Where did Wordle come from? Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of pe

As the game turns 5 years old, the data reveals that while standard-mode players have much more freedom, they’re not making the most of it.

Every morning, Wordle asks millions of players to make a small leap into the lexical dark: five blank squares, six chances, but no clues. Can you guess the five-letter word in just six tries? Most players respond with instinct.

Emily Long is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City. After graduating from Duke University, she spent several years reporting on the federal workforce for Government Executive, a publication of Atlantic Media Company, in Washington, D.C. She has ...