Loren Brichter, the creator of the Tweetie client for Twitter that eventually became the official iOS Twitter app, has created a new word game for iOS that combines tactics from a number of different classic games -- but creates something new at the same time.

Letterpress combines the word-finding skills of Boggle with the ability to steal positions and block your opponent that's straight out of the classic board game Go. It seems to have captured the attention of much of the technology press today, and for good reason.

Unscrambling
TouchArcade:

I think it might be the core design of Words With Friends that rubs me the wrong way. I don't like having point values assigned to each letter. Rather than finding the most interesting word out of your allotment of letters, you're stuck playing a trial-and-error game of what word will land you the most points while trying to take advantage of the bonuses on the board. Somebody described their experience with Words With Friends to me as "tedious", and that totally nails it for me as well.

This is where Letterpress differentiates itself. It gives you a 5x5 grid of letters to choose from. Each letter used is worth just one point, which obviously makes bigger words worth a bigger score. But Letterpress isn't just about who can rack up the highest total score, it's much more about trying to outmaneuver your opponent and playing the board itself so that you wind up having the most points by the game's end.

John Gruber:

It’s the first game that’s made my iPhone’s first home screen in years. It’s a cross between a word game like Scrabble or Boggle and a real estate strategy game like Risk or Go. It’s addictive. (Letterpress is to Game Center what The Magazine is to Newsstand — my first reason to use it.)

The game is free to download and users can purchase the ability to play more than two games at once and to see previously played words with a $0.99 in-app purchase.

Letterpress is a free download on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

valkraider Avatar
164 months ago
Letterpress.
One word. That can have many different meanings. Lets take 2 examples. one good and one bad.


The good.
A simply stunning way to make greeting cards.

The bad.
Actually having an article written about this. *shakes head in dismay*


Douche.
One word. That can have many different meanings.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
conigs Avatar
164 months ago
Letterpress.
One word. That can have many different meanings. Lets take 2 examples. one good and one bad.


The good.
A simply stunning way to make greeting cards.

Image (http://papercrave.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/apple-letterpress-card1.jpg)

The bad.
Actually having an article written about this. *shakes head in dismay*

Image (https://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2012/10/unscrambling.jpg)

Lighten up. It's a fun game.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nothlit Avatar
164 months ago
Since it's turn based, a maximum of 2 simultaneous games unless you pay to upgrade is pretty annoying.

I happily paid the $0.99 even though I don't have any desire to play tons of games at once. It's just worth it to me to support an indie developer.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rockyroad55 Avatar
164 months ago
Paid for the $0.99 upgrade to support the developer. Very very fun game.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rman726 Avatar
164 months ago
Letterpress.
One word. That can have many different meanings. Lets take 2 examples. one good and one bad.


The good.
A simply stunning way to make greeting cards.


The bad.
Actually having an article written about this. *shakes head in dismay*

I wouldn't have heard about this, but it's a really fun game. It's a side article so I don't see a problem. It's a great little game. I already paid the $.99 upgrade fee to play multiple games at once, and get a different themes. Is it really worth it? Probably not, but I'm supporting a great indie developer by paying less than it would cost to get a value fries.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Compile 'em all Avatar
164 months ago
Fair warning: I am by no means a gamer, but this is incredibly addicting.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Mayday Calendar

Apple Acquisition Hints at Upgraded Calendar App on iOS 19 or Beyond

Friday May 9, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Apple acquired Canadian startup Mayday Labs in April 2024, according to a European Commission listing, spotted by French blog MacGeneration. The acquisition had not received widespread attention from tech publications until now. Apple is legally required to report certain acquisitions to the European Commission, under the terms of the EU's Digital Markets Act. Mayday Labs founder Jeremy...
Nineth iOS 19 Feature

iOS 19 Beta is a Month Away With These New Features for Your iPhone

Thursday May 8, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is just one month away, and there are already many new features and changes that are expected with it. Apple should seed the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors...
fortnite apple featured

Epic Games Submits Fortnite to U.S. App Store

Friday May 9, 2025 9:57 am PDT by
As promised, Epic Games today submitted Fortnite to the U.S. App Store, and if approved by Apple, it will mark the first time that the Fortnite app has been available in the United States since 2020. Fortnite will include options to purchase in-app currency from the web rather than through in-app purchase, which is what got the game banned to begin with. This time, though, Apple has been...
iOS 18

Here Are Apple's Full iOS 18.5 Release Notes

Tuesday May 6, 2025 2:17 pm PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate version of iOS 18.5 to developers and public beta testers, giving us a look at the final version of the update that will be provided to the public next week. With the release candidate, Apple provided release notes, so we have a more complete look at the new features that are included in the update, including those that weren't found during the beta...
top stories 2025 05 10

Top Stories: iOS 18.5 Release Imminent, iPhone Rumors for 2025 and Beyond, and More

Saturday May 10, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
With Apple's developer conference where it will show off iOS 19 just a month away, the company is wrapping up work on iOS 18.5 ahead of an imminent release to deliver a few new features and updates. This week also saw a number of iPhone-related rumors, encompassing not only this year's iPhone 17 lineup but also Apple's plans for 2026 and 2027, even as Apple's Eddy Cue suggested AI could make ...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Apple's Foldable iPhone Display Tech May Set New Industry Standard

Thursday May 8, 2025 3:29 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will feature a new type of display panel developed by Samsung that has never been used in a foldable product, claims a source with links to Apple's supply chain. According to the account yeux1122 on the Korean Naver blog, the foldable iPhone will use a custom display process for which Apple will hold branding trademark rights, and that meets Apple's stringent ...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...