DoodlePhrases, as a concept, seems like a lot of 
fun. Unfortunately, the game is tripped up by a couple of factors. First and foremost is the inconsistency with how precise you need to be with your answer. If you see a pony wearing sneakers and type “horseshoe,” you’re wrong — but type “horse shoe” and you get the points. It has subjective judging that penalizes you for being slightly imprecise. Also, if you’re a slow typer (or have big fingers and are prone to typos on the iPhone or iPod Touch, you’ll chew up a lot of time inputting your answers, which is never fun in a timed game. If you love thinking creatively with words, it might be worth the risk; otherwise DoodlePhrases is one you can pass.
Tag Archives: word games
App review: WordUs2
WordUs2 (which, as far as we can tell, has a 
superfluous number at the end) is a love it or hate it game. It’s full of puzzles that can confound, stump, and aggravate you one minute, and fill you with a sense of euphoria the next. With a spartan, efficient design, it’s an easy game to learn to play — and if you’re the type of person who lives for word puzzles, it will delight you. But be warned that if you’re just a casual fan of the word games genre, the in-game dictionary can be full of baffling omissions (despite its claim of containing thousands of words) that can turn fun into frustration. In either case, it’s a great time-killer, potential vocabulary builder, and certainly has the potential to chew up several hours.
App review: Word Solitaire: Aurora
Word Solitaire: Aurora will quickly become a 
favorite title of word-game fans. The game takes the familiar concept of solitaire and transforms it into something new and unique. The campaign mode will keep you occupied for hours, and the global mode (updated daily) is a wonderful (and child-safe) way to test your skills against a diverse group of players. Word Solitaire: Aurora probably isn’t suited for young ones who are just learning to spell, but for those who can, it proves to be a delightfully entertaining diversion that just might teach them something without them realizing it.
Read more at Common Sense Media
Chris Morris: Journalist 