Homemade chocolate chip cookies. Fresh-baked bread. A crockpot of homemade chili. Buttery popcorn. Aromatic foods like these easily convince us to let our taste buds lead the way. Whether we head to grandma’s kitchen, a beloved restaurant, an artisanal bakery, or even the lobby of a movie theatre, we can all agree that eating a delicious meal or snack brings an element of joy and comfort to our day.
You don’t have to be a self-proclaimed “foodie” to appreciate Phoodle, an online word game that mirrors Wordle. Phoodle puts a fun spin on Wordle by adding a food theme, which means that your first guess — and every guess thereafter — is designed to test your culinary expertise (or lack thereof?).
In this blog post, we’re going to explain what makes Phoodle a worthwhile word game, how to play it, strategies to use, and why you should give Last Letter First a try if you like playing word games that you can really sink your teeth into!
First Up on the Menu: What’s Phoodle?
Like Wordle, Phoodle gives you six attempts to solve a five-letter word, and you’ll be treated to a brand-new puzzle every day. This once-per-day restriction certainly makes both games come across as indulgences to be enjoyed in moderation, like a decadent cinnamon roll or a double mocha frappe topped with whipped cream.
In 2022, Phoodle debuted. It was created by Julie Loria, a cookbook author and software developer who sought to combine her love of food and word games. Piggybacking on the success of Wordle, Phoodle instantly appealed to language lovers who delight in the process of guessing and the satisfaction of solving.
As we wrote in a previous blog post, we encourage you to think of Phoodle as “Wordle’s foodie cousin.”
How to Play the Phoodle Word Game
When you open Phoodle, you’ll find an empty game board. This is your cue to take your first culinary-themed guess. Hmmm . . . what will it be? Clove? Bacon? Roast?
The word you’re trying to solve could be an ingredient, a kitchen appliance, common tools and gadgets, cooking techniques, and more. Essentially, whenever you decide to play Phoodle, your “Thinking Cap” will very much need to be a “Chef’s Hat.”
Once you submit your first guess, each space will flip to reveal a color. A grey background indicates that the letter you guessed is incorrect, while a yellow background is good news: the letter is part of the answer, but it’s just not in the correct location. A letter with a green background confirms that the letter you guessed belongs in that exact space, so you can try to work future guesses around that letter to get closer to the puzzle’s answer.
You’ll know when you solved the puzzle when all the letters turn as green as a freshly sliced cucumber. Or should we say P-E-S-T-O, a five-letter word that would make a terrific first guess?
Why Phoodle Satisfies Players’ Appetites
The Phoodle word game is like bringing a spoonful of your favorite soup to your mouth: it’s comforting, even if it doesn’t last long. If you begin the game with a strong guess (see above!), you may find that you solve the puzzle within a minute or two. That’s why it’s the perfect companion to Wordle; Phoodle is like returning to the kitchen for seconds.
Another reason why Phoodle has grown in popularity? It’s genuinely challenging! Unlike Wordle, which is entirely open-ended and lets you start with any five-letter word that comes to mind, Phoodle requires you to play within a strict food-based category. You can still begin with a random word if you want, but you’ll often do better by leaning into the theme. Consulting a favorite cookbook or food blog for five-letter culinary terms can give you a stronger, more strategic start.
It’s also worth noting that you can create a Phoodle account to keep track of your stats. You can even share your results with friends and encourage them to play.
We’d be remiss not to mention the fun pop of confetti that fills your screen if you solve the day’s puzzle. And whether you do or don’t solve the puzzle, you’ll still be treated to a pop-up featuring a Phoodle Fact (and sometimes even a link to a recipe!). The Phoodle fact that accompanied the answer “CHOCS” was: “In Britain, ‘chocs’ is the affectionate shorthand for chocolates, a cozy little word you’ll hear especially throughout the holidays, such as offering ‘a few chocs’ to finish off a festive dinner party.”
Phoodle Facts–and occasional surprise recipe links–put the icing on the cake of this word game!
Recipes for Success: Phoodle Edition
Now that we’ve discussed what the Phoodle word game is and how to play it, it’s time to give you some hints and strategies that can help you solve each day’s puzzle.
First, we recommend having some food-themed words on hand to get started. Submitting a word like “PLATE” or “BREAD” can quickly give you the momentum you need to confidently move toward the second guess like a waiter walking toward a newly seated table.
Guessing words that contain a mix of vowels and consonants can help you narrow down your guesses and spot patterns.
Of course, there’s also nothing wrong with phoning a friend or relative! Your aunt, who loves cooking, or your sibling who loves baking, can help you brainstorm food-themed words, especially as you approach your sixth and final guess.
Pull Up a Seat and Join Our Table
If you like playing Phoodle, we welcome you to take a seat at the Last Letter First table, where there’s always room for you and yours!
Last Letter First is a fun, accessible online word game that you can play for free (and without the presence of annoying ads). The premise is simple: begin or join a game and then submit a high-scoring word like “vixen.” Your opponent will then be tasked to submit a word that starts with the letter “N,” and so on. The goal is to respond with a word that begins with the last letter of the previous word used.
Our scoring system awards you and your opponents points based on specific letter values. To help you boost your score, we’ve published many blogs on our Learning Hub that outline high-scoring words you can add to your vocabulary. Need a high-scoring word that begins with the letter “Y”? We’ve got you covered.
In Last Letter First, the constant back-and-forth between players adds an exciting layer of suspense because you and your opponents never know what word you’ll be served. On that note, our game goes a long way in helping you build and improve your vocabulary.
The best part is that you can also control the vibe of the game. Since we’ve made it possible for you to launch a game and invite specific people to play, you could choose to invite your crazy-competitive cousin, determined to outscore you, or you could inquire if your easy-going grandma would like to play just for fun. (For instructions on how to invite people to a game, check out our FAQ page.)
Hungry for More?
Last Letter First is endlessly replayable. Having the freedom to play more than once a day keeps the fun going, making our game a perfect complement to your online word game routine. In other words, if Wordle and Phoodle are your appetizers, then Last Letter First can be considered your main entree. Interested in dessert? Check out these other top online word games we recommend.
