Comparison

Word Forward vs WordEtris

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Word Forward

This word puzzle game challenges players to clear a 5x5 grid by forming words. It requires strategic use of every letter tile to solve 500 unique puzzles, offering an endlessly challenging brain teaser.

Highlights
  • Spell words by tracing lines
  • Swap letters with tokens
  • Jumble tiles for new letters
  • Change letters with modifiers
  • Eliminate tiles with bombs
  • Solve 500 puzzles
Features
Currently charting
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The #1 Word Game! Played by millions! “Equally a brain-teaser and a brain-pleaser” - MacWorld “An excellent buy for solo players” - TechRadar “A really fun and well-executed word game” - PocketGamer Beautifully simple. Endlessly challenging. Word Forward is the word puzzle game where every choice matters. Can you use all of the letters in the 5x5 grid to make words disappear and clear the board? Word Forward isn’t about spelling the longest words or the most clever - it’s about carefully using every tile to declare victory in 500 puzzles. It requires cunning and strategy -- Word Forward is a brain teaser that will really make you think! • SPELL words by tracing a line between tiles in any direction, including diagonally • SWAP any two letters on the grid by using a SWAP TOKEN, earned during gameplay • JUMBLE the tiles on the grid to replace all the letters with new ones when all else fails • CHANGE the letter on a tile to any other letter you choose using the SWAP MODIFIER • ELIMINATE stubborn tiles with BOMBS to get yourself out of a tight spot The latest brain-tingling puzzle game from the creators of Block Droppin Blitz.

About

WordEtris

Features
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WordEtris — The addictive block puzzle game that challenges your vocabulary and strategy at the same time! Letter and syllable blocks appear in the bottom panel and it's your job to place them on the 8x8 grid. Blocks come in many different shapes and sizes, keeping the game fresh and unpredictable every single round. Position them wisely, form valid words horizontally or vertically, and watch them blast away for points! HOW TO PLAY Check the upcoming blocks in the bottom panel and plan your moves. Place the blocks onto the grid, form valid words horizontally or vertically and score points. Every round brings a different combination of blocks, so no two games ever feel the same. Form as many words as possible before the grid fills up! FEATURES Word Blast Every valid word formed horizontally or vertically instantly explodes. Short words earn base points while longer words trigger score multipliers. The more words you blast at once, the bigger the scoring opportunity! Combo System Blast multiple words back-to-back to earn multiplier bonuses. Chain combos unlock record-breaking scores. Every smart move you make sets up the next combo — think ahead, play big! Break Sometimes stubborn blocks pile up on the grid with nowhere useful to go. Use the Break feature to smash them and reclaim your strategic space. You have a limited number of breaks, so save them for the right moment — it could be the difference between a good game and a great one! Refresh Not happy with your upcoming blocks? Refresh and get a better set. Each refresh is precious — don't waste them early, save them for critical moments when the grid is getting tight. A well-timed refresh can completely turn the game around! Swap Sometimes the block you need is just in the wrong spot. Use Swap to exchange the positions of two blocks in your upcoming panel and rearrange your hand to match your strategy. Swaps are limited, so use them when the timing is right — the perfect placement could be one swap away! Achievements Reach score milestones to unlock new achievements. The higher your score, the more prestigious the reward. From your very first word to legendary high scores, every milestone marks a new challenge. Can you unlock them all? Endless Variety Blocks arrive every round in different shapes, sizes and combinations. From single letters to complex syllable clusters, this variety keeps every game feeling fresh and unpredictable. No two games are ever the same! Leaderboard How do you stack up against the world? Climb the global leaderboard and prove your vocabulary is unstoppable. Every game is a chance to push your rank higher — chase the top, leave your mark and see if you have what it takes to reach number one! STRATEGY TIPS Plan long words: 5-6 letter words significantly boost your score multiplier. Set up combos: When a word blasts, make sure the remaining letters can form new words. Save your breaks: Use breaking rights when the grid starts getting critically full. Refresh wisely: Only refresh when none of the blocks work for you — don't waste them early! Keep the center open: A full center makes it much harder to build longer words. BILINGUAL GAMEPLAY WordEtris features both English and Turkish word databases. Play in your preferred language, develop word-building strategies in different languages and chase high scores in both. Switch anytime and keep the challenge going! WordEtris isn't just a game — it's a different puzzle experience every single time you play. Push your vocabulary, sharpen your strategy, chain those combos and shatter your records! How many words can you blast before the grid fills up? Drop the blocks, build the words, chase the record — WordEtris is waiting! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Word Forward4 screens
WordEtris4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: WordEtris at Free against Word Forward's $2.99. WordEtris also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). Word Forward's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#110 vs unranked). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

WordEtris is free to download; Word Forward costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Word Forward ships an update every 6 weeks, WordEtris fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Word Forward versus WordEtris: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWord ForwardWordEtris
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (11 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews76.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings11 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#110 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size122 MB102 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThalamus Digital Publishing Ltd.OMER EMIN TARIK SUNE

In-app purchases

None

Word Forward

No in-app purchases

None

WordEtris

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Word Forward free?
Word Forward costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is WordEtris free?
WordEtris is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Word Forward or WordEtris have ads?
WordEtris shows ads; Word Forward does not.
Which is updated more often, Word Forward or WordEtris?
Word Forward ships an update every 6 weeks, and WordEtris fortnightly. Most recently, Word Forward was updated on November 2, 2026 and WordEtris on October 25, 2026.

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