noah rosenfield - Addagrams

Release: May '23
Platform: App Store, Google Play
Role/Responsibilities: Creator / Game Design, Creative Direction, Development
Accolades: Big Indie Pitch Winner (Toronto '22), Big Indie Pitch Finalist (London '23)

Game Description

Addagrams is the word puzzle with a personality: YOURS!

In each round you make two words. Any two you see. Because instead of one solution, there are thousands! Every puzzle features up to 9 rounds of brain-tickling word play. And with more creative freedom than any other puzzle, we know you'll have lots to say.

With so many answers, there's just one question. What will you play next!?

Design & Development

Addagrams is my second self-published and solo-developed title. The game was born out of a desire to explore new mechanics for word puzzles and began with 3 design principles:

1. Emphasize anagramming as the core skill
2. Maximize the player's creative freedom
3. Procedurally generate puzzle content

The first puzzle was created by hand with pen and paper as proof that you could start with two words, add one new letter, rearrange them into two new words, and repeat the process. This was followed by development of the algorithm for procedural puzzle generation to verify an adequate number of possible puzzles existed.

Further prototyping was focussed on creating an intuitive and fluid UI for creating words and rearranging letters. This was highly successful and the natural feeling and ease of use is one of the aspects that players commonly mention.

The project also required working with large data sets (the dictionary), database management and networked content delivery (daily puzzles & leaderboards).

Additional Links

Addgrams.com
Addagrams Presskit
PocketGamer Interview

App Mockups (Pen & paper)