Words of Wonders puts two puzzles on the same screen. At the bottom sits a ring of letters. At the top sits a small crossword with every answer blank. Swipe through the letters to make a word, and if that word belongs in the grid it drops into place.
The trick is that the letters never change within a level. Every answer is an anagram of the same handful, which means the puzzle is not really about vocabulary. It is about seeing the same six letters differently for the eighth time.
It was made by Fugo Games and released in 2018, and it has been through a lot of imitators since. The browser version here needs no install and no account.
How to play Words of Wonders
Each level gives you a circle of letters and a crossword grid waiting to be filled.
- Swipe or drag across the letters in the ring to spell a word. Release to submit it.
- If the word is in the grid, it fills in and stays there.
- If it is a real word but not in the grid, it counts as a bonus word and pays you coins.
- Fill every slot in the grid to finish the level and move on.
- The hammer reveals one letter of your choosing. The hint button reveals a random one.
Letters can be used in any order and the same letter can appear in many answers. Nothing is consumed.
Levels are grouped by place, and finishing a group unlocks a picture of a landmark along with a short fact about it. That is the reward loop, and it is gentler than most.
Tips and strategy
- Look at the grid before you look at the letters. The slot lengths tell you what you are hunting for, and a four letter gap with an S at the end is half solved already.
- Chase the longest word first. It usually uses every letter in the ring, and once it lands its crossing letters expose several short answers at once.
- Shuffle the ring when you stall. Seeing the letters in a new order is the single cheapest way to break a block, and it costs nothing.
- Bonus words are not a distraction, they are the bank. Spend two minutes making junk words when you are stuck and you will have enough coins for the hint you actually need later.
- Try the plural and the past tense of every word you have already found. The grid is full of them.
- Save the hammer for a slot where you know the length but cannot see the shape. Spending it on a word you would have found anyway is the most common way people run out.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Words of Wonders free to play here?
Yes. It runs in the browser with no download, no account and no payment.
What are bonus words in Words of Wonders?
Real words you can make from the letter ring that are not part of the crossword grid. They do not fill any slot, but they earn coins you can spend on hints.
Can I play Words of Wonders on a phone?
Yes. The letter ring is built for swiping, so it works at least as well on a touch screen as with a mouse.
Who made Words of Wonders?
Fugo Games, first released in 2018. The browser version is distributed by Famobi.
What happens when I finish a group of levels?
You unlock a landmark image and a short fact about it, then the next group of levels opens.