One of the most interesting things about Wordle is its simplicity. The trending word game of 2022 could have existed at any time in computing history, even during the 1980s. Don’t believe me? Retro developer Chris Bradburne successfully ported Wordle to the legendary BCC Micro, a classic computer best known for its use in 1980s UK classrooms.
The retro Wordle port works on old BBC Micro home computers, though you can also play it in the browser on modern hardware. It uses an ever-so-slightly tweaked version of Wordle’s word list and references a dictionary of over 12,000 words to check each of your guesses.
So “for science” (honest) I’ve been playing a Wordle port to the BBC Micro. Whilst the wordlists probably aren’t identical, but the rules are and you can play continuous games. After 33 games, I suspect part of it’s satisfaction comes from it being hard, but not TOO hard! pic.twitter.com/6q71t5UaY8
— Glenn Pegden – ☎️📟💾 Ⓗằ⒞𝓴𝗘ṝ (@GlennPegden) January 20, 2022
Interestingly, the Wordle port lets you play as many games as you like. It also logs all of your stats, though these stats will disappear when you close the game. That’s a constraint of the 80s, I suppose.
It’s worth noting that there’s still no official Wordle app, as founder Josh Wardle has no interest in tarnishing his “labor of love.” You can add the Wordle website to your smartphone’s home screen, though, and there are several Wordle alternatives with actual apps.
You can play Bradburne’s Wordle port in your browser (or get the game for a BBC Micro) through the BBC Micro Games Archive. If you want to learn more about the port, check out Chris Bradburne’s thread on Stardot.
Source: Chris Bradburne via TechRadar
