Narrowdle

Narrowdle - Binary-search the dictionary

Narrowdle is a binary-search word game. The secret 5-letter word sits somewhere in the alphabetical dictionary; you find it by typing words that become new top or bottom bounds. 10 tries. The English version is called Narrowdle; the Turkish counterpart, Aralıkdle, shares the same engine on the Turkish dictionary.

How to play

  1. Open a room or play solo from the home page. Pick the "Narrowdle 5" tile in the Narrowdle category.
  2. Type any real 5-letter English word and press ENTER. The starting bounds are AAAAA (top) and ZZZZZ (bottom) — you know nothing yet.
  3. If your guess comes before the secret alphabetically → it becomes the new top bound. After the secret → new bottom bound.
  4. The badges next to each bound show how many dictionary entries still sit between that bound and the secret. The smaller the number, the closer you are.
  5. An orange dot signals the secret is much closer to one of the bounds — useful tactical info.
  6. Type the secret to win. Fewest guesses takes 3 points, second 2, third 1.

Strategy is different from Wordle

Wordle is a letter-frequency game; Narrowdle is a binary search game. The optimal first guess sits in the middle of the alphabet (something like "march", "music", "minor"). Each subsequent guess should also land in the middle of the current bounds. Classic binary search.

Theoretically: ~16,000 English words → log₂(16,000) ≈ 14 perfect guesses. With 10 attempts you need aggressive halving. Every guess should bisect the remaining range — "march" beats "apple" by a wide margin when your bounds are still close to the extremes.

Bounds-out rule

Your guess must sit alphabetically between the current bounds. If the top bound is "HUSKY" and the bottom is "IONIC", typing "HUBBY" is rejected — HUBBY comes before HUSKY alphabetically, outside the active range. The error message tells you the direction: "Enter a word placed in dictionary after HUSKY".

Why it plays differently in multiplayer

Everyone in the room shares the same secret but explores it independently. No leak between players — your bounds are your own. Whoever solves in the fewest guesses wins; ties break by who submitted first. The clock isn't the enemy here — bad probes are.

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