For grown-ups
SpanForge is a word game on a strategy board, for ages 9–14. A player traces a real word (three letters or more) along touching tiles, and every tile they cross becomes theirs. The first to join their two sides of the board wins. The more words a child knows, the more paths they have. When the words run low, the game turns into pure Hex, which is a lesson about resources.
After a word is claimed, the player picks what it means from a few choices (the Meaning Rule). A child who does not know a word yet is shown its meaning, so everyone can play. The words come from a curated list of common English words.
There are two ways to play: against Snipe, a gentle computer player, or pass-and-play with two people on one device. Learn the shapes has three short lessons on the board shapes under the game: finish a bridge, save a two-bridge, and block your friend. Each puzzle has one right tile, checked by the game itself. When a game ends there is a friendly “how this game went” card.
What it never does
- No ads and nothing to buy (see the privacy page).
- No account needed: what is practised stays in this browser, on this device.
- No streaks, timers to beat, points to chase or leaderboards.
- No chat, and nothing anyone types is sent anywhere.