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About M_rdle
M_rdle is a tense puzzle game from FAT BOMB STUDIOS that forces you to guess letters in a word before a spinning drill reaches your screen. Released on October 21 2025 it’s a single-player indie title for PC that mixes horror with wordplay. The goal is simple: solve the word before the drill makes contact but the challenge escalates quickly. With its minimalist design and high-pressure mechanics it’s a game that thrives on short bursts of gameplay. Fans of quick thinking under stress and retro ASCII art will appreciate its brutal charm.
Gameplay
Each round you guess letters one at a time while a drill approaches from the bottom of the screen. Every wrong guess moves the drill closer and each correct letter reveals parts of the word. The drill’s speed increases over time adding urgency. Controls are keyboard-based with instant feedback. Rounds last seconds to minutes depending on the word’s difficulty. There’s no pause or save feature forcing you to play in real-time. The game tracks your progress across sessions but the core loop is all about rapid decision-making and risk management. Later levels introduce longer words and faster drills.
What Players Think
Community rating is 8.4 based on 12,300 players while critics gave it 7.8. Average playtime is 3.5 hours with a 62% completion rate. Most players report moods of tense (78%) clever (45%) and frustrating (32%). Achievements include 15 total with an average of 8.3/10 earned per player. Reviews highlight the “addictive panic” but note that some rounds feel unfair. One user wrote “It’s like Scrabble with a countdown clock.” Others criticized the lack of difficulty scaling. The game’s peak popularity was in November 2025 with 82% of completions achieved within two weeks of release.
PlayPile's Take
M_rdle is a bite-sized challenge for word puzzle fans who enjoy high-stakes thinking. At $9.99 it’s a low-risk buy but the 33% drop-off rate suggests it may not hold long-term appeal. If you thrive under pressure and don’t mind occasional unfairness it’s worth a shot. The 15 achievements take 4-5 hours to unlock but the game’s brevity makes it easy to put down. Not recommended for casual players or those who dislike time-based mechanics.
Game Modes
Single player
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