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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Thomas Telford

Wordle: Expert reveals reasons why popular game is so addictive

Wordle has become something of a phenomenon since it first appeared in late 2021.

Hundreds of thousands of people have made Wordle part of their daily routine regularly sharing their results on Twitter.

Wordle has become such a hit that the New York Times saw fit to fork out a "low seven-figure" amount to buy it from its creator, Josh Wardle.

But what makes players keep coming back day after day?

The first reason is that your playtime is limited so Wordle is far more successful at staying interesting in the long run and less likely to burn out like a fad.

Limiting players to five minutes per day will keep users coming back.

The social aspect of the game another reason the game has been a huge success.

Because users share their results on Twitter, it makes those who have yet to try Wordle more curious about the game.

According to British psychologist Lee Chambers, one reason why Wordle is so addictive for so many is due to "constantly seeing the squares in our Twitter feed indicates that there is something to be solved, and others are on the case."

"It pulls us into investigating it ourselves."

Chambers also thinks the visual makeup of Wordle has a part to play in its success as he believes that the squares "bring a comforting level of psychological order even when surrounded by chaos."

The hit of adrenaline you get once you beat the puzzle will always keep players coming back for more.

Chambers also believes the fact that everyone plays the same game makes people feel connected.

"The fact that we are all trying to solve the same puzzle brings us together, helping us feel like we are tackling a bigger problem together," Chambers said.

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