As of this morning, a new law declared transgender driver’s licenses invalid in the state of Kansas. Invalidating crucial documents puts trans folks at risk of harassment and legal consequences for driving to work or school, makes it harder to prove their identity, and has harsh psychological impacts. This has happened before: the Nazi state denied trans life and livelihood by revoking permits and passports. The Kansas law is more than just a one-off attack. It is part of a coordinated effort to persecute minorities, and it will not stop here.
And if you consider yourself an ally, now’s the time to put up or shut up. We need to materially support trans community, both in Kansas and close to our homes. The stakes are very high and very real for our trans siblings. Don’t have the budget to donate? Start small: redirect your word game habits to something besides Wordle.
“What does Wordle have to do with this?”
The New York Times has actively published negligent and harmful coverage of anti-trans legislation. And this isn’t a fluke. Trans News Initiative’s interactive timeline documents the volume and tone of media coverage since January 2020, and the peaks and valleys have only grown since then. The New York Times’ revenue depends on games now more than ever. More subscribers skip the newspaper entirely and opt for the NYT’s digital games subscription. And you know where that money goes: more anti-trans articles. If they won’t even listen to us, maybe they’ll listen to a revenue dip. Your word game is not worth this much pain.
Five word games alternatives to try
Fortunately, there are many more word puzzles out there. Only a few in this list follow the same format as Wordle, but all of them scratch the linguistic itch. I’ve included free downloads where I can.
LOSER – A Word Game/ Daily Word Challenge
LOSER- A Word Game available on iOS & Mac ($2.99) | Daily Word Challenge available on Android (Free to download, $7.50 to remove ads)
Just want a daily word game on your phone? These two titles are basically one-to-one with standard Wordle. Guess the five-letter word, get placement clues based on tile color. You know the drill.
Dave’s Word Game
Available on Android and iOS (Free to download, full game purchase $2.99 on iOS and Android) | (PC version coming later)
Make words on a grid of letters, with some intriguing twists. Clear a full row of letters for extra points and tiles. Clear a 3-by-3 grid for even more. And the fiendish, free daily mode limits you to only ten words before your final score. It stuck to my brain immediately. (I played one round, saw the danger my productivity was in, and closed the app for the week. I’ll come back after midterms!)
Wurdweb
Available on PC and Mac ($4.99 via Steam)
Wurdweb shakes up the traditional crossword puzzle by wrangling full words onto the board. It’s a brain scratcher that lands somewhere between a paper crossword and Scrabble. Lots of weird little guys roaming around on-screen, too!
Knotwords
Available on Android and iOS (Free to download, full game purchase $11.99) | PC and Mac ($11.99 via Steam)
Knotwords blends crosswords and Sudoku into a deductive frenzy. Each area has a set of letters to fill in, but only one order correctly fills the board. When you’re out of guesses, lean on the in-game hint system. Animations are lively, and I never get tired of the sound of clearing a puzzle.
SpellTower
Available on Android and iOS (Free to download, full game purchase $4.99)
SpellTower’s’ been around for 15 years, but it still holds up. Trace words on the letter grid to clear tiles. Make a longer word, and you’ll blast the surrounding tiles off the board, too! But like Tetris, tiles keep stacking upwards… including those awkward consonants you can’t quite find a use for. Hit the top of the screen, and it’s game over.
Find a word game you enjoy, but don’t stop there. This is one small step on the road to equality for our trans siblings. Support the trans folks in your life, research local organizations to lend your aid, and prepare for the hard (but worthwhile) work of making the world better.
For more word games coverage, stay tuned to Press SPACE to Jump. Trans rights are human rights.
