Fans of word games might be bored the usual type of puzzlers on the market. They all seem to be similar, such as the falling tile games where you match a word and the tiles fall so you can form another word. It’s time for something different, but you’re not sure what’s out there without downloading tons of word games and finding out they are all the same.
Well, look no further. Here you will find information on the iOS game Typeshift. It promises to be a different word game unlike any you’ve played before. Is it true? Find out below:
What is Typeshift?
Typeshift combines anagrams with crossword style game play to form a unique word puzzle experience. It was designed by Zach Gage. The game developer loves to take classic paper puzzle or board games and turn them into something enjoyable on mobile devices. Zach Gage also created popular mobile games like Spelltower where players form words among a stack of letters (similar to other falling word games), Sage Solitaire which mixes Klondike Solitaire and poker, and the fun Really Bad Chess which uses completely random pieces on each board for a puzzling chess experience.
Many of these games have been popular so it makes sense that another word mobile app from Zach Gage would also be good. This time the developer takes on crossword puzzles.
What Are Anagrams?
Typeshift uses anagrams but in a different way. Anagrams are when you take a word and rearrange the letters in it to form another word. For example, the word “carthorse” can be rearranged to spell the word “orchestra.” This also works with phrases (George Bush can become He Bugs Gore) but Typeshift focuses only one single words.
And doesn’t use anagrams in the traditional sense. You don’t rearrange letters of one word but instead rearrange letters of crosswords. Seem confusing? It’s not really once you try it and get the hand of the game play.
How is Typeshift Like a Crossword Puzzle?
Crossword puzzles have squares that you fill in with letters to form words. In Typeshift those squares are already filled in with many letters and you have to move them around to find actual words. It’s not really like a crossword in that you use clues to find words (check out the extra clues feature below for more information on that). You have use your brain and move about the letters until you find a word.
How Do You Play Typeshift?
You know that Typeshift is a weird mix of anagrams and crosswords, but how does it all come together?
Each puzzle has several columns of letters. Each column will have a different number of letters. You must move each column up or down to place a letter in the center row. When you spell a word in the center the row it the letters will bounce and change color alerting you to your find. You then continue to move up and down each column of letters until a word forms in the center row. You have to use every letter at least once to complete the puzzle. A percentage number at the top corner of the screen will help you know how close you are to completing the puzzle and finding all the words.
So, how is this like anagrams and crosswords together? Like a crossword, you have squares of letters that need to form a word. Like an anagram, you move around the letters to form several words from them. Voila. An anagram and crossword mix puzzle game.
How Difficult is Typeshift?
This is important to puzzle lovers because if a game is too hard then you get frustrated and give up. Then you feel stupid. Typeshift does use hints but you only get a few free ones before you have to spend real money to get more. Luckily, though, the game mechanics make it easy enough to fake your way to the answer. Just move the columns up and down trying to form any kind of word and chances are you will happen upon one by happy accident.
The puzzles do get progressively harder as you go but it’s not impossible to beat all 100+ without much difficulty.
What Are Clue Puzzles?
Unlocking the Clue Puzzles in Typeshift will provide you with a different version of the game. This version eliminates a lot of the annoying aspects of the standard version. In the standard game, all letters remain on the board even if they don’t get used again. You also have no clue to help you figure out a word so you just fumble around until you find one.
With clue puzzles, any letter that isn’t used again is removed from the board which gets it out of the way so it doesn’t make things harder. Also, there are clues just like in a crossword that will provide a hint to words found in the puzzle. When you find a word that matches the clue the clue is crossed off the list so you don’t bother with it anymore.
Clue puzzles should be the standard version of the game because it makes it easier and more fun, but sadly it isn’t. You’ll love them, though, and want more.
Does Typeshift Have Any Replayability?
The problem with puzzle games is that once you beat all the puzzles there is no point in playing it again, right? Typeshift has that same problem. Once you beat all the free puzzles you have to pay for new packs. This is how the game developer makes money (well, that and paying for hints). Luckily, though, Typeshift does have a free daily puzzle. You can play this each day but then you have no point to go back to the game again until the next day.
You could go back to the game after a few months when the puzzles are gone from your brain and start over, but by then you will have found a new word game to play.
Typeshift is a puzzle game that mixes anagrams and crosswords. Now that you’ve learned about the mobile app does it seem like something different to you? If so, give it a try as it is free to download for iOS devices.
Typeshift is a puzzle game that mixes anagrams and crosswords. It promises to be different from other word mobile games. Learn about the puzzle game here and decide for yourself if it is something new to the word puzzle genre.