Everyone I know is obsessing about Wordle these days. For the uninitiated, in this Internet game, players have to guess a predetermined five-letter word on a grid of green, yellow, black and white boxes. It’s the letter equivalent of Sudoku, easy enough to beguile a preteen and tough enough to fox a middle-ager. As any economist knows, sought-after luxury items are a function of scarcity — the shrewd Wordle developer releases just one game a day, ensuring a hooked audience is anxiously waiting for it to drop.
Would Wordle be such a hit if the world wasn’t in the grips of serious existential boredom? Probably not. Lately, life had reverted back to the lonely cycle of lockdowns and curfews, forcing us to rely on blinking gadgets and aimless scrolling. Play is essential for child development but what’s not acknowledged enough is that games are crucial for adults as well who need something to distract themselves from the harsh realities of their lives. Look no further than the enduring popularity of Crossword and Word Search. Putting in the effort to solve a puzzle, watching the letters flip to green provides a jolt of welcome satisfaction, at any age. On days when tedium feels overwhelming, these little victories see us through. A game like Wordle provides exactly that.
