Worcle Worlds

Genre: Unlimited Pattern Puzzle

Players: 1

.

Review:

Worcle is an Unlimited Pattern Puzzle game released on mobile devices in 2011, with a version released on Nintendo 3DS in 2017 under the title Worcle Worlds. This game combines elements of the Puzzle game Zuma with spelling and vocabulary-based puzzle games like Bookworm and Scrabble, resulting in a combination that’s fairly unique in its own right.

The presentation here is fairly simple, with backgrounds generally presenting an abstract natural image with a limited color palette, placing the emphasis on the gameplay itself. This is paired with music and sound effects that reminded me of a mobile game. So… not great, but it works well enough for the game.

However, the real star here is clearly the gameplay, which is surprisingly compelling. Players can take as long as they want (unless they’re playing a timed game mode), meaning the challenge here is trying to use the letters you’re given to create words and clear letters before your circle fills up with unmatched letters. There’s an element of risk/reward here as you can try to set yourself up for a longer word, but can’t know for sure what letters will be coming up after the next one, the only one you have a preview for. This game’s dictionary seems to be pretty decent, and I did not often run into words I knew but that the game didn’t (always frustrating in vocabulary-based games like this).

There are a few places this game could use some improvement in. More game modes and options would be nice, as well as more control over the game’s aesthetics. Also, while both the gamepad and touchscreen controls work well enough here, both seem a bit stiff, with your aim indicator snapping to the closest place to aim rather than moving smoothly.

There is one other thing I should note here, and that is that this game is technically playable online. However, don’t expect to find anyone to play against – as of this writing in 2022, the online lobbies are currently empty.

While it’s only mixing elements of games we’ve already seen before, Worcle Worlds does it in a way that works very well, and is surprisingly compelling. There are a few areas here and there that could have done with improvement, but overall this is a fantastic Puzzle game that’s well worth adding to your Nintendo 3DS collection if you’re a fan of the genre.

tl;dr – Worcle Worlds is a Puzzle game that combines a ball-shooting puzzle game like Zuma with a vocabulary game like Scrabble. These elements combine very well, making for a compelling experience. And although this game could do with more options and a few tweaks here and there, overall this is a solid game that Puzzle game fans should definitely be pleased with.

Grade: B

^{You can support eShopperReviews on Patreon! Please click HERE to become a Sponsor!}

^{This month’s sponsors are Ben, Andy Miller, Exlene, Homer Simpin, Johannes, Talissa, Eli Goodman, Gabriel Coronado-Medina, Ilya Zverev, Kristoffer Wulff, and Seth Christenfeld. Thank you for helping to keep the reviews coming!}