Who we are
HowToPlayWordGames is written and edited by one reviewer — The Wordgame Geek. Every game on this site was actually played, scored, and screenshotted by a real person. There is no AI-generated filler, no scraped reviews, and no content rewritten from other sites.
How we review
Every game goes through the same process:
- Discovery. We pick up games from the Play Store, App Store, and indie showcases. We also take reader requests.
- First hour. We play the first hour cold. No tutorials, no guides, no optimisation. This is where the on-boarding quality and the core loop either earn our attention or lose it.
- Extended play. We play for at least a week, across a mix of sessions. Short, long, distracted, focused. We look at how the game feels on day seven, not day one.
- Screenshot pass. We capture our own art. No press kit images. The screenshots in each review are the actual game running on the device we tested.
- Monetisation audit. We look at every paywall, timer, ad placement, and energy mechanic. If a free-to-play game feels like it punishes you for not paying, we say so. Loudly.
- Score. Each game gets a single overall score out of 10, plus a breakdown by Fun, Value, Depth, and Polish. The breakdown is in the scoreboard at the top of every review.
What we don't do
- We don't accept payment for reviews. Ever. A free press code from a developer does not change a score, and we note in the review when a code was used.
- We don't run sponsored content, advertorials, or "partner posts."
- We don't write a review for a game we haven't actually played.
- We don't use AI to generate review copy. Our drafts are written by hand and edited by hand.
Why this site exists
We started HowToPlayWordGames because the word-game category on the app stores is overflowing with clones, shovelware, and ad-casinos dressed up as puzzles. Players deserve an honest read on what's worth their time — and what isn't. That's it. No newsletter funnel, no course, no app. Just reviews and how-to guides.
How to play
The How to Play section gives the same step-by-step treatment to mechanics: how the scoring works, what the rules are, what to do on your first session, and the strategy tips that actually move the needle. We write them so you can read one in under three minutes and be ready to play.
Editorial standards
- Accuracy. If we get a fact wrong, we fix it. Corrections are noted at the bottom of the review with the date.
- Transparency. We disclose when a review code was used, when a developer is a personal acquaintance, and when we revise a score after an update.
- Independence. Our revenue comes from display advertising and an optional Sunday newsletter. Neither of those changes a score or a verdict.
- Updates. Word games change fast — meta shifts, new seasons, controversial updates. We re-test and re-score when a major change hits. The date at the top of each review tells you when it was last verified.
Contact
Suggestions, corrections, or a game you want us to look at? Use the contact form. We read everything, and we usually reply within a week.