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Category: Word Games
Developer: Kieffer Bros
Minimum System Requirements: iPhone firmware 2.0+
Compatibility: iPhone and iPod Touch
File Size: 3.0 MB
Price: $1.99
Availability: Now
Version Reviewed: 1.1

Lexic is another word based puzzler for the iPhone. It’s like Bejeweled mixed with Scrabble, but the pieces are actually keys ripped off of a MacBook. Sounds like a killer mix right?

Now, after you’ve selected your letters to form a word, they light up and letters fall from above to replace them.

Oh, I’m sorry. Did I just throw you right into the middle of the review? My apologies. Let me start over.

The first place you go in any game ever made is the menu system. Not so with Lexic. You touch the icon and the first thing you’re getting is gameplay. No menus, no instructions, no choices, just letters.

Other than the fact that this is a little surprising, it’s not really a problem. After a second and two thirds, you’ll realize that you’re already playing and that you need to form words. Now, how do you think you’re going to do that? Hmmm, a big multitouch screen right here in my hand…  Yup, just drag your finger over the letters and you’ll be spelling out words like you’re back in elementary school. Only this time, instead of expanding your vocabulary, you’ll be finding out just how limited yours is. In fact, you might feel as though you’ve stepped into a foreign language class, because for some strange reason, you have a hard time thinking of words that are longer than two letters.

After time runs out and you complete your first game, you’ll finally be presented with that menu from which you’ve been going through withdrawals. There’s not much here, but there are a handful of settings. You can change between TWL and SOWPODS word lists, but you’ll more than likely just want to leave it the way it is. You can also choose a different tile theme and turn on sound effects.

There’s no secret here.; this is a simple game. But, at the same time, it’s laser focus is kind of nice. If you like word games like Scrabble, then you’ll like this. I don’t think this is a game that you’ll be playing months from now. You’ll either get tired of it, or get a different game that steals your iPhone gaming time. But this is a very well designed game for the iPhone, and at $1.99, it’s a deal, even if you only play it for a month or so.

As an added goal, if you buy this game, try and spell out the word “Lexic.” I’d really like to know if there’s a huge point bonus tied to this word.