[MilnerRoute]

I wondered how this would work as a two-player game.

Like, I try for the center square, but fail to identify the word in four guesses. [Then maybe that square automatically goes to my opponent?] If they get another square, they'll have two in a row, and I've got to go for the block... (But if they don't solve one of the squares, then I've got a chance at going for two-in-a-row...)

To keep this a single-player game, maybe you'd have to compete against an automated opponent? (Maybe they get X's and Os's on their turn like a normal Tic-Tac-Toe game, but you only get to block them by solving the Wordle-like puzzle in a square? Or maybe they have to guess too...)

[gs17]

I think if the AI opponent plays their X/O directly on their turn, they have to be dumb enough to not make it too hard (even a slightly smart bot will probably force a tie most of the time, you might not be able to ever miss a tile), and that doesn't feel like it adds much fun.

Taking turns guessing could be interesting though. I wonder how the game theory of guessing works out there.