‘Wordle’ #1,127 Clues and Today’s Answer, Saturday, July 20 Puzzle

It’s been over two years since Wordle first blew up online, but its daily brainteasers are still keeping word puzzle nerds guessing.

Created by Brooklyn-based software engineer Josh Wardle, the game was designed as a gift for his crossword-loving girlfriend. Although it was only meant to be something the couple could play together during lockdown, Wardle realized the game had potential, and uploaded Wordle to the web in October 2021.

Within months, Wordle had gained a massive following, going from 91 players in November 2021 to over 2 million in January 2022. The New York Times took notice, purchasing Wordle for a seven-figure sum.

A person playing "Wordle" on a phone — A person playing online word game “Wordle” on a cell phone. More than two years since it first went viral, and “Wordle” is still hugely popular.

STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP

The game is still the outlet’s most popular word puzzle game, but what is the secret to Wordle’s success? According to Wardle, it’s the five-letter, six-guess format.

“There is a reason that every word is 5 letters long and that you are allowed six attempts to guess it. That might seem arbitrary but, with the prototype version, I tested different word lengths and experimented with the number of tries that players were allowed,” he told Newsweek in January 2022.

“Through that process of refinement, I figured out that five letters and six tries was the ideal sweet spot. It’s just limited enough to feel challenging and to make you think, but most of the time people still manage to solve it. So, you feel a real sense of real accomplishment.”

However, the fact that players can only solve one puzzle a day might also play a part.

“The idea to impose a limitation came when my partner and I started getting into crosswords during the pandemic. In particular, The New York Times HAS this puzzle called Spelling Bee, which has this once-a-day model that I thought was really effective.

“I liked the idea that everyone around the world was trying to solve the exact same word at the exact same time. It created a shared communal experience. [If] there were multiple puzzles to solve and everyone was at a different stage, then there wouldn’t be that kind of conversation, which I think is the most fulfilling part of Wordle.”

If you’re finding today’s Wordle puzzle a challenge, Newsweek has put together a few clues to help you out.