Parents' Guide to

Subwords

By Ana Beltran, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Fusion between trivia and word game engages spellers.

App iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad Paid Word Games
Subwords Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

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What’s It About?

Incorporating the idea of trivia, SUBWORDS is a word game that encourages kids to identify word segments and put them in order to spell out words. It provides players 28 category options. The categories range from common knowledge to more content-specific topics, creating a range of difficulty. Tapping on a word segment brings it to the bottom of the screen or moves it back into the mix. If kids have a tough time figuring out which words are part of a certain category or which segments to look for in order to spell out the next word, tapping on the light bulb provides a hint. There are two game modes to choose from: Classic mode allows players to focus on spelling out all the words, while timed mode challenges kids to spell out as many words as possible before time runs out. The settings offer control over sound. Kids can choose to play in English or explore words in German. They also have control over high contrast.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

A nifty fusion of trivia and word game offers players various levels of difficulty, keeping kids and grown-ups engaged while they practice spelling and learn new words. Subwords is pretty straightforward and simple to play. It requires kids to tap on the segments in the correct order to spell out words. The light bulb image provides players hints when they get stuck, which motivates kids to continue playing when it's not super clear which fragments go together to make words. It also encourages kids to take on challenging categories with more content-specific vocabulary, since hints are always a tap away. Although the words can be complex, the clues keep the game from becoming frustrating. The classic mode creates accessibility, allowing kids to play at their own pace, spell out words they know, and explore new vocabulary. The timed mode motivates kids to beat the best time and makes the game a bit more challenging and fast-paced. Searching for images or definitions of new words will enrich the experience. Also, it's a game that can grow with kids: Younger kids will be entertained with common knowledge topics, while older kids can begin to explore more complex topics. The coolest part of Subwords is that both kids and parents will find it entertaining and will want to play together.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about new vocabulary while playing Subwords. Can you find pictures, definitions, or descriptions to help you understand what the word means or represents?

  • Ask kids what words they would add under each category. Challenge them to break up the words and put them back together. For example, under the fruit category, kids might add words such as cherry, coconut, or passion fruit. How would you segment those words and how would you put them back together?

App Details

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