Say Hello to Gems (and Revamped Sounds)

Today, we're saying goodbye to our previous point system and are excited to introduce a new game mechanic: gem collecting. In this blog post, we will explain this change and the others we made in our most recent game update.

What's New?

In the past, players received points for answering words correctly and were penalized for skipping a question. Now, players collect gems for answering words correctly, and skipping a question comes at no cost. This means that players can focus on playing the game without worrying about losing points.

Another benefit of this approach is that now both classic and multiple-choice game modes share the same scoring UI, so players don't need to context switch when they play the game one way or the other. This makes it easier to keep track of your progress and see how you're doing in real-time.

Now, alternate definitions are indicated by dots at the top of the screen. You can click the dots or use the tab key to cycle through the definitions.

Gem Collection and Revamped Sounds

Gems are the new winnings in Knoword, and they bring along an overhauled set of game sounds, making them bigger, bolder, and more satisfying. Now, answering a question, earning a gem, or unlocking a hint each play a distinct sound. This means that players can feel a sense of accomplishment each time they answer a question correctly or collect a gem.

If you prefer the old game sounds, you can restore them by toggling the "Classic" selection beside the "Sound" option in the game menu. You can access the game menu by clicking on the gear button in the top right corner of the game UI.

Skip/Hint Button

Another update we made is to the skip/hint button. We made it bigger and added a colored ring that glows green when your hint becomes activated. This makes earning a hint feel more impactful, and provides a clear visual indicator of when you have one to use.

Wrapping Up

The new gem collection system and revamped sounds are designed to make players feel a sense of accomplishment and progress as they play the game, and we hope everyone enjoys the new visuals and sounds of Knoword. As always, we appreciate your feedback, and we'd love to hear what you think of these changes. You can send us a message or reach us on Twitter at @knoword with your thoughts.