Word Solitaire, a recent word game release by Candywriter, is the perfect marriage of the classic playing card game Klondike with a word creation game. With its thought-provoking gameplay, artwork-infused backdrops, and simple rules, this pick-up-and-play title has quickly risen to the top of our favorite games list.
As in Klondike, you are dealt 7 columns of cards, each with one card more than the previous. The last card in each column is flipped up; all others are face down. Instead of the traditional 7’s, 10’s, and Aces, the cards are now G’s, W’s, and B’s. Each card is represented by a letter of the alphabet. Your task is to build letters on top of each other to create valid words. In order to place a card on another, it must either form a complete word or be in the process of forming a complete word. As long as a word in the game’s dictionary starts with that letter combination, it will be allowed. For example, an “i” can be placed on “fo,” as this is the start of a legal word, such as “foil.” You could not, however, place a “p” on a “d,” as no words start with “dp.” The longer the word, the greater your score. The maximum word length is 10 letters. As you build letters, you will expose the overturned cards. Once all overturned cards are face up and utilized in complete words, you move on to the next round. There are 25 rounds in all, with each slightly more difficult than the previous.
Of course, as in regular Klondike, you may find yourself stuck at times. Word Solitaire offers some help. There is a burn pile, represented by a cauldron of fire. You can toss up to 3 cards per round into this burn pile, effectively eliminating these cards, but reducing your score in the process. There is a grab deck with about a half dozen cards. This might help to give you a necessary vowel to continue play. Going though the deck will not cost you anything, though each time you reset the deck for another pass through, you will be penalized. There is also a surrender button, in the event that both of these tactics fail to produce a completed board. This will end the round and send you back to Level 1. This should be your last resort. Once you have a board containing only completed words and no face-down cards, you will be given a button to advance to the next level.
The graphics are clean and clear, with beautiful backgrounds of famous artwork and customizable colors for the card decks. There is no soundtrack other than some minor sound effects when flipping cards, completing words, burning cards, etc. Controls are touch-based. Simply touch-drag cards to move or tap to flip. The game is fully integrated with Twitter to allow you to post high scores. The game will even auto-save if you exit for any reason.
There are lots of solitaire games and word creation games in the app store, but none that blend the two quite like this. Replayability is endless, as no two games are ever quite the same and the twitter posting will have you competing against other players for top scores. You would expect to pay a hefty price for such terrific, inventive gameplay and gorgeous backdrops, though Candywriter has priced Word Solitaire at a very attractive $0.99. Word Solitaire is a 5-Dimple gem.
Word Solitare gets our AppSmile 5-Dimple rating:
