Does anyone hate Wordle? Truly, it may just be the perfect game: challenging, but accessible and universally loved. Publicly released in 2021 by Josh Wardle, Wordle was then acquired by the New York Times where the five-letter word guessing game became not just a new part of the magazine, but a lifestyle for all ages and all walks of life. For each word players guess, the words become gray if it is not anywhere in the word, yellow if the word is in the word but in the wrong place, and green if it is the right letter in the right space. For me, the white, gray and yellow, and finally green squares have become a part of my everyday life. From passionate conversations about the best starting word to daily messages from family and friends about completion, Wordle was everywhere. While the Crossword will always be a quintessential part of the New York Times, it is a time commitment, whereas Wordle is an accessible and fun way to engage your brain daily. 

A few days after I began thinking about this opinion piece, and trying to decide where I stood, I asked my friends what their favorite New York Times games were. Some said the Mini Crossword, a couple said Connections, but most said Wordle. Inspired, we all pulled up Wordle on our computers and began tackling the day’s word. Some went with “Adieu,” a popular starting word as it gives valuable vowel information, while others chose random words, leaving the outcome to luck. After we had all put in our words, we stared silently at the slew of unhelpful information our first words had produced. The word ended up being nylon, which as one by one we figured it out, we laughed at the challenge of the 5 letter word, especially when none of us had started out with strong information. But even in the face of this puzzling word, we all had fun. 

Unlike some of the other games the New York Times offers, Wordle doesn’t require the niche knowledge that Connections, the Crossword, or Strands might. It is quick, engaging, and builds community through challenge.