📖 About the Game
Wordsmithy is an English word game played with classic Scrabble-style rules. Your goal is to form words on the board with the letters on your rack and collect the highest score. The built-in dictionary is based on open word lists used by competitive word gamers, with meanings drawn from established reference dictionaries.
The aim of the game is to give you a focused, uninterrupted mental workout while helping you grow your vocabulary and your feel for correct English usage. For that reason, and in keeping with classic Scrabble rules, only words recorded as standard usage in the reference dictionaries are accepted.
🎮 Game Modes
- Two Players: Play against one of the virtual opponents and pick up new words along the way
- Four Players: Play against three virtual opponents for a more competitive game and even more chances to learn new words
- Solo: Play alone, improve your skills and discover the words you thought you knew
- Side by Side: Play with 1–3 friends sitting near you — phones connect directly over Bluetooth, no internet, no virtual opponents (see below)
In the Two Players and Four Players modes you face virtual opponents of different experience and skill levels. Check the players' levels when choosing an opponent!
📱 Side by Side
Play with friends sitting next to you over a direct Bluetooth connection between devices — no internet needed. 2, 3 or 4 people can play at the same table; there are no virtual opponents, you are all real players. Phone or tablet, it doesn't matter.
Device requirement: Side by Side needs at least Android 12 or iOS 15. On older versions Bluetooth connections are unreliable, so this mode is hidden from the main menu; all other game modes work fully on those devices.
How to start
- Bluetooth must be on on all devices.
- One of you taps "Host Game"; the others tap "Find Game", see the hosted game in the list and choose it with "Join".
- The host sees a game code; friends pick the game with that code from their list. The host admits each player with "Admit" (up to three friends) and can remove one with "Remove". When everyone is in, the host taps "Start Game".
- Before starting, the host can set a move time for the table (Unlimited, or 1–5 minutes). This limit applies to every player in that game and overrides your own "My move time" setting.
- Stay within a few metres of each other (Bluetooth range — the same room or the next one is fine). Keep the space between devices clear of anything that could block the signal.
- The first time you play together, devices may ask for a one-time pairing confirmation; confirm it on all devices. It will not be asked again in later games.
Once the game starts, all players see the same board and everyone has their own letters; you play when it is your turn. Who goes first is decided the same way as in the other modes (a letter drawn for each player). Your name and star level appear on the other players' screens; in a two-player Side by Side game your profile photo (if you added one) is shown as well — in three- and four-player games photos are not exchanged, to keep the Bluetooth connection fast. During the game you can tap a player at the top to see their card. The indicator at the top shows whose turn it is, and your screen stays on while the game is running. If the connection drops for a moment, the game tries to repair itself from where it left off.
Words are checked against the same built-in dictionary on every device, meanings are shown just as in the other modes, and the Rack Master and Triple Word Master bonuses apply. Results count towards your statistics: Side by Side games have their own best-score records for 2, 3 and 4 players, and wins against friends count for your level like any other game.
If a player leaves the game (returns to the main menu or closes the app), the game is saved on every device; everyone can continue together from the "Unfinished Game" prompt. If a player cannot come back, the remaining players have to start a new game — the game cannot continue with fewer players.
If you need a break
If a call comes in or you need to switch to another app briefly, do not close Wordsmithy — keep it in the background; when you return the game continues where it left off. For a longer break, tap Pause first — the other players wait, and when you return you all continue with Resume.
If you close the app during a Side by Side game, the game is saved and the app tries to reconnect when you return; in some cases, however, the game state may not be fully in sync between players. The safest way is to tap Pause before a break and keep the app in the background.
If the connection cannot be established, follow these steps together:
- Every player fully quits Wordsmithy (not just in the background).
- Everyone restarts Wordsmithy.
- Everyone taps "Resume" at the same time.
To use this feature you must first enter your name in Menu > Profile — your friends will see you by this name. If you also add a photo to your profile, it appears next to your name on your friend's screen in two-player games. All of this is shared only with the players near you, directly over Bluetooth and only for the duration of the game; nothing is sent to the internet.
🎲 How to Play
1. Starting the Game
- Each player is dealt seven letters
- One letter of the first word must be placed on the center cell marked ★.
- To decide who goes first, a random letter is drawn from the bag for each player at the start. Whoever draws a blank starts; if nobody draws a blank, the player whose letter is closest to A starts.
2. Forming Words
- Place letters by dragging them from your rack onto the board, or by tapping a letter on the rack and then tapping the cell where you want it.
- Words must be horizontal or vertical; diagonal words are not allowed.
