ALPHA 9 Review

The App Store is filled with word games that all seem the same. Thankfully ALPHA 9 isn’t like all the rest. It’s a single player word game designed for word fanatics and casual gamers alike. It’s easiest to describe ALPHA 9 as a combination of word search and Tetris.

There are two game modes to play: wall and clock. It’s best to start out with the tutorial to get a quick grasp of the mechanics for both. The idea is to score words horizontally by sliding a finger across blocks of letters. In wall mode, the blocks of letters slowly fall from the screen. Players must use at least three letters to spell a word horizontally. Using four or more letters clears a whole row of blocks. Letters can be moved vertically to spell a word so players aren’t limited to just what they see. They can also match three of the same letters vertically to get a wildcard. Only one wildcard can be used per word. When there aren’t enough letters on the screen, just hold down two fingers to make more drop.

In clock mode, players race against the clock to spell as many words as possible in order to score the most points. The same rules that apply in wall mode are also in effect for clock mode. The difference is that players have anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes to score points. Blocks that are cleared can be traded for new themes so they won’t grow bored of how the game looks. ALPHA 9 also comes complete with full Game Center leaderboards and achievements.

There’s plenty to love about ALPHA 9. There’s strategy involved as the pressure builds to spell words, the game is well-polished as the flat design looks great on iOS 7 and the sound track is not only relaxing but mesmerizing. I didn’t find any major faults about this word game. However, my one suggestion is adding an update with a multiplayer mode for those who may wish to compete against friends with the same letter blocks or a completely different mode for those who wish to play with others.

ALPHA 9 definitely has a spot on my home screen for a long time. I had a hard time putting the game down after picking it up last night. It’s well-polished, ideal for players of all types and certainly a word game that’s a must-have. Check it out today and let us know what you think in the comments below.