Word Soup is a relatively new word game for Windows Phone 8 that has had a fair amount of success over on iOS and Android platforms. Word Soup is a puzzle game where you are given a sea of letters and have to find hidden words within. The game does have a bit of a "find-a-word" puzzle game feel to it but with more pep.
Word Soup includes three single player modes, two two-player modes and comes across as an entertaining, challenging word game for Windows Phone 8.
From the main menu of Word Soup you can jump into game play, access the game’s options and view your records (high scores, achievements and stats). Game options include music/sound levels, choose one of three tile sets, set shuffle sensitivity and turn on/off confirmation on drag (more on this in a second).
The single player game modes include:
- Relaxed Game: No timer, no pressure, just find the words.
- Timed Game: See how many words and points you can find before the timer hits zero.
- Brain Game: The longer the word, the greater your survival in this game of endurance.
The two player game modes (pass and play style) include:
- Tit for Tat: Take turns with your opponent to see who can find the best word.
- It’s Blitz: See who can score the most points in 90 seconds.
Regardless of the game mode, building words is universal. Word Soup will fill the screen will an assortment of letters and you are tasked with building words from this soup of letters. Just tap and drag across adjoining letters to build your word. Words must be three letters long or greater and the letters can be connected vertically, horizontally or diagonally. The longer the word, the more points earned and some letters offer bonus points or time. For example in the Timed Game, building words with an "X" or "Q" will add a little time to the clock.
If you have the confirmation turned on in the settings, you will need to tap the last letter to claim the word and collect the points. If you have the confirmation turned off, when you lift your finger from the last letter the word is collected automatically. If the letter combination does not create an actual word, the highlighted letters will flash and return to their original tile color.
Should you find yourself stumped, at the bottom of the screen are two tiles that may help you along. The “?” Tile will identify one word out of the letters and the tile with the letters on it will shuffle the letters around.
There is a bit of strategy involved with playing Word Soup. Sure, identifying words is important but also looking ahead to see how removing the letters from the grid will affect the remaining letters is also important. My only nit with Word Soup is that the letters are a little on the small side and large fingers may have difficulty building words. I also could see Word Soup being a fun, online game where you compete with other Word Soup players in the timed game to see who can rack up the most points. As is though, Word Soup is a fun, addictive word game for Windows Phone 8 well worth a look.
There is a free trial version for Word Soup that is restricted to the Timed Game only. The full version of Word Soup is currently running $2.49 and you can find your copy here in the Windows Phone Store.
