Comparison

Hexiled vs Word Forward

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

Head to head
About

Hexiled

This is an addictive and challenging word game with multiple modes to suit different play styles. Test your vocabulary, learn new words, and compete with friends or your own scores across 12 languages.

Highlights
  • Multiple game modes (Escape, Explore, Survive, Discover)
  • Vocabulary testing and word learning
  • Multiplayer challenges
  • 12 language options
  • Detailed post-game statistics
  • Original soundtrack
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

• #1 word game in 32 countries • Played over 10 million times • Four game modes, from frantic 30-second games to relaxed, untimed play • 12 languages, each with its own full dictionary Hexiled is an original word game played on a hexagon grid. Trace words through neighboring tiles: each word must touch an empty space on the board and be at least as long as the number shown on its tiles. The tutorial gets you started in a minute. FOUR WAYS TO PLAY • ESCAPE - timing adapts to how well you play, so it's a frantic challenge at any level. A game takes a couple of minutes, or 15-30 seconds if you're really good. • SURVIVE - every word earns you more time. A test of quick thinking, vocabulary and endurance that fits a 1-5 minute break. • EXPLORE - no time limit. Relax and rack up a high score, or hunt for the longest words. • DISCOVER - reach the edge of the board in as few words as possible. It gets harder as you get better. PLAY IN 12 LANGUAGES English, Français, Deutsch, Nederlands, Español, Português, Italiano, Svenska, Norsk, Dansk, Русский, Ελληνικά Switch language any time. It's a great way to build vocabulary in a language you're learning. ALSO INCLUDES • Game Center leaderboards and achievements • Detailed post-game stats and all-time records • Color themes • A killer original soundtrack • Play offline, no account needed • iPhone, iPad and Mac Hexiled is free to play with ads. A one-time purchase removes ads and adds your Best Words list. WHAT PLAYERS SAY "The best word game I have ever played" - sboyce_tw "One of the best games on the App Store - great word based game" - tcfairfax "A very satisfying hexagonal word search maze-like. Highly recommend!" - BookishMatt "This game is so amazing! I'm addicted to it" - jotap_rios "Spellbinding new wordplay app" - Evaluapp

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
Read full description

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.

Screenshots

Hexiled4 screens
Word Forward4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Word Forward at none against Hexiled's 1. Word Forward also leads on price ($2.99 vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). Hexiled's advantage is ratings volume (416 vs 11) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On update cadence, ads, chart position 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

Hexiled costs $3.99 and Word Forward $2.99 up front. Hexiled sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Word Forward asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hexiled holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hexiled has 416 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Hexiled's written reviews are positive against 76% of Word Forward's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hexiled ships an update every 3 months, Word Forward every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Hexiled versus Word Forward: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHexiledWord Forward
Price$3.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.7 (416 ratings) — better4.5 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews90.3% of reviews — better76.5% of reviews
Number of ratings416 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#42 — better#118
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV
Requires iOS15.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB122 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTriplezeroThalamus Digital Publishing Ltd.

Customer experience

Hexiled

All ratings416 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral4.1%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews290 reviews
Positive90.3%
Neutral6.6%
Negative3.1%

Word Forward

All ratings11 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral9.1%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative23.5%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Hexiled

One-time1
  • Unlock Everything$1.99
None

Word Forward

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hexiled free?
Hexiled costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Word Forward free?
Word Forward costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hexiled or Word Forward?
Hexiled is rated higher. Hexiled averages 4.7 out of 5 from 416 ratings, while Word Forward averages 4.5 from 11 ratings.
Do Hexiled or Word Forward have ads?
Neither Hexiled nor Word Forward shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hexiled or Word Forward?
Hexiled ships an update every 3 months, and Word Forward every 6 weeks. Most recently, Hexiled was updated on October 17, 2026 and Word Forward on October 15, 2026.
Which is more popular, Hexiled or Word Forward?
Hexiled currently peaks at #42 in the App Store charts, and Word Forward at #118. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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