Show HN: 18 Words
A new daily word game, “18 Words,” challenges players to quickly unscramble a series of anagrams, earning praise for its clean, fast, “classic web” design but also exposing strong preferences around difficulty and time pressure. Many enjoy the 30‑second timer and one‑shot, survival‑style format, while others ask for relaxed or practice modes, the ability to continue after failing, and features like shuffling letters or banking time across words. Technical and content tweaks are also suggested, from better mobile behavior and archive navigation to broader dictionary coverage and language variants.
Overall Reception
- Many commenters found the game fun, addictive, simple, and well-polished, with a “classic web” feel and minimal commercial friction.
- Some see it as a new daily habit alongside Wordle/Zanagrams; others bounce off quickly due to specific design choices.
Core Mechanics & Difficulty
- Concept (18 timed anagrams in sequence, one failure ends the run) is seen as clean and self-explanatory by many.
- Others find early elimination frustrating, especially when they get stuck on an early word but suspect later ones might be easier.
Timer and Game Modes
- The timer is the most polarizing element:
- Pro-timer: adds tension, urgency, and a clear end; makes the game distinct and prevents overlong sessions.
- Anti-timer: induces stress, feels like a “test,” and excludes slower players, ESL speakers, and those seeking a relaxing puzzle.
- Common suggestions:
- “Relax” / practice modes without a timer.
- Cumulative or chess-style time banks rewarding fast early solves.
- Continuing after timeout with reduced score, or marking “perfect” vs “completed” runs separately.
- Hide or soften the timer UI (no red countdown, count-up instead, or invisible until the end).
Dictionary, Valid Words, and Fairness
- Strong reactions when real words are rejected (e.g., “tase,” “egret,” “braze,” plurals), or obscure ones are accepted (e.g., “baith”).
- Debate over small vs large wordlists:
- Strict lists reduce obscure words but cause “real word rejected” frustration.
- Large lists allow esoteric words, which some find unsatisfying but others accept if they’re in a dictionary.
- Several suggest accepting any valid anagram and simply choosing one as the “intended” word.
UI/UX and Controls
- Frequent requests:
- Shuffle/scramble button, often with limited uses.
- Keyboard input indication; some found it crucial for speed.
- Visual progress (e.g., 18 circles) and clearer archive navigation (calendar-style).
- Minor mobile bugs noted (zoom issues, hidden letters on some devices, tap sensitivity).
Scoring, Replayability, and Access
- Many want to keep playing after failure (even without score) and to be able to replay or practice puzzles.
- Some worry about trivial “cheating” via incognito or known answer keys, but others note the game is inherently trust-based.
Language, Culture, and Naming
- ESL players report higher difficulty and ask for relaxed modes and localized wordlists.
- Some notice US vs UK spelling (“color,” “humor”) and request regional options.
- A side discussion notes the title’s proximity to “14 words” (a white nationalist slogan); others consider the association obscure or context-dependent.