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Saved February 14, 2026
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The author missed the word game Wordiest after switching to iOS, so they used AI tools to reverse engineer the game and create a new version called Wordiest Classic. After overcoming various technical challenges, they received approval from the original developer and launched the game on the Apple App Store.
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The author reminisces about their favorite word game, Wordiest, which involved creating two high-scoring words from 14 tiles. Originally an Android game, it featured offline play and a unique scoring visualization against other players. After switching to iOS, the author missed Wordiest, especially after it was removed from the Google Play Store when its developer, Concreterose, shut down.
In an effort to recreate the game, the author built a mobile-first web app called Anagrammatic. Although functional, it lacked the charm and visual appeal of the original. With the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 5.2, the author decided to leverage its capabilities for a more ambitious project. They reverse-engineered the original Wordiest APK, and, with minimal intervention, ended up with a playable version of the game. Surprisingly, most of the effort went into refining the game's tiles, which proved more challenging than expected.
After obtaining permission from Wordiest’s original creator, Darrell Anderson, to release the new version, the author shared it with friends for testing. Feedback was positive, especially regarding improvements over the previous web app. Finally, the author submitted "Wordiest Classic" to the Apple App Store, expecting a lengthy review process but was pleasantly surprised by a swift approval. The game is now available for download on iPhones, and its source code can be found on GitHub.
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