Seven Little Words

In the mobile game market, simplicity always reigns supreme. There's a reason why some of the most popular mobile games often require little to no input from the player, while some others rely more on knowledge and trivia. Seven Little Words falls into the latter category.

With new puzzles releasing every day, this Wordle alternative proves again that you don't need flashy visuals or some other form of engagement to keep people glued to their phones during their daily commute. At the same time, however, simplicity can be a double-edged sword, leaving players asking for more from your humble title.

Pick and Match

Seven Little Words' gameplay is as basic as it gets. Players are welcomed by a 4x5 grid each day, with different syllables inside their cells. Above the grid, you'll find a series of clues that changes each day. Your task will be to construct words using the provided syllables, and that's pretty much it.

Depending on the day, the game can be overwhelmingly hard, or laughably easy. I found that, more often than not, however, the game achieves a nice balance between difficulty and niche words. You never feel as if the puzzle is downright "impossible," and that's the way these games should always be.

Barebones Presentation

The only real issue that I got with the app is that it abuses its basic presentation. I understand that the game is essentially a learning tool, but I think there's room for a clear improvement in both the UI and the overall presentation of Seven Little Words.

While some old-school players might enjoy the sterile presentation, I think some small improvements, like user avatars and better high-score tracking, would be in order. Proper leaderboards – and a much more concise scoring system – would do wonders to keep players hooked in this unique game. At least, until the next casual fad comes along. I mean, the same thing happened to Flappy Bird.

Dictionary Shenanigans

It's clear that Seven Little Words appeals to a vast demographic of mobile gamers. There are no fancy battle passes or microtransactions to be found in this game – only a series of multiple quizzes that changes each day. Despite its basic premise, I'd argue that its simplicity is what makes this game such an enjoyable experience.

The amount of entertainment you'll get out of this casual title depends on how much you love it the first time you play it. If you're moved by the prospect of putting your vocabulary skills to the test each day with moderately challenging puzzles, then Seven Little Words will certainly be a treat for you. However, if you'd rather have a more "interactive" experience, then you'd be better off looking at another of the countless indie idle games available on the market.

Pros

• Entertaining and simple gameplay
• Achieves a good balance between challenging and easy
• Updated every day

Cons

• Barebones presentation
• Little else to do beyond the daily puzzle
• No real incentive to keep playing