YAWG: Yet Another Word Game

📝 Introduction

I built YAWG (Yet Another Word Game) as an experiment in arcade-style puzzle design. The goal was to take the familiar "word search" format and flip it: instead of scanning for hidden words, you are given dictionary definitions and must construct the answers from a shared grid of tiles.

The design focuses on a "no-strikes" flow where players can experiment freely with letter combinations without being penalized for wrong guesses, as long as they beat the stage timer. It's built for quick, satisfying sessions with a steady difficulty curve that respects the player's vocabulary through CEFR-tiered word selection.

On the technical side, the project explores the speed of building a functional web game using Google Antigravity and Google Stitch. It features an offline-first lexicon and a system designed for remote balancing tweaks, allowing for adjustments to difficulty and economy without a full update.

🕹️ Controls

• Selection: Click, Tap, or use your Keyboard to pick letters from the grid.
• Submission: The game automatically checks your word once you've filled the slots.
• Toggle: Click the definition area (or use Tab) to switch between unsolved words in a stage.

✨ Features

• Arcade Mode: Survive through endless stages of increasing difficulty.
• Power-Ups:
  • Shuffle: Rearrange the unselected tiles when you're stuck.
  • Lightbulb: Get a tactical highlight of a correct letter.
  • Lightning Bolt: Instantly place the next correct letter in its slot.
• Word of the Day: (Coming Soon, maybe) A shared daily puzzle challenge for everyone worldwide.

📜 Rules / How to Play

• The Hook: You are given dictionary definitions and a grid of tiles. Your job is to construct the target words using any letters from the grid.
• Freeform Selection: Unlike Boggle, you can select tiles from anywhere on the grid in any order.
• No "Strikes": There are no strike limits or "lives," allowing you to experiment with letters freely. Just keep an eye on the stage timer in Arcade mode!
• CEFR-Inspired: Word selection is guided by CEFR difficulty tiers (A1 to B2) for a steady progression.

🤖 Disclaimer / Credits

This project was developed with a heavy focus on agentic AI orchestration:

• AI Powered Development: Built using Google Antigravity and Google Stitch.
• Lexicon: Built using Webster's Unabridged Dictionary with AI-assisted definitions for clarity.
• Engine: React + TypeScript + Vite.
• Animations: Framer Motion (exploring interaction depth).

I hope you enjoy solving these as much as I enjoyed building the system behind them!

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☕ Support

If you find value in these experiments, you can show some love on Ko-fi.

You can also subscribe to my blog, Game Design Bites, if you'd like to read more of my thoughts on game design.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts! Please feel free to leave a comment below with any feedback, bugs, or word suggestions.