• Wordle continues to be a daily challenge since its launch in October 2021.
• The game’s popularity surged after being acquired by The New York Times.
• Daily puzzles prompt a communal gaming experience among players worldwide.
• January 12 Wordle answer was “TOTAL”, while January 13's answer is “CLOAK”.
• Hints for each day provide essential clues to assist players in solving the puzzles.

Wordle is a highly engaging word puzzle game that challenges players to guess a five-letter word within six attempts. Created by Josh Wardle as a thoughtful gift for his partner, the game has quickly captivated millions globally, thanks to its simple yet addictive format. Players enjoy the excitement of receiving color-coded feedback after each guess: green indicates the letter is correct and in the right position, yellow signifies the correct letter in the wrong spot, and gray denotes the letter is not part of the word at all. The game has inspired numerous spin-offs, such as Squabble and Heardle, showcasing its cultural impact in just a few years. According to Newsweek, “by January 2022, the number of players surged to more than 2 million” after its acquisition by The New York Times.

For the Wordle puzzle on January 12, 2025, players were tasked with solving the word “TOTAL”. Hints provided included:

• The answer is a noun.
• It contains two vowels.
• The word begins with the letter "T".
• There is one repeating letter.
• The meaning refers to completeness.

Following this, the challenge on January 13, 2025, presented a new word, “CLOAK”, which is defined as a noun that can refer to a type of garment, or as a verb to mean to conceal or hide something. Hints for this puzzle included:

• The word consists of two vowels.
• It is associated with a type of garment.
• The word starts with the letter "C".
• There are no repeating letters.

Both puzzles underscore how Wordle's design facilitates a shared experience where millions of players engage with the same challenge daily. As Wardle himself explained, the appeal likely lies in the balance of difficulty and communal enjoyment: “If there were multiple puzzles to solve...then there wouldn't be that kind of conversation, which I think is the most fulfilling part of Wordle” (India Times). The game remains ad-free and accessible solely through The New York Times Games website.

With these insights, players can enhance their strategies for upcoming challenges and enjoy solving daily puzzles more effectively.