Asmita Sharma
Team TeacherTribe
Since the very dawn of human civilisation, people have cherished the art of entertainment. This interest has significantly impacted the way we socialise, foster communities and create camaraderie. From the ancient art of theatre and dramatics to music, dance and gaming these art forms are designed to entertain and provoke thought among the people.
The evolution of gaming is a testament to human intellect and creativity. Games are not just a source of entertainment but also serve as tools to convey ideas and world views while fostering competitiveness, sportsmanship and a sense of achievement. Throughout history, cultures around the globe have embraced games as a way to team build and hone skills. Board games such as Chess and the Chinese Weiqi have also been used to develop strategic thinking and cultivate critical thinking abilities.
The earliest known iterations of a ‘puzzle’ date all the way back to 200 B.C., in Ancient China. The ‘Knot Puzzle’ consisted of disengaging and unlocking a series of knots designed to test a person’s patience and problem-solving abilities. Historians also believe that the precursor to jigsaw puzzles was created by a British mapmaker in 1760. The mapmaker mounted maps on wooden boards and cut them with a fine saw, creating a puzzle to help students learn geography.
Digital Gaming and the Rise of ‘Wordle’
In the modern era, physical puzzles have given way to the rise of digital gaming, brain teasers and puzzles that have taken the world by storm. The fervour behind it all can be credited to a rise in numerous low-stakes, often vocabulary, pop-culture and word-based games that have sky-rocketed in popularity since the early 2020s.
When the game Wordle hit the world of cyberspace, it sparked a new cultural phenomenon and drove an entire sub-category of gaming forward. This word-guessing game provides players with 6 attempts to guess the word of the day with no hints, but each guessed letter would indicate if the players were on the right track. The game exploded on various social media platforms, creating a widespread group of players who shared their progress each day and connected with one another.
Wordle, now platformed on the New York Times Games page helped pivot a long-standing news and magazine portal to establish a games category. New York Times reportedly also saw a sharp rise in their gaming user base versus their traditional news offerings in 2024. The popularity of the games is often attributed to their relatively simpler gameplay and accessibility. As a regular player of the NYT carousel of games, I often play them during my daily commute, which helps energise my morning routines.
Do Word-Based Games Help Your Well-being?
The games are said to help in cognitive thinking, memory building and retention as well as build problem-solving skills among individuals.
Why Should Teachers Incorporate Games in the Classroom?
Word-based games can help students develop literacy skills, improve vocabulary and enhance comprehension skills. Games such as word connections can also help develop lateral thinking skills and improve general knowledge and critical thinking skills.
How would you incorporate short games in the class? Write to me at asharma@greycaps.com!