Howdy all, I’ve been working on something for a while now, and I’m happy to finally share: I launched a Japanese word search game called Kanazo!
The idea is pretty simple: It’s the word search game we all know and love, but instead of a grid full of letters, you search for kana. Words can run in any direction — forward, backward, up, down, or diagonally — and you find them by connecting characters in the grid.
I made it partly because word searches were probably my favorite kind of puzzle game as a kid. (I was also a spelling bee champion at my school, which tells you a lot about my idea of “fun” games…)
Anyway, I’ve always believed in the power of games to make learning more enjoyable, so if you want to take a break from flashcards and put your ことばさがし skills to the test, head over to kanazo.app to play.
It’s totally free, works on mobile, and doesn’t require an account or any setup. Right now, it supports vocabulary from Genki 1 + 2 and JLPT N5/N4-level words (more vocab lists are in the works), and it has two game modes: Guided, where you search for words from a set list, and Free Find, where you try to find as many valid words as you can in the grid. I’m also working on an iOS version.
I have a lot of ideas for where I’d like to take the app next, including kanji study + other game modes, user accounts, puzzle stats, daily streaks, and more. In the meantime, I hope people try it out and tell me what they think. I’m sure there are still bugs, rough edges, and UI/UX improvements to smooth out.
If you have suggestions or notice anything broken, please let me know at [email protected].
Hope you enjoy it!
