Antiwordle is among the new variety of linguistic strategy games based on Wordle. Photo: Antiwordle
Antiwordle is among the new variety of linguistic strategy games based on Wordle. Photo: Antiwordle
Antiwordle is among the new variety of linguistic strategy games based on Wordle. Photo: Antiwordle
Antiwordle is among the new variety of linguistic strategy games based on Wordle. Photo: Antiwordle

What is Antiwordle? The Wordle-style game that doesn't allow you to guess the word


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

Just like there is a new Wordle every day, it feels like there is a new variation of the word game daily. Cue Antiwordle, another take on the linguistic strategy game, which turns the rules on their head.

Spoiler for April 7's Antiwordle ahead.

In Antiwordle, you have to avoid guessing the hidden word, you have as many tries as possible (it's not capped at six tries like Wordle) but there are a couple of catches.

Once you guess a letter that's not in the word, it turns grey. In this game, you then cannot use that letter again.

Letters that are in a word, but are incorrectly placed, turn yellow. They then have to be used in the subsequent guesses.

If you guess a letter in the exact position, it turns red and is locked in place.

How do you win or lose Antiwordle? You keep going, with as many variations of a word as you can get, aiming to place as many yellow letters as possible.

Once you lock in a red guess, you have to keep using that, so it pays to keep using yellow letters in position.

How grey, yellow and red letters play out in Antiwordle. Photo: Antiwordle
How grey, yellow and red letters play out in Antiwordle. Photo: Antiwordle

Try your hand at Antiwordle here.

Wordle-mania: which countries are best at the game?

A new study by the website Word Tips has revealed which countries have the best Wordle scores.

The most efficient nation at guessing the daily riddle is Sweden, with the average player guessing the right word in 3.72 tries.

It's followed by Switzerland, with an average of 3.78 guesses, and Poland in third place with 3.79.

People in Belgium and Australia take 3.8 tries each, while in Finland it's 3.81 and Denmark, Brazil and South Africa are tied at 3.83.

In 10th place is Israel, where they take 3.84 attempts to get the right word. The UAE comes in joint 11th position with Ireland, where people take an average of 3.87 guesses.

Scroll through the gallery below to see nine similar word games if you love Wordle:

  • 'Hello Wordl' is a remake of 'Wordle' and is played in the same way, except you can do it more than once and change the length of the words.
    'Hello Wordl' is a remake of 'Wordle' and is played in the same way, except you can do it more than once and change the length of the words.
  • 'Absurdle' is the 'adversarial variant' of 'Wordle'.
    'Absurdle' is the 'adversarial variant' of 'Wordle'.
  • 'Letterle' is a mischievous spoof game that makes players guess a single letter each day.
    'Letterle' is a mischievous spoof game that makes players guess a single letter each day.
  • 'Letterpress' is an unlimited, free game where you unscramble tiles to spell words against friends and random opponents.
    'Letterpress' is an unlimited, free game where you unscramble tiles to spell words against friends and random opponents.
  • 'Word Forward' features a 5x5 grid of letter combinations that you can use to make words.
    'Word Forward' features a 5x5 grid of letter combinations that you can use to make words.
  • 'Kitty Letter' is from the makers of 'Exploding Kittens'.
    'Kitty Letter' is from the makers of 'Exploding Kittens'.
  • 'SpellTower' is like 'Tetris' meets 'Boggle'.
    'SpellTower' is like 'Tetris' meets 'Boggle'.
  • 'TypeShift' allows players to spell words using sliding letters in columns.
    'TypeShift' allows players to spell words using sliding letters in columns.
  • 'Word Master' is strikingly similar to 'Wordle' except you can play more than one a day.
    'Word Master' is strikingly similar to 'Wordle' except you can play more than one a day.
  • 'Wordle' has gone viral and amassed hundreds of thousands of players in a few months. AFP
    'Wordle' has gone viral and amassed hundreds of thousands of players in a few months. AFP
Updated: April 07, 2022, 8:44 AM