockey players How to watch the T20 World Cup 2026 online for free Live stream all the action from India and Sri Lanka without spending anything. 4 hours ago By Joseph Green Mohammed Siraj of India Mohammed Siraj of India Trending on Mashable NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 12, 2026 Everything you need to solve 'Connections' #977. 11 hours ago By Mashable Team Connections game on a smartphone Connections game on a smartphone Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 12, 2026 Here are some tips and tricks to help you find the answer to "Wordle" #1699. 11 hours ago By Mashable Team Wordle game on a smartphone Wordle game on a smartphone Jimmy Kimmel responds to Pam Bondi's chaotic Epstein hearing "There's nothing to defend here." 3 hours ago By Sam Haysom A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage. The caption at the bottom reads, "If they have nothing to hide, why are they hiding names?" A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage. The caption at the bottom reads, "If they have nothing to hide, why are they hiding names?" NYT Strands hints, answers for February 12, 2026 Every hint, nudge and outright answer you need to complete today's NYT Strands puzzle. 11 hours ago By Mashable Team A game being played on a smartphone. A game being played on a smartphone. NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 11, 2026 Everything you need to solve 'Connections' #976. 02/11/2026 By Mashable Team Connections game on a smartphone Connections game on a smartphone The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox. Loading... Sign Me Up Use this instead These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!

Tag » How Many Levels In Wordscapes