Gubbins: An eccentric twist on a classic word puzzle game

As someone who finds joy in wordplay, puzzle games were always a go-to for me for some casual fun. I do have to admit, that the regular puzzle games had started to seem bland. If you’re a word-nerd like me, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.  

Before I knew it, I didn’t just need a new puzzle to solve, I needed something that I could pick up quickly and play on the go. Enter Gubbins, a new app I stumbled upon that not only does the word-puzzle genre differently, but also combines three of my favourite aspects – vocabulary, strategy, and creativity. 

What is the Gubbins game?

Gubbins is all about wordplay. It is a puzzle game developed by Studio Folly where players must create words using the given letter tiles. What makes this game different from games like Scrabble or Crossword, are some quirky wildcard cartoons called, well ‘Gubbins’. These creatures pop up with either help, or hatch hindrances for you to work around.

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This adds a whole new dynamic to an otherwise done and dusted genre, and somehow, manages to make things more interesting. It is a perfect game for quick casual sessions that will test your vocabulary, and likely also improve it. 

What did I think of Gubbins?

The game’s interface is as whimsical as the Gubbins are! The psychedelic art style and funky music add to the charm of this game. 

The gameplay is easy to catch up with for the most part. You simply drag the tiles of letters and place them in a way that creates coherent words, no matter how long or short. However, if you want to score higher, the aim should be to come up with longer, more complex words. 

The unpredictability that the Gubbins bring along is what enticed me. These playful creatures add mechanics to the gameplay, like locking or scrambling the tiles or even filling in for an empty letter.

Each of these characters comes with a line of instruction with them. However, a tutorial or some tips and tricks on how and when to use them more effectively would’ve been helpful for newer players like me. 

The game provides an ad-free experience for both the free and paid version users, which is always appreciated. However, the free version only offers one game per day, and that did bother me a little. I really wanted to discover more Gubbins!

How to get the Gubbins game

You can play Gubbins on most Android phones and iPhones. It is also available for tablets and iPads. 

The free version of this game offers one game per day in the Classic mode. However, there is also a paid version for those who wish to enjoy unlimited puzzles. For a one-time payment of Rs 550, you get access to infinite gameplay in all three modes of the game – Classic, Daily and Pencil. 

If you’re into word puzzles, give this one a try. It doesn’t require much time or commitment, making it perfect for a quick session. And the phone-friendly interface makes it super easy to play on the go too.