In recent years, word puzzle games have gained immense popularity and have become an essential part of the gaming community. These games became a daily routine for millions of people around the globe. Among such games, the Waffle game became famous because of its unique and engaging gameplay. The challenge of forming words by swapping the tiles within the grid feels impulsive but thought-provoking. However, the game is not about aesthetic appeal. It got a deeper layer of color schemes, layout, and its psychological impact on players.
But, how does it have such a great impact on players? And is this impact beneficial to the players? In this blog, we discuss how puzzle colors and layouts in the Waffle game influence the players’ behaviour. By analysing the game design and mechanism, we’ll learn what makes the game a compelling and fun experience. So let’s dive into it!
Understanding Waffle Game’s Layout and Mechanics
Before psychological studies of the Waffle game, let’s learn about the core gameplay and how this game works. James Robinson, the creator of Waffle, intended to make a game similar to Wordle but has a different strategy and uniqueness. The game comes with a 5×5 waffle-shaped grid with letters randomly placed, the players have to form six five-letter words by swapping the tiles.
The players can solve the puzzle in a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 moves. Each move left earns a star. The color-coded feedback guides the players during the game. Three different colors indicating the three different scenarios help the players understand the grid and plan the next move.
The simple layout of the grid makes the game easy to understand and appealing to play. The way the players interact with the grid is crucial as the puzzle design and color scheme of the game impact the players’ cognitive functions.
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The Psychology of Colors in Puzzle Games
In the gameplay of puzzle games, colors play a vital role. Many of us believe that the use of colors is for the game’s visual appeal but it’s more than that. The colors are used to create an environment favorable for problem solving and decision making skills, fostering the emotional response essential in keeping the players engaged.
In the Waffle game, three colors of the tiles change with swap which indicate the position of the letter in the word. A green colored tile consists of the letter of the word correctly placed. A yellow colored tile contains the letter of the word incorrectly placed. And, a letter in a grey colored tile is not the part of the word.
But, how does this color scheme help the players’ cognitive functions? The answer is simple: each color triggers a different psychological response.
Green: The green color is often associated with right movement, success and achievement. Here in the game as well, this color represents the letters which are correctly placed and the color of any tile changes to green, it signals a positive result, which activates the brain’s reward centers. Players feel the sense of accomplishment, leading them to stay motivated and engaged throughout the gameplay.
Yellow: The yellow color exhibits uncertainty and caution. The tiles in this color represent partial success, being a part of the word but in incorrect position. This unfulfilled process reminds the players that there’s still some work to be done and develops a sense of curiosity, leading them to continue playing.
Grey: The grey color signifies rejection, coldness and ignorance. The grey colored tiles contain the letters that are incorrectly placed and are not a part of the word. The lightness of this color helps the user understand and not directly focus on the letters in this color.
Therefore, the word puzzle games use color-coded feedback to make the game rewarding by enhancing players’ problem solving and decision making skills.
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Color Used For Players with Colorblindness
The Waffle game uses color to guide players throughout the gameplay. The game also considers the experience of the players with colorblindness. For such players, the game uses three different colors instead of the usual ones. Hence, it becomes easy for the players to distinguish the colors irrespective of their type of color vision deficiency.
Hence, the game avoids the use of green, as for individuals suffering from Deuteranopia the green appears more beige or brownish which can blend with yellow. And opts for a color combination of purple with yellow, navy with beige, or any high-contrast color schemes, which makes the critical element stand out.
Along with the color selection, Waffle uses other visual cues, such as patterns or font size, to enhance accessibility for such players.
In conclusion, Waffle game is designed combining fun and engaging gaming experience with a unique blend of wordplay with colorful graphics. Its color-coded feedback enhances the players’ experience with the three main colors: green, yellow and grey. The color system encourages the players and helps sharpen problem-solving skills while also learning new words.