- Every letter you place must touch at least one letter already on the board.
- You cannot form separate words in different parts of the board in a single move.
- By paying attention to the existing horizontal and vertical words, you can form more than one word in a single move.
All words formed in a single move must be valid. A single invalid word cancels the whole move.
Valid Words
In keeping with classic Scrabble rules, words recorded as standard usage in the reference dictionaries are accepted. If Wordsmithy says "Not in dictionary" for a word, that word is not in the built-in dictionary.
Accepted words:
- Words recorded in the built-in dictionary, including their regular inflected forms (plurals, verb forms, comparatives)
- Words of at least 2 letters
Words that are not accepted:
- Words with no meaning
- Proper nouns (names of people, places, peoples, brands)
- Abbreviations and acronyms (NASA, USB, etc.)
- Chemical symbols such as Mg or Zn that carry no other meaning
- Words that consist of more than one word, because of the structure of the game (e.g. ice cream)
- Words that need a hyphen, apostrophe or capital letter
Wordsmithy works completely offline. Only the built-in dictionary is used; no online dictionary is ever consulted.
3. Blank Tiles
The game has two blank tiles. A blank appears on your rack as a tile with no letter on it.
- It can stand for any letter you like
- When you place it on the board you choose which letter it represents; it appears on the board with that letter and a score of 0
- It is worth 0 points
4. Other Actions
- Exchange: Swap any letters on your rack for new ones from the bag. An exchange is only possible while at least 7 letters remain in the bag. Exchanging ends your turn.
- Pass: Give up your turn without making a move
- Shuffle: Shuffle the letters on your rack to see different combinations. You can also rearrange the rack by dragging letters by hand.
5. Zooming the Board
- Zoom in / out: Double-tap the board, or pinch with two fingers, to zoom in and out.
- Move around: While zoomed in, drag with one finger to pan across the board.
- When you submit a word, the board returns to the full view automatically.
💎 Scoring
Letter Points
Letter Distribution
The bag holds 100 tiles in total (98 letters + 2 blanks):
| Letter | Count | Letter | Count | Letter | Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 9 | J | 1 | S | 4 |
| B | 2 | K | 1 | T | 6 |
| C | 2 | L | 4 | U | 4 |
| D | 4 | M | 2 | V | 2 |
| E | 12 | N | 6 | W | 2 |
| F | 2 | O | 8 | X | 1 |
| G | 3 | P | 2 | Y | 2 |
| H | 2 | Q | 1 | Z | 1 |
| I | 9 | R | 6 | Blank | 2 |
Bonus Cells
On the board the bonus cells are labelled LTR (letter) and WRD (word):
| Bonus | Description |
|---|---|
| LTR×2 | The letter placed on this cell scores double |
| LTR×3 | The letter placed on this cell scores triple |
| WRD×2 | A word with a letter on this cell scores double |
| WRD×3 | A word with a letter on this cell scores triple |
Bonus cells count only the first time they are used. Once a letter has been placed on a cell, its bonus cannot be used again.
Special Scores
- Rack Master (7-Tile Bonus): Use all 7 tiles on your rack in one move to earn +50 bonus points and a Rack Master certificate
- Triple Word Master: Form three words of at least three letters each in one move to earn +30 bonus points and a Triple Word Master certificate
- Multiple Words: If a move forms more than one word, the scores of all the words are added together
- Multiple Bonuses: You can use more than one bonus cell in the same move
- Bonuses apply to opponents too: The Rack Master (+50) and Triple Word Master (+30) bonuses apply to your opponents as well — both the virtual players and the friends you play in Side by Side mode, under the exact same rules
- Opponent celebration: When an opponent earns the Rack Master or Triple Word Master bonus, you see a celebration panel with their words — against the virtual players and in Side by Side alike
🏁 End of the Game
The game ends when:
- A player uses all their letters and the bag is empty
- All players pass twice in a row
- At the end of the game, the points of the letters left on each player's rack are deducted from their total score.
- A player who has used all their letters receives the points of the letters left on the other players' racks.
⭐ Level System
Your level goes up or down depending on your performance. Your level is shown with stars.
Promotion Requirements
To move up to the next level you must meet all the requirements of that level.
- 2000+ distinct words
- Have played a word of 8 letters or more
- 50%+ wins against 5★ in the last 20 games
- Average word length ≥ 3 in your last 20 games (overall, regardless of level)
- 1000+ distinct words
- Have played a word of 7 letters or more
- 50%+ wins against 4★+ in the last 20 games
- Average word length ≥ 3 in your last 20 games (overall, regardless of level)
- 500+ distinct words
- 50%+ wins against 3★+ in the last 20 games
- 50%+ wins against 2★+ in the last 20 games
- Starting level
- The win rate for promotion is calculated from your last 20 games against that level and every level above it. So if you always play ★★★★ and ★★★★★, you do not have to play ★★★ to be promoted to ★★★ — your success at higher levels already counts.
