New and unique puzzle mechanics, systems, and methods are described herein. A puzzle grid comprising linearly arranged intersecting words, with each individual letter placed on a separate puzzle tile, may be divided into a plurality of puzzle pieces, where each puzzle piece is formed of one or more contiguous puzzle tiles. Each puzzle piece shape conforms to one of a predefined set of shapes. To mix up the puzzle grid, identically shaped puzzle pieces may be randomly shuffled and rotated if required so that the puzzle layout remains unchanged whereas the letters are scrambled. Also puzzle pieces whose shape exhibit rotational symmetry may be optionally rotated within the puzzle layout. Letters may maintain upright legibility. A user may then attempt to solve the puzzle by swapping identically shaped puzzle pieces and optionally rotating puzzle pieces whose shape exhibit rotational symmetry.

Methods and systems that facilitate generating and presenting a crossword puzzle. Methods include obtaining, from a content source, a plurality of data items. Using the plurality of data items, a dictionary of clue-word pairs are generated. A crossword layout is generated using a random crossword layout generator. The generated crossword layout is input to a model that outputs a likelihood that the input crossword layout results in a valid crossword. If the likelihood that the crossword layout results in a valid crossword puzzle satisfies a first threshold, a plurality of words in a set of clue-word pairs from among the plurality of clue-word pairs is inserted into the crossword layout. If the plurality of words inserted into the crossword layout results in a valid crossword puzzle, the crossword puzzle is provided to a user on a user device using the set of clue-word pairs.

A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for customizing a player's experience. The System Tuner creates an optimal game model based on game-related data of a plurality of players. The optimal game model corresponds to a player segment in the plurality of players. The System Tuner generates one or more rules for building a game variant based on the optimal game model. The System Tuner detects a first player accessing the game. The System Tuner determines a particular player segment to which the player belongs. The System Tuner generates a game variant based on an optimal game model for the particular player segment and sends the game variant to a client device.

A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein for a System Tuner for customizing a player's experience. A System Tuner selects a hardness quotient, based on a player skill level, from a hardness quotient range, the player skill level for a player is calculated by a client computing device based at least on a plurality of game moves in a first game level completed by the player. The System Tuner provides the hardness quotient to a level definition file for a second game level. The level definition file modifies at least one feature of the second game level according to the hardness quotient. The System Tuner modifies the hardness quotient range based at least on a performance of the plurality of player's in the second game level and the respective hardness quotients assigned to each of those players for their game play in the second game level.

A method for generating dynamic displays on a game screen and player display screens for a live event performed on a stage in front of an audience and hosted by a host located on the stage. Each of the player display screens corresponds respectively to a player. The method includes displaying a playing phrase on the game screen. The playing phrase is generated from a winning phrase and includes blank spaces. The game screen is located in a fixed position with respect to the stage to be viewable by the players. For each round of a predetermined number of rounds, the method includes identifying, by one of the players, a first game to display on the game screen. The first game is displayed on a game selector in response to the player actuating the game selector. The method includes obtaining a first set of rules corresponding to the first game.

A multiple player, turn-based, crossword game where there is a distinct colored collection of tiles for each player, and these tiles are shaped differently based upon their imprint of either a consonant or vowel. The amount and frequency of these imprinted letters and letter scores is consistent between each players' separate collection of tiles. Players take turns building and placing a word from their private tile holder which contains a random selection of their choice of N consonants and M vowels, where N and M can vary, but N+M is fixed and consistent between the players. Play continues until a player has successfully played all of the tiles in their collection. Unplayed tiles from the other players is then deducted from their score and added to the score of the player who played their last tile. The player with the highest recorded score is the winner.

A game apparatus and game methods of play that provide mental exercises to increase the level of abstract thinking to create 3-D objects from universally accepted 2-D flat patterns. Since we read and write on 2-D surfaces, the shapes we associate most with a 2-D environment are alphanumeric characters. Combining letters and numbers in a 3-D environment creates challenging exercises for visualizing 3-D shapes. The competitive games involve a series of 3-D manipulative modules. Play of the games involves scoring points for creating and/or discerning words made up of letters recognized from the 3-D manipulative modules. The games are for multiple players and can also be implemented electronically and online.

Methods and systems that facilitate generating and presenting a crossword puzzle. Methods include obtaining, from a content source, a plurality of data items. Using the plurality of data items, a dictionary of clue-word pairs are generated. A crossword layout is generated using a random crossword layout generator. The generated crossword layout is input to a model that outputs a likelihood that the input crossword layout results in a valid crossword. If the likelihood that the crossword layout results in a valid crossword puzzle satisfies a first threshold, a plurality of words in a set of clue-word pairs from among the plurality of clue-word pairs is inserted into the crossword layout. If the plurality of words inserted into the crossword layout results in a valid crossword puzzle, the crossword puzzle is provided to a user on a user device using the set of clue-word pairs.

A method for playing a word-forming and word-guessing board game (10) between at least a first player and a second player includes (i) each of the players selecting a letter tile set (20), a card deck (22) and a dice set (26); (ii) each of the players utilizing a predetermined number of letter tiles (20) from their letter tile set (20) to form a word that is hidden from each of the other players; (iii) the first player utilizing their card deck (22) and their dice set (26) to win an opportunity to guess the word of any of the other players; and (iv) the first player making a guess of the word of any of the other players.

A multisensory learning system incorporates a plurality of connectable multisensory elements. Each multisensory element may be a piece, a tile, or a block, and includes a surface containing a single character recessed into the surface to form a track. The track may guide a user's finger into the recessed area containing a tactile pattern at a base thereof. The tactile pattern heightens the sensory perception of the character to aid in learning. Each multisensory element is capable of being attached to another multisensory element in order to string characters together. In use, tracing of the tactile pattern of the character triggers the combination of sensations of kinesthetic learning through the motion of tracing and tactile learning through the feel of the tactile pattern in the recessed characters. This may be combined with audiovisual learning by looking at the character(s) and speaking the name.