Endless Wordplay

What is Endless Wordplay?

Endless Wordplay is an app from Originator, makers of educational + entertainment apps, that teaches young children spelling, word building and rhyming, while building their vocabulary.

Rated for children ages four years and older, Endless Wordplay is free to download and play on Android and iOS devices but requires additional in-app purchases for further game progression.

In Endless Wordplay, children are introduced to the Alphabot, an animated robot who takes them through the game. Endless Wordplay is laid out with a game map, similar to many progressive gaming apps, which shows children’s progression through the available words (numbering over 90).

Each time a level is completed players are exited out to the game map and watch Alphabot glide up three spaces on the map. As the game is progressive, children must progress to unlock spaces (shown with locks on them) and may explore the spaces available with white dots (without locks on them).

Each level, in the Endless Wordplay app, consists of three rhyming words, which pop up on Alphabot’s face, one at a time. Moving to a new spot, a new screen opens and a word pops out of the Alphabot’s mouth.

The letters then fall and jumble to pieces, like a puzzle, and children must drag each letter into the correct spot. As letters are being dragged the animated letter continues to make its sound until placed in the proper position of the word.

A box with a question mark is prominently placed on the screen for young users to seek help throughout the wordplay should they not understand what to do next.

Once each of level’s three words are complete an animation begins, putting the words into context. The level is completed with a sentence in which all three words are used.

For example, the first level’s words are in, bin and fin. After completing the word puzzles and hearing how each letter and finished word sounds the animation appears and ends with the following sentence: “We drifted in an old bin made of tin, until a kind whale carried us on her fin.”

Parents should know that some of the sentences are a bit of a stretch to use all three words, which can be a bit confusing to young children. In addition, the sentences are read pretty quickly which may reduce the effectiveness of backing text with audio narration.