- The average word length is calculated regardless of level, from all of your last 20 games.
- Your level is re-evaluated once per game, when the game ends. In a Side by Side (multiplayer) game, the highest-level opponent at the table is the level the game counts against.
Demotion Rules
Demotion is simple and the same for every level: if your recent win rate against your own level and below drops too low, you move down one step.
| Current Level | Demotion Condition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| ★★★★★ Wordsmith | Last 20 vs 5★ and below < 50% | → ★★★★ |
| ★★★★ Language Sage | Last 20 vs 4★ and below < 50% | → ★★★ |
| ★★★ Meaning Architect | Last 20 vs 3★ and below < 50% | → ★★ |
| ★★ Word Crafter | Last 20 vs 2★ and below < 50% | → ★ |
- Only the win rate against your own level and below matters. Your level drops one step if that rate falls below 50%. Nothing else is used — no all-time rate, no word length.
- Exactly 50% keeps your level. You only drop below 50%, and you only rise above 50%, so 50% is a safe zone.
- Losing to higher-level opponents never demotes you. So a ★★★★ player who only plays ★★★★★ and keeps losing stays ★★★★.
- No drops from stale games. Demotion is checked only after a new game played at or below your current level; old games alone can't push you down.
- ★ is the starting level; you cannot drop below it.
- You drop at most one level per game. For example, you cannot fall straight from ★★★ to ★; the most you can drop is to ★★.
- If you have no games against your own level or below, you are not demoted — with no data there is no penalty.
🎯 Strategy Tips
- Use the bonus cells: Try to place high-scoring letters on bonus cells
- Long words: Longer words usually score more and give you a chance at the 7-tile bonus
- Multiple words: Forming more than one word in a single move scores high
- Block your opponent: Keep opponents away from the bonus cells
- Letter management: Use blanks and high-scoring letters at strategic moments
- Leave openings: Leave room to form words in later turns
👤 Profile
You can introduce yourself in Menu > Profile:
- My name: If you enter your name, it appears on achievement certificates and result screens instead of "You". In Side by Side games your friends see you by this name.
- Profile photo: Choose a photo from your gallery with the "Choose Photo" button. Drag to position it and pinch to zoom — what you see in the circle is what appears in the game. The photo is stored on your device at a small avatar size.
- Your photo appears in your cell in the game header. In Side by Side games it also appears on your friends' screens — in the header and in the "thinking" panel.
- You can delete your photo at any time with the "Remove" button.
⚙️ Settings and Features
- Board theme: 6 different visual themes (Classic, Nature, Modern, Pastel, Grey, Sand)
- Show the meaning of my words: The meaning of the word you played is shown
- Show the meaning of opponents' words: The meaning of the words your opponents play is shown
- Show the thinking panel: While opponents are thinking, a panel shows who is thinking
- Show the "your turn" panel: A message tells you when it is your turn
- Show magnifier while dragging: On touch screens, the part of the board hidden under your finger while dragging a letter is shown in a magnifier
- My move time: You can set yourself a time limit per move (1–5 minutes). The remaining time is shown under the tile-bag counter at the top of the screen; it blinks in the last 30 seconds, the Pass button blinks in the last 10, and the turn is passed automatically when time runs out. Applies to two- and four-player modes; not active in solo mode.
- Saving: Your game is saved automatically and you can continue whenever you like
- Export/Import: Back up or restore your game data. When changing devices you can transfer your data from the old device to the new one
♥︎ Favorites
Add the virtual players you like playing against to your favorites so you can find them quickly.
- On the opponent selection screen, tap a player's ? button to open the player info panel.
- Tap Add to Favorites at the bottom of the panel to add that player to your favorites. For a player who is already a favorite, the button reads Remove from Favorites.
- On the opponent selection screen, choose My Favorites in the filter list to show only your favorite players.
- If you do not pick anyone from the favorites list, a random opponent is chosen from among your favorites. In four-player mode, if you have fewer than three favorites, the remaining opponents are chosen at random from all players.
📴 Offline Play
Wordsmithy needs no internet connection. The dictionary, the virtual opponents and all game data live on your device, so the game runs without interruption wherever you are.
We wish you success in Wordsmithy. Grow your vocabulary, build your strategy and go for the highest scores!