Celebrating 5 years of Wordle

It’s been five years since millions of logophiles adopted Wordle as part of their daily routine, and The New York Times is celebrating the fifth birthday of the game that became a sensation.

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Wordle is just one of a wide range of games from The New York Times, including Connections, Strands, Sudoku and variations of its crossword puzzle.

Wordle is one of the company’s most popular games, with tens of millions of players, or “wordlers,” around the world.

“To honor five years of Wordle, New York Times Games is giving fans the V.I.P. (Very Important Player) treatment,” according to The New York Times.

Players can complete bonus Wordle puzzles from famous solvers and get access to VIP concert tickets this summer. Plus, they can earn new special badges when they solve daily Wordle puzzles.

The game’s actual anniversary falls on June 19 but celebrations have been stretched out across the whole month.

VIP access to concerts

Throughout June, touring musicians who love Wordle have partnered with New York Times Games to bring VIP concert access to fans of the Wordle and music nationwide. The artists involved are Nat & Alex Wolff, Young the Giant, Priscilla Block and Passion Pit — who have all been playing Wordle for years.

Earlier this month, each artist released a special bonus Wordle puzzle (with a hint) for fans using the Create Your Wordle Puzzle feature. A select number of solvers will receive VIP concert tickets, artist merch and more at one of five shows across the country.

“I’m a sucker for a game that brings people together,” said Priscilla Block, per the Times’ press release. “Whether it’s my friends on the bus or the fans out at a show, I love anything that gets people laughing, talking, and having a little competition. Wordle has become one of my favorite ways to connect, and I can’t wait to play along with everyone this summer.”

Here are each of the concerts players could receive tickets to:

• Young the Giant: June 19 at Pier 17 in New York
• Priscilla Block: July 30 at L27 Rooftop Lounge in Nashville
• Passion Pit: Aug. 18 and 19 at The Bellwether in Los Angeles

One of the concerts, Nat & Alex Wolff‘s show on June 13 at Seattle Center in Seattle, has already taken place.

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Wordle players will be awarded with in-game badges

In-game badges to celebrate the achievements of players is a new addition to New York Times Games and allows players to commemorate their solves. There are new badges released periodically to celebrate special holiday and milestone puzzles as well as players streaks.

To celebrate the anniversary of Wordle, New York Times Games is launching two new special Wordle badges player can earn to mark the game’s milestone.

The first bade is the 5-for-5 Challenge badge, which will be awarded to players who solve five daily puzzles between June 15 and 19. Players who solve the puzzle on June 19 will receive the 5th Birthday badge to celebrate the big day.

A Wordle game show is in the works

Wordle soon will no longer just be a game people can play on their phones or other devices. Last month NBC announced that a new game show based on Wordle will premiere next year, as previously reported by the Deseret News.

The show will be hosted by “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon will be an executive producer for the show.

Guthrie, who is an avid Wordle player, said the game show will be “super fast-paced and fun” and “a great family game.” She added, “I love a game and a show that you can watch with kids and you feel like they’re learning some things.”

The show will adapt the online game into a competition series in which contestants will solve five-letter word puzzles while facing off against some of Wordle’s most competitive players in teams. The contestants will compete for a cash prize in the Wordle arena.

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