After TouchArcade forum user ReformatPlanet pointed out a particularly polished new word game called Lexitron [$1.99, App Store], we sat down and went to work on evaluating this promising title. We quickly realized, however, that Lexitron was just one of several versions of the popular web-based TextTwist game.
TextTwist is a simple game where the player is given 6 jumbled letters and is expected to make as many words out of them as possible. The player is given the total number of possible words as well as the number of letters in each word. There’s no penalty for guessing but you are on a time-limit. Words can be anywhere from 3 to 6 letters long.
We found the following TextTwist clones in the App Store:
- Word Warp v1.01 [$0.99] – not recommended
- Muddled v1.0.1 [$1.99] – not recommended
- Word Whirl v2 [$2.99] – global high scores, multiplayer
- Sextuple Word Challenge v1.0.0.1 [$0.99] – best overall pick
- Lexitron v1.0[$1.99] – visually impressive, multiple languages
Not Recommended: Muddled and Word Warp
The first two titles listed, Word Warp and Muddled, are simply not recommended when directly compared to the other offerings in this roundup. Word Warp is a bare bones implementation with a very simple interface and no sound effects.
While Muddled appears to be a slightly better implementation, its fatal flaw is that it houses the jumbled letters at the top of the screen. In all the iPhone versions of this game, the player selects the letters simply by touching them. With that in mind, let me point out that there’s a reason the iPhone keyboard is on the bottom of the screen and not the top. You simply don’t want your hand and fingers obscuring the screen when typing (or selecting letters in a game).
Top Pick: Sextuple Word Challenge
Surprisingly enough, one of the $0.99 cent options was our top pick. Sextuple Word Challenge provides the best overall experience. The user interface is well thought out with responsive buttons on the bottom of the screen. The large simple buttons work well.
There are some basic sound effects which get the job done and most importantly, the game saves state when you quit or when you get a phone call. This means you can resume right where you left off.
The rules for Sextuple Word Challenge are better suited for less experienced players. The player is given a variable amount of time depending on how many word solutions there are. You only need to get 50% of the words in order to progress to the next level. A single high score is stored and is initially set at 10,000.
One minor complaint is that the blank words are not listed in alphabetical order as is the convention for most of the other apps. During gameplay, this ordering can help provide you with some hints for unknown words. There have also been complaints that the built-in dictionary does not carry enough words. If you consider yourself an advanced player, this may be an issue.
Word Whirl
Word Whirl is also a solid version of TextTwist. It features a very similar interface to Sextuple Word Challenge that is also quite responsive. The game also provides a few unique features including global online high score as well as a Wi-Fi multiplayer version. The Wi-Fi multiplayer works as advertised (but with one issue mentioned later) and provides a very fun head-to-head method of play.
The game requires a bit more skill in order to advance stages. In order to pass the current stage, you actually need to get every word, and you only get two minutes to start, regardless of how many possibilities there are. Time is added to the clock for every word with 4 letters or more that you find. These rules combined with the global online scoreboard may appeal to the more advanced player.
What really keeps us from highly recommending this game, however, is the fact that it does not save game state upon quit. This means going back to the home screen or receiving a phone call will lose your game. While Wi-Fi multiplayer mode seems to be a very fun way of playing the game, iPhone dialog boxes (low battery, SMS messages) will result in a disconnection between the two iPhones.
Lexitron
Lexitron is the most visually impressive of the bunch with an arcade game style and smooth animations. Also unique to this version is support for multiple languages including English, French, Italian and Spanish.
This game’s rules require that you complete at least one six-letter word before proceeding to the next stage. The game is played in landscape mode only which feels quite natural while typing. From the options, you can choose 1:30, 2:00, 3:00 or unlimited time for each stage.
Lexitron’s interface is hidden from sight. Shuffling of letters can be performed either by shaking the iPhone or double tapping on the empty space. Letter selection is by touch and word entry is by double-tap near the bottom. While visually impressive and enjoyable, the overall gameplay of the other versions reviewed felt more natural. While the game does save game state when you quit, there is no way to end a level or return to the menu in mid play.
Summary and Gameplay Video
Sextuple Word Challenge [$0.99], Word Whirl [$2.99], and Lexitron [$1.99] are all good versions of TextTwist for the iPhone. If not for its inability to save game state, Word Whirl may have been our top choice. For those impressed by fancy visuals or in need of multiple languages, Lexitron is a a solid choice. But for the best overall playability and value, Sextuple Word Challenge is our top choice.
Gameplay video shows these games in action:
