Whisperer – daily word riddles: guess the word from clues

Whisperer is a clue-based word guessing game: there is one secret word and up to five clues that lead to it. The first clue is very general, each next one more specific.

It works like a daily riddle: the clues describe the word without saying it, and you work out what it is. The fewer clues you need, the more points you score.

How to play

1. Read the first clue and type your guess.
2. If you are wrong, you can ask for another clue or keep guessing.
3. After three wrong guesses the next clue is revealed automatically.
4. If you are stuck you can reveal the first letter, at a points cost.

Tips

• With the first clue, keep several directions in mind and use the second one to narrow down.
• Pay attention to the category and the word length when shown.
• Do not ask for a new clue too early: a good guess is worth a lot of points.

Strategy

• Do the maths before asking for help. You start on 100 points, each extra clue costs 15 and each wrong guess costs 5. A considered guess is three times cheaper than a new clue, so if you have a strong candidate, try it before revealing more.
• The row of blank tiles stays on screen the whole time and shows the exact length of the answer. Count the letters of your idea before you type it: a guess of the wrong length can never be right and only costs points.
• Every third wrong guess automatically reveals the next clue. It is a safety net, not a free gift, because the clue still counts against your score, so firing off random guesses rarely pays.
• The first-letter reveal only appears once all five clues are showing, and it costs 20 points. Save it for when you are torn between two or three words and the opening letter would settle it.

A worked example

Say today's answer has six blank tiles and the first clue reads: 'Heavy, and very good at waiting.' That could be many things, so you reveal clue two for 15 points: 'Spends most of its working life underwater.' Thinking of the seabed, you guess OYSTER, which fits the six tiles but is wrong, costing another 5.

Clue three says: 'Usually attached to a long chain.' Now it clicks, and you type anchor in lower case. Case, spaces and accents do not matter when your guess is checked, so it is accepted. With three clues and one mistake your score is 100 − 30 − 5, which makes 65 points.

History of the game

Guessing a hidden word from a series of hints is one of the oldest party formats around. The parlour game Twenty Questions works on the same principle, and on television the US game show Password, which premiered in 1961, had partners steer each other to a secret word with one-word clues. The board game Taboo, released in 1989, added the twist of forbidden words.

Whisperer turns that social game into a solo daily puzzle. The clues are written in advance and run from vague to specific, so the challenge is no longer explaining the word but recognising it as early as possible.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a new puzzle every day?

Yes, and earlier puzzles can be played at any time.

Are synonyms accepted?

The accepted forms listed for each puzzle (such as a base form or a common variant) are accepted.

How exactly is the score calculated?

You start with 100 points. Each clue after the first costs 15, each wrong guess costs 5 and revealing the first letter costs 20. A solved puzzle always scores at least 10; giving up scores 0.

Do capitals or accents matter in my guess?

No. Guesses are compared without regard to case, spaces or accents, so 'anchor' and 'ANCHOR' both count.