# ōlelō: Word Strategy Game — Daily puzzles & strategy > Word strategy game with bluffing, challenging, and shared/private letter cards. (iPhone/iPad app by Dinu Madau.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/olelo-word-strategy-game/id6777550865 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Dinu Madau](https://appshunter.io/developer/6777550867) - Category: Games, Card, Strategy - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 4 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 114 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-09-14 - Data updated: 2026-09-23 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/olelo-word-strategy-game/id6777550865/reviews.md ## What is ōlelō? A four-letter word can beat a seven-letter one. A word that isn't real can beat both - if nobody calls it. ōlelō turns word-building into a shared-card strategy game. Each player gets two private letter cards and five shared letters to work with. Build a great word, slip in a bluff, or challenge a word that looks suspicious. At the showdown, build the highest-scoring word you can from any combination of the seven. Rare letters are worth more than common ones, so the longest word doesn't always win. Neither does the honest one. --- BLUFF - OR CALL THE BLUFF Play a word you know is real. Or risk one that isn't and hope nobody challenges it. Think your opponent made theirs up? Call the bluff. Call it correctly and their word is wiped out - and its points come off their score. Get it wrong, and those points come off yours. Every hand becomes a decision: find a better word, risk a bluff, or decide whether you believe the word in front of you. --- FREE TO PLAY. OFFLINE BY DESIGN. ōlelō is built to be a game you can simply download and play offline, on the plane, on road trips. * No ads. We hate ads. * No tracking. * No account required. Complete anonymity. Once downloaded, ōlelō is fully playable offline. Internet access is only needed when making an optional in-app purchase. The free game includes: * Full game mode - 2 version, BIG TOP, and LITTLE TOP * Daily Challenge * Up to six-player pass-and-play * Four AI opponents - 2 easy and 2 hard challengers * Four themed card decks Optional purchases only add more themed decks and AI opponents. No energy meters. No lives. No waiting to play again. --- PLAY YOUR WAY - PLAY WITH FRIENDS or WITH AI BOTS 10 HIGHLY OPINIONATED AI OPPONENTS Take on a cast of colorful bots with their own personalities and difficulty levels - from Jester-Bot and Professor Hoot which are easy bots to COGNIS and opponents that won't go easy on you. Four opponents, 2 easy and 2 hard, are included free. The rest can be unlocked together. --- UP TO 6 PLAYERS. ONE DEVICE. Pass the iPhone - or place an iPad in the middle of the table - and play together with up to six players. No second device. No internet connection. No account required. --- DAILY CHALLENGE One challenge per day against one of the AI Bots. Everyone gets the same cards each day. Find the highest-scoring word you can, beat the bot and keep your streak alive, and earn badges at 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 points. Earn a special badge if you beat all 10 AI Bots in a row. Share your Daily Challenge score with friends by text and see how your results compare. Reach the milestones and unlock special card decks that can't be bought - they have to be earned. --- LITTLE TOP - Another way to play A gentler version of the full game for newer spellers. Vowels are always in the shared cards, hand cards are consonants, and players can table two words instead of one. It's an easier way to start building words while still playing the same strategy-based game. Think "See Spot Run" or "Cat in the Hat". Simple smaller words. --- DISCOVER NEW WORDS AS YOU PLAY A greater than 50,000-word dictionary is built right into ōlelō - and every word has a definition. Tap the dictionary icon of an unfamiliar word to see what it means. Kids can practice spelling and discover new words naturally while they're focused on playing, not studying. --- 26 THEMED CARD DECKS Change the look of the game with themed decks featuring kittens, puppies, landmarks, Greek mythology, military call letters and more. Additional decks are entirely optional and entirely cosmetic. --- MADE FOR PLAY, NOT DATA ōlelō doesn't collect personal information or monitor your gameplay. Just open the game and play. --- EASY TO LEARN. HARD TO MASTER. Can you find a higher-scoring word? Should you risk one that isn't real? Is your opponent bluffing? And do you dare find out? * Build the word. * Play the bluff. * Make the challenge. ## Key features - Word building with private and shared cards - Bluffing and challenging mechanics - Offline play - Multiple AI opponents - Daily challenge mode - Pass-and-play multiplayer ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Critters & Diggers Card Decks | $1.99 | one-time | | Wildlife Card Decks | $1.99 | one-time | | Transportation Card Decks | $1.99 | one-time | | Travel Card Decks | $1.99 | one-time | | Fantasy Card Decks | $1.99 | one-time | | Military Card Decks | $1.99 | one-time | | All Deck Packs | $4.99 | one-time | | AI Bots | $3.99 | one-time | | Everything Bundle | $7.