Ever wondered why Wordle has become your latest obsession? Delve into the fascinating world of cognitive science and discover how our brains are wired to enjoy games like Wordle. It's not just a game, it's a psychological phenomenon.
Wordle, a puzzle that tasks players with working out a mystery word, has quickly become a viral sensation
300,000 players at the start of 2022; by late January, that number had surged to nearly 3 million
- Matt Baldwin, a social psychologist at the University of Florida, points to a number of ways that science can explain its soaring popularity.
It Shows How We Stack Up to Our Peers
Wordle has become a virtual water cooler, allowing players to share scores with colleagues, friends and family members with ease
- In short, it creates a common in-group identity which helps us forge stronger bonds with others
- On the other hand, it also allows us to engage in healthy competition with our peers
It Affirms Our Shared Reality
Sharing our Wordle grids with others and seeing them shared back feels good
- We want verification that our experience is similar to the experience of those we care about
- Differences define where we are right now in society
- Maybe Wordle is connecting a little bit with that strong need
It Gives Players a ‘Lightbulb Moment’
As we get closer to the answer with each guess, we get a little bit more confident that we’re on the right track.
- When those five green letters are revealed at the end of the puzzle – even if you didn’t guess them correctly – it gives players a boost that psychologists call a sudden influx of fluency.
It Lets Us Savor the Experience
A new puzzle is only offered once a day, which keeps the experience fresh and novel.
- The one-and-done aspect makes Wordle a scarce resource, so we know going into it that we can play it safely.
- There’s less potential to become addicted to it.
