Word Laces is one of the handful of games I’ve checked out on Apple Arcade, so far. While it’s not as fancy looking as Inmost, or as fun as The Pinball Wizard, there is certainly a demographic of gamers that will enjoy Word Laces for its straightforward challenges.
Word Laces challenges players to spell words associated with an image. The catch is that the letters presented are scrambled up, so players must lace together letters in the correct order to spell words.
It sounds simple and it is until it isn’t.
Each level features one image and a handful of words that are related to the image in some way. When one word is solved, the used letters are replaced by new letters that are then used to solve the next word. Hypothetically, if you have a picture of two birds sitting in a nest with eggs, you’ll probably be tasked with spelling out “nest” or “eggs” first. After the obvious words are solved, Word Laces can get vague. It might require you to decipher the word “parents” next. Or even vaguer, “Love.”
Take a look at this screenshot. Would you have been able to decipher “Valentine” from that picture?
You really have to examine each picture from multiple points of view, and consider the context. That screenshot is the daily challenge (which is a new puzzle each day, separate from the main set of levels) for Valentine’s Day. Knowing that, deciphering “Valentine” is much easier.
If you happen to get stuck, you can always use a hint. Hints are available as many times as you need them in each level and for each word. The hint reveals the first string of letters. So, if the hint was used for the puzzle in the screenshot, V and AL would be strung together.
Considering that there are only eight sets of letters to work with, having two of them solved makes it much easier to complete the puzzle. For the times I was really stuck I’d string together the first two letter sets and then string together a random order of the remaining letters. Eventually I’d figure out the proper word.
The reward for solving puzzles are, essentially, experience points that can be used to unlock new shoes. Each shoe comes with a unique background color scheme (which matches the chosen shoe) and unique shoelaces that string together the words. Switching between shoes is an easy way to freshen up what would otherwise be a repetitive visual experience.
Word Laces isn’t exciting, or that interesting, but it’s a nice, accessible puzzle game that anyone old enough to spell “Valentine” can enjoy during some quiet time. Check it out on Apple Arcade.
