Wordle Guide
Last reviewed: February 16, 2026Wordle Archive: Play Past Puzzles & Browse Historical Answers
Access every past Wordle answer and puzzle analysis. Browse our complete Wordle archive with statistics, letter patterns, and historical difficulty ratings.
The NYT does not offer an official Wordle archive for replaying past puzzles. Third-party archives were shut down in 2022. Our archive provides every historical Wordle answer with letter-frequency analysis, difficulty ratings, and pattern insights.
Definition
What is Wordle Archive?
The Wordle archive is a record of every past Wordle answer since the game launched in June 2021. The NYT removed official archive access in 2022 to maintain the one-puzzle-per-day format. Historical answer databases remain available for reference and pattern analysis.
Overview
The NYT removed the original Wordle archive in 2022, but the demand for past puzzles has never gone away. Our archive provides a complete record of every Wordle answer since the game launched, along with analysis and patterns that help you become a better solver.
Key Strategies
- Complete historical answer database
- Letter frequency and pattern analysis
- Why the archive was removed
Quick Tips
- The most common starting letter in Wordle answers is S, followed by C
- E appears in roughly 40% of all Wordle answers across history
- Double letters occur in about 15% of puzzles — do not rule them out
- No Wordle answer has ever been repeated since the game launched
- Positional analysis shows E heavily favors position 5 in answers
Wordle archive stats
Quick Facts
1,000+
Total puzzles
100%
Unique answers
Jun 2021
Launch date
Historical answer data from 1,000+ Wordle puzzles, 2021-2025
Why the Wordle archive was removed
When the New York Times acquired Wordle from creator Josh Wardle in January 2022, they gradually shut down third-party archive sites that had been hosting playable versions of past puzzles. The reason was straightforward: the one-puzzle-per-day format is central to Wordle's design and cultural impact. An accessible archive would let players binge dozens of puzzles at once, undermining the daily ritual and social sharing that made the game a global phenomenon. The NYT wanted players to engage with one fresh puzzle each day, creating urgency and a shared daily experience.
What our Wordle archive contains
Our archive catalogs every Wordle answer since the game's public launch in June 2021, providing a comprehensive reference for players who want to study past puzzles. Each entry includes the answer word, the puzzle number and date, a difficulty rating based on community solve statistics, letter frequency data showing how common each letter is across the English language, and notes on any unusual characteristics like double letters, uncommon letter positions, or words that caused widespread difficulty. The archive is searchable by date, puzzle number, or specific letter patterns.
Letter patterns and answer trends
Analyzing over a thousand Wordle answers reveals clear patterns in the NYT's word selection. The most common starting letter across all answers is S, followed by C, B, and T. The most frequently appearing letter overall is E, present in roughly 40 percent of all answers. Words with double letters appear in about 15 percent of puzzles, with common doubles including LL, SS, EE, and OO. The NYT avoids extremely obscure words, preferring terms that most English speakers would recognize even if they do not use them daily.
Using archive data to improve your game
The archive is a powerful study tool when used systematically. Start by reviewing the answers from the past 30 days and note which words surprised you or would have been difficult to guess. Look for patterns in the words you find hardest, whether it is double letters, uncommon starting letters, or words with unusual vowel arrangements. Use this awareness to adjust your starting word strategy. The archive also helps you verify whether a word has been used before, which is useful because the NYT does not repeat answers. If you are considering a guess and the archive shows it was already a past answer, you can confidently eliminate it.
Alternatives for playing past Wordle puzzles
While official replays are not available, several alternatives exist for players who want more than one Wordle puzzle per day. Our word analyzer tool lets you practice the elimination logic of Wordle using historical five-letter word data without spoiling any specific daily puzzle. Wordle-inspired games like Dordle, Quordle, and Octordle offer multiple simultaneous puzzles with unlimited play. The NYT's own Spelling Bee and Letter Boxed provide complementary word-game challenges that exercise similar vocabulary skills. For the closest experience to playing a past Wordle, some fan-built sites offer randomized puzzles drawn from the standard Wordle dictionary.
Key Takeaway
Over 1,000 Wordle answers reveal clear statistical patterns: E is the most common letter appearing in 40% of answers, S is the most common starting letter, and double letters occur in about 15% of puzzles. Using this data to choose starting words gives you a measurable edge.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play old Wordle puzzles?
The NYT does not currently offer a way to replay past Wordle puzzles. Third-party archives were shut down in 2022. Our archive provides answers and analysis for reference.
Does the NYT have an official Wordle archive?
No. The NYT maintains a one-puzzle-per-day format and does not provide access to past puzzles. Our site fills this gap with a complete record of every historical answer.
How many Wordle puzzles have there been?
Over 1,000 unique Wordle puzzles have been published since the game launched in June 2021. A new puzzle is released every day, and no answer has ever been repeated.
What was the hardest Wordle ever?
Several Wordle puzzles have caused widespread difficulty. Notably puzzles with uncommon double letters, unusual starting consonants, or less common vocabulary consistently rate as the most challenging based on community solve statistics.
Why did the NYT remove the Wordle archive?
The NYT removed third-party archives after acquiring the game in 2022 to maintain the one-puzzle-per-day format that made Wordle viral. The scarcity model encourages daily return visits.
How can I practice Wordle without using today's puzzle?
Use our archive to study past answers and letter patterns. You can also play Wordle-inspired clones that offer unlimited puzzles, or use our word analyzer tool to practice letter elimination strategies.
Written by
Connections Hintz Editorial Team
Our team solves every NYT puzzle daily and publishes verified hints within minutes of each reset. With 500+ puzzles analyzed across Connections, Wordle, Strands, Spelling Bee, Mini Crossword, and Letter Boxed, we specialize in spoiler-free guidance that helps you solve puzzles on your own.
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