Today’s Wordle: Answer, Hints and the Game’s Enduring Appeal
Today’s Wordle Challenge: December 19, 2024
The answer for Wordle today #1279 on December 19, 2024, is STRAY. For those still working through the puzzle, today’s Wordle answer starts with the letter “S” and has one vowel. Today, it took around 3.9 guesses on average to get today’s wordle answer while 28.9% of players got the answer within 3 turns.
Why Wordle Continues to Captivate Millions
Since taking over the internet, Wordle has done what few viral sensations have been able to: it has remained popular—and is still the publication’s most-played puzzle. While Wordle player count has declined slightly since that high point, Wordle remains a daily activity enjoyed by approximately 2 million people. The game’s simple premise—guessing a five-letter word within six attempts—has proven remarkably enduring since its public release in October 2021.
A Viral Sensation Born from Love
Josh Wardle created it as a gift for his crossword-loving girlfriend, Palek Shah. The Brooklyn-based software engineer developed the game from a prototype he had experimented with, but ultimately abandoned, way back in 2013. The game became a viral hit in late December 2021 and the number of players exploded from 90 on November 1 to 300,000 on January 2 and more than 2 million a week later.
Record-Breaking Performance in 2024
Total number of puzzles solved this year: 11.1 billion. The 1,000th Wordle puzzle ran in March, a milestone for the popular game where players tend to stick to a formula, with 2.8 million people using the same starting word every day as proof. The most popular starting word, by the way, is “adieu.” Meanwhile, a total of 5.6 million streaks ended on Oct. 15, with “corer.”
What Makes Wordle Special
What sets Wordle apart is its simplicity and accessibility. With a minimalist interface and straightforward gameplay, it appeals to casual gamers and word enthusiasts alike. Its short play sessions make it perfect for a quick mental workout during a coffee break or a leisurely scroll through social media. The game offers just one puzzle per day, creating a shared experience for players worldwide and encouraging social media sharing of results.