The game was invented by Josh Wardle, a New York-based software developer. Its simplicity means almost anybody can play, even if they lack experience with word puzzles. Each day players have to guess a new five-letter word, in six attempts or less. After each guess letters light up, showing how accurate the attempt was. If a letter goes green it is both in the word and in the correct place. Yellow means the letter does feature but has been placed incorrectly, whilst gray indicates it’s not in the answer at all.
Speaking to Newsweek in January, Wardle revealed he tried words of different length before deciding five letters was the optimal fit.
He explained: “There is a reason that every word is five letters long and that you are allowed six attempts to guess it. That might seem arbitrary but, with the prototype version, I tested different word lengths and experimented with the number of tries that players were allowed.
“Through that process of refinement, I figured out that five letters and six tries was the ideal sweet spot. It’s just limited enough to feel challenging and to make you think, but most of the time people still manage to solve it. So, you feel a real sense of real accomplishment.”
Wardle has since sold Wordle to the New York Times for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.
Wordle has helped inspire a number of other online puzzles, including Wordle and Nerdle.
The answer to today’s Wordle will be revealed at the end of this article, so scroll down with caution if you want to work it out for yourself. To help you solve today’s Wordle, Newsweek has provided some hints and tips on the latest puzzle.
‘Wordle’ #481 Tips and Clues for Thursday, October 13
Wordle players can use these five hints to solve puzzle #481.
Hint #1: There are three vowels. Yes, you read that right!
Hint #2: The final letter is a consonant.
Hint #3: Synonyms for today’s word include “balanced,” “commensurate” and “comparable.”
Hint #4: Cambridge University Dictionary defines the answer as “the same in amount, number, or size.”
Hint #5: All men are created in this state, according to the Declaration of Independence.
‘Wordle’ #481 Answer for Thursday, October 13
The answer to today’s Wordle is “Equal.”
Three vowels! Has the world gone mad? Are we living in a simulation? In any case, not the toughest puzzle Wordle has thrown our way, but certainly still a brainteaser. Did you get it? If so, congratulations! If not, don’t worry—Newsweek will be here again tomorrow to provide you with some hints and tips for the next game.
The next Wordle puzzle will be available at 7 p.m. E.T., when the daily update occurs.
