The Wordle Twist That Doubles the Challenge
If you’ve conquered Wordle and are hungry for a fresh challenge, meet its clever cousin — Dordle. Designed for word puzzle fans who want to push their brains a little further, Dordle is a delightful step-up that’s been embraced by Aussies keen for more than just a five-letter warm-up over their morning cuppa.
Let’s dive into what makes this double-word game so addictive.
What is Dordle?
Dordle (a mashup of “double” and “Wordle”) is an online word puzzle game where players have to guess two five-letter words at the same time — using the same set of guesses.
You still get six attempts, just like Wordle, but each guess fills in clues for both words. The tricky part? You’ve got to think ahead and balance your choices to work towards two answers simultaneously. It’s like playing Wordle in hard mode — with a twin.
How It Works
The rules are simple, but the strategy runs deep:
- You type a five-letter word.
- Dordle gives feedback for two secret words: one on the left, one on the right.
- Green means the letter is in the correct spot.
- Yellow means the letter is in the word, but in the wrong spot.
- Grey means the letter isn’t in the word at all.
You win when you correctly guess both words — or you lose after six guesses. Either way, you’ll be hooked.
Why Aussies Are Getting Around It
Dordle has found a loyal following in Australia, especially among people who smashed through months of Wordle and wanted something with a bit more bite. It’s the same daily puzzle vibe, but with double the satisfaction — and double the frustration when you’re one letter off on both sides.
Plus, it suits the Aussie sense of competition — lots of friends challenge each other over coffee or post their results in group chats, comparing “how many guesses it took to get the left word” or “what stuffed them up on the right side.”
More Than Just a Game
Like Wordle, Dordle is free to play and browser-based — no downloads, no ads, and no in-app purchases. You can play the daily Dordle, where everyone gets the same puzzle each day, or try free play mode for unlimited practice.
It’s also part of a bigger wave of logic games that have exploded since Wordle became a household name. In fact, Dordle has helped spawn even more spin-offs — like Quordle (four words at once), Octordle (eight!), and even Sedecordle (yep, sixteen).
Tips for Getting Started
Here are a few handy tips if you’re giving Dordle a crack:
- Open with a strong starter word: Choose something with a variety of common vowels and consonants (like stare or slate).
- Pay attention to both boards: Don’t get tunnel vision. What helps on the left might hurt your progress on the right.
- Don’t waste guesses: Each guess should be chosen to reveal the most about both words.
- Keep notes in your head: You only get six shots — every letter counts!
Aussie Observations
Just like with Wordle, Aussie players sometimes feel the pinch when American spellings pop up. Words like armor instead of armour, or honor instead of honour, occasionally throw off local players. It’s part of the fun (or frustration) of playing a game that originated overseas.
Still, that hasn’t stopped fans Down Under. Some have even created localised versions of word puzzles using Aussie slang — imagine having to guess ute, bogan, or servo as one of your answers.
Final Thoughts
Dordle is a brilliant evolution of the Wordle craze. It keeps the minimalist charm and clever wordplay, but turns up the challenge with a twin-puzzle twist. Whether you’re a seasoned Wordle or just someone who loves a good brain teaser before brekkie, Dordle is a great way to keep your mind sharp and your vocabulary in top shape.
So if you’re up for the challenge, fire up the browser, have a crack at today’s Dordle, and see if you can outsmart the double trouble.