Bookworm is the Defining Word Game App for the iOS Platform

If you’re a word game fan and have never played Pop Cap Games’ Bookworm online, then check out Bookworm in the App Store. From the same developers that brought us Bejeweled, Bookworm is by far one of the best search and create word games around and having it available for iPhone and iPod touch is pretty exciting if you’re a word game fanatic.

Bookworm has made a seamless transition from PC to mobile device and just as with the downloadable version for the computer, Bookworm for iPhone displays the same rich graphics, easy to read and navigate screen, and has a few hidden surprises that I hadn’t noticed in the other version.

Bookworm features a library-bound worm named “Lex” who munches up letter tiles when they are connected to form words. In this version, simply tap on the letters to connect them and then tap on the submit button at the top. Word scores are displayed up top as the word is formed, allowing you to accept the word you’ve made or keep looking for a way to change the word for a higher score before submitting. Bookworm has two game modes available — classic and timed — and be sure to watch out for the burning letter tiles in each and use them before they reach the bottom.

In addition to the two game modes, Bookworm also has a bonus book list, which contains nine unlockable books with themes like body parts, pets and clothing. To complete the bonus book list library, you must make all the words on each book’s word list. Bookworm also stores word history, tracking three, four, and five letter words that have been made during regular game play.

Just like the PC version of Bookworm, bonus tiles and bonus words are given and a definition feature is also included, which I love. The definition feature can be turned on and off in the options menu, but when on, enables Lex to periodically spew out the definitions of some of the words you make.

Bookworm is perfectly designed for the touchscreen interface of the iPhone and iPod touch, meaning nothing is forced and you can simply enjoy the game. If you get stuck with your board of tiles and can’t find any words to make, simply shake your device to scramble them up. The accompanying sound effects and background music are an enhancement and will be familiar to those who’ve tried their hand at Bookworm before. An auto-save feature is built in to save progress in case of interruption.

While it’s true that Bookworm runs on the higher end of pricing for game apps, it satisfies the need for a quality word game in a single app and possesses just enough replay value and challenge to be well worth it.