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Technically speaking W.E.L.D.E.R. isn’t a word, it’s an acronym that stands for Word Examination Laboratory for Dynamic Extraction and Reassessment. Nomenclature aside, W.E.L.D.E.R. is a new game that bundles loads of word-nerd entertainment into its UI.
Even if you think you don’t like word games, the video trailer, which is posted after the break is a must-see. It pokes fun at text speak and body language while offering a tongue-in-cheek glimpse into W.E.L.D.E.R.’s impressive interface. The clip even takes a stab at explaining the game’s complex rules: “Words with annoying letters like ‘J’ and ‘Q’ — Mad crazy points, yo.”

The game screen features tiles with a range of letters that must be re-arranged to form words crossword puzzle style (i.e. right to left and top to bottom only) that are at least four letters in length. W.E.L.D.E.R.’s most basic move is the swap, where two letters are switched horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Players begin with a certain number of swaps and earn more as the game progresses.
 
The game comprises 12 increasingly difficult levels of word creation. Each level starts out with a higher total word goal and a smaller given number of swaps and other specialty moves such as Group, Reverse, and Jump Swaps.
Not all W.E.L.D.E.R. tiles are created equally. Some, such as the gold or jeweled tiles act as multipliers that bring praise and glory to a player, while broken or burning tiles create impediments that stand between you and the jubilation you feel upon completion of another level.
Blank tiles can be stamped with a letter, courtesy of a clever old-school typewriter-like interface. Hint: because they are plentiful, and often save players a swap, blank tiles are the backbone of the game.
Though W.E.L.D.E.R. bears a resemblance to other word creation games, it feels different enough to seem like a new experience.
Time is not a factor in W.E.L.D.E.R., which will please any user who is frequently flustered by iOS app’s demand for speedy reactions. Instead, W.E.L.D.E.R. is a game of strategy.
The game offers up plenty of hints in between levels. I suggest that you read them all carefully.
W.E.L.D.E.R. is available to download from the App store for the introductory price of $1.99.

• App Name: W.E.L.D.E.R.
• Version Reviewed: 1.0
• Category: Games
• Developer: Ayopa Games
• Price: $1.99, introductory price
• Score: