The New York Times is well known not only for covering news from around the world but also for publishing numerous word games that many people find addictive. From modern hits like Wordle and Connections to the classic Crossword that has been published daily since 1942, many word game enthusiasts start their day by guessing letters, forming words, reading clues, and experiencing the sense of accomplishment that comes with playing a simple yet mentally stimulating game.
That’s exactly what can be so much fun about playing word games online and/or in print: it’s easy to make a habit of it! This begs the question: Have you made a habit of playing Last Letter First yet? A free online word game that you can play solo, with friends, or with other players, Last Letter First can be just as (if not more) habit-forming as the games hosted by The New York Times.
The Appeal of Spelling Bee and Last Letter First
If you’re a frequent visitor to The New York Times Company’s Games section, and you often find yourself face-to-face with a little honeycomb full of letters, you know what a fun struggle it is to come up with words and climb up the ranks.
There’s no doubt that the word game Spelling Bee is a thrill for people who like word games (not to mention word games with cartoon mascots — in this case, it’s a bee named Beeatrice). The goal of Spelling Bee is to form words using the set of seven letters you’re given. The letter in the center of the honeycomb must be used at least once in every word you create.
It’s the type of game that players come back to again and again because it’s exciting to form words, earn points, and exercise the most important part of the body: the brain. In fact, that’s one reason why we created Last Letter First — it improves your vocabulary and promotes healthy brain function. Even children benefit from playing word games because they can enhance language skills, improve critical thinking and problem solving, and boost memory and attention span.
Last Letter First: A Buzzworthy Alternative to Spelling Bee
Last Letter First is a fantastic alternative to Spelling Bee because it checks all the same boxes that Spelling Bee does: it encourages you to form point-earning words, strengthens your vocabulary, and has an incredibly high replay value because no two games are alike.
Spelling Bee requires you to ensure that the letter in the center of the honeycomb (as indicated by the color yellow) gets used in the words you make. Last Letter First takes a different approach; your task is to respond with a word that begins with the last letter of the previous word. Like Scrabble, each letter is assigned a point value. Players appreciate being able to think ahead and strategize their moves.
Here’s a great example of that: let’s say you’re playing Last Letter First with a friend who gives you the word “Pipsqueak” (a word that packs a real punch based on our scoring system, which would give your opponent 10 points for “q” and 5 points for “k” alone). What should your “K” word be? Kangaroo? That’s an option, for sure, but you have to think about the points your competition could earn with an “O” word. Oxidize, for example, could give your opponent a whopping 24 points!
Even though Spelling Bee can definitely be challenging, it doesn’t encourage you to be forward-thinking like Last Letter First does. It’s also worth noting that many games offered by The New York Times can only be played once per day. So, after you guess the correct word on Wordle (or not) or finish that Mini Crossword puzzle, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to play again. Not so with Last Letter First; you can start as many new games throughout the day as you want!
Another big difference between the two games is that Last Letter First allows you to play with friends or family members near and far. This adds a sense of playfulness to the game and also nudges you to keep playing, whereas with Spelling Bee, if you get stumped and can’t think of any additional words, it’s easy just to give up and move on with your day. That won’t be the case if your aunt or best friend sends you, say, “Squib.” How irresistible it will be to respond to that word with a high-scoring word such as “buzzwig” or “buzzcut”!
Is there anything better than picturing your opponent closing their eyes and pinching the bridge of their nose as they try to outscore you? We think not!
Play Our First-Rate Game Anytime, Anywhere
Next time you find yourself staring at that letter-filled honeycomb known as Spelling Bee, we hope you’ll look “bee-yond” that online word game and play Last Letter First. A fresh challenge and top-notch mental workout await you and anyone else in your “hive” who makes online word games a daily part of their life.
