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0 If you’d have asked me, “If the creators of GoldenEye and TimeSplitters collaborated, what game would they make?” my first thought would not have been Beyond Words. Two absolute childhood classic first-person shooters would have me thinking of a new splitscreen multiplayer title. Man, do we need more splitscreen multiplayer games… Nostalgia aside, Beyond Words looks like it could be one of those “Oh, just one more round” type of games! But is it?
Developed by MindFuel Games, Beyond Words is an amalgamation of genres, including roguelike and word games. Is “word game” a genre? Either way, think Scrabble on steroids, and you’re on the right track!
Beyond Words is out now and is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S.
How Would I Describe This Game? You Could Say It’s… Beyond Words!
Gaming mashups are often in danger of doing too much, with little in the way of substance for each genre. However, there have been some fantastic ones in the past. Are there any you would recommend? Let us know in the comments below, and let’s get a conversation going! For now, though, it’s on to the review!
Gameplay
Fans of Scrabble will pick up Beyond Words right away, as the basic premise is basically the same. Never played the classic board game before? Not to worry! Beyond Words is all about placing tiles with different letters down to form words. Each tile has a number on the lower right to denote the score earned for using that particular one. It’s much more lenient than Scrabble, with proper nouns, acronyms, and the like all allowed. As long as any tiles placed next to ones already on the board form words of 2 letters or more, you’ll score points! Luckily, the HUD on the left side of the screen will let you know what’s a word and what’s just gibberish.
Beyond Words is more than digital Scrabble, though. Much more! Instantly noticeable are the outlandish boards you’ll be playing on. No 15 by 15 grid here! Expect boards in the shape of vehicles, animals, or even multiple, smaller boards that aren’t even connected! Each one feels like a puzzle as you try to spell your way over to power-ups or multiplier bonuses and think several moves ahead whilst keeping on eye on your remaining moves. Run out of moves, and it’s game over!
Every board consists of nine rounds, with the score goal increasing per round. You’ll earn a bronze, silver, or gold trophy for completing rounds 3, 6, or 9, respectively. Each word earns a base score and a multiplier; for example, a base score of 100 with a multiplier of 50 would earn you 5,000 points. You’ll start small, say with an objective score of 500. By round nine, you could be trying to reach 10,000,000!
The Power of the Cards
In order to make these scores attainable, there are over 300 modifiers and abilities to unlock and purchase from the shop. You’ll visit the shop between rounds, although its contents are randomised each time. Power Cards, for example, stay with you for the rest of the level and have all manner of bonuses. Things like double points for even-length words or a randomised score multiplier each time you play a word. Then there are Booster Cards, which are one-time-use assists that will do things such as raise a word length base score or add points onto specific tiles.
Cards aren’t the only way to improve a words score, as tiles can change type or have stickers added to them. There are the basic bonuses, such as the blue tile that adds to your multiplier total. Whereas a bomb sticker will explode after a set number of turns, removing both the tile it was on and nearby ones from the board. There are also boss rounds, which will try to hinder your progress. With over 30 boss types, each with their own negative trait used against you, it can be incredibly difficult to win all nine rounds.
I did find myself losing the majority of the time. It quickly became clear that more letters doesn’t always mean more points. Smaller words, with the right Power Cards and Boosters, can earn hundreds of thousands of points in one go! It does feel unfair at times, and some boards were particularly tough to earn anything higher than a bronze trophy on.
Graphics & Audio
It shouldn’t come as much as a surprise to learn that Beyond Words isn’t pushing the boundaries of the PS5. But, of course, it doesn’t need to! The user interface is set out to easily see all the information you need, although navigating it using a controller can feel clunky. The boards are vibrant and varied, so it never gets dull to look at.
The audio is in a similar vein to the visuals. The music is pleasant enough, but it’s the various chimes and dings when scoring that really hit the sweet spot. Hearing the score sound effect over and over again before seeing a huge number appear on screen was always satisfying!
Longevity
Honestly, I’d say Beyond Words lasts for as long as you enjoy it. If you’re simply looking to complete everything, then you’re in for the long haul. It took me 25 games to get my first win, and I still haven’t unlocked every Power Card! During this review, Beyond Words has been my go-to game for when I just want a quick blast of something in between heavier gaming sessions. It’s right up there with titles such as Balatro and The Binding of Isaac as something I’ll return to for a long time to come.
Final Thoughts
Beyond Words is a game that was so much more addictive than I anticipated. Sure, it can be frustrating when the tiles aren’t in your favour, and the crazy scores to beat seem unattainable if you weren’t lucky with the right boosters. But it’s still an incredibly enjoyable, casual game that anyone can pick up and play.
Therefore, we’re awarding Beyond Words the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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