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (4 of 4) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/olelo-word-strategy-game/id6777550865/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Best game ever. *2026-09-20* So fun to play download it now. ### 5/5 — Texas Hold’em strategy meets Scrabble word play *2026-09-15* Very fun and clever word strategy game! You can bluff with words and win if no one challenges you. If Texas Hold’em and Scrabble had a baby, it would be Olelo. I really like that it can be played completely off-line, with no account required and no data tracking. It is very family, friendly, and the AI bots each have their own fun. The Daily Challenge is one of my favorite features, everyone gets the exact same letters and tries to come up with the highest scoring word. You can also easily share your results with friends by text or email. A clever, addictive word game that’s easy to learn, fun to master, and grateful the whole family! ### 5/5 — Fun for all *2026-09-15* My kids and I LOVE THIS GAME. When we are stuck waiting for an appointment we open up this game and pass the phone around for a multiplayer round. I love that there’s no ads. And I love that my kids are using their brains during screentime! My kids are 8-14 years old and everyone has fun with this game! ### 5/5 — Fun? Educational? Competitive? Yes! *2026-09-15* What a great game. My family loves the daily challenges and it’s so nice not having to purchase anything to play or get rid of ads. The Texas hold em style is super unique for a word game and the ai characters you play against have some witty reactions 🤣 trying to beat them has become a part of my daily routine lol. Definitely recommend. ## Frequently asked questions about ōlelō ### What is ōlelō? ōlelō is a word strategy game where players build words using a combination of private and shared letter cards. It incorporates bluffing and challenging mechanics, offering a unique twist on word-building games. ### Can I play ōlelō offline? Yes, ōlelō is designed for offline play. Once downloaded, you can enjoy the full game mode, daily challenges, and AI opponents without an internet connection. Internet is only needed for optional in-app purchases. ### Does ōlelō have ads? No, ōlelō is ad-free. The developers explicitly state they hate ads and do not include them in the game. There is also no tracking and no account is required for complete anonymity. ### How many players can play ōlelō? ōlelō supports up to six players on a single device using a pass-and-play mode. This allows you to play with friends and family by simply passing the device around. ### What are the different game modes in ōlelō? The free version includes the Full game mode with two versions (BIG TOP and LITTLE TOP), a Daily Challenge, and pass-and-play multiplayer. Optional purchases add more themed decks and AI opponents. ### How does scoring work in ōlelō? Scoring in ōlelō is based on the value of letters used, with rare letters being worth more. The longest word doesn't always win, and bluffing or calling bluffs can significantly impact scores. ### What is the Daily Challenge in ōlelō? The Daily Challenge offers one puzzle per day against an AI Bot, with everyone receiving the same cards. Players aim to find the highest-scoring word, maintain a streak, and earn badges for reaching point milestones. ### Is ōlelō suitable for younger players? Yes, ōlelō has an age rating of 4+ and includes a gentler version called LITTLE TOP. In LITTLE TOP, vowels are always in shared cards, hand cards are consonants, and players can table two words, making it easier for newer spellers. ## Version history (last 1 release) ### 1.0 — 2026-09-14 No release notes. ## Apps similar to ōlelō | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [5 Second Rule: Party Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5-second-rule-party-game/id1525358780) | 4.1 (13) | Free | Games | | [King’s Corner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kings-corner/id845179811) | 4.7 (9,859) | Free | Games | | [Canasta Hand And Foot](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canasta-hand-and-foot/id1134006848) | 4.5 (8,349) | Free | Games | | [Magic: The Gathering Arena](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-the-gathering-arena/id1496227521) | 4.6 (155,091) | Free | Games | | [Acron: Attack of the Squirrels](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acron-attack-of-the-squirrels/id1447141775) | 4.4 (875) | Free | Games | | [Lifetap Life Counter for MTG](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifetap-life-counter-for-mtg/id1508241754) | 4.9 (2,149) | Free | Games | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-23.*