Anagrams Game (Original Browser Version)

Before the multiplayer React version, there was this: a clean single-player Anagrams clone built entirely in vanilla JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

Background

I wanted to recreate the Game Pigeon Anagrams game from my phone — the kind you play with friends over iMessage. The goal was to ship something playable quickly while focusing on clean UX.

How It Works

You're given a set of scrambled letters. Type as many words as you can before the timer runs out. Longer words score more points.

Key mechanics:

• Letter pool resets on each use

• Real dictionary validation (no made-up words)

• Score multipliers for longer words

• Smooth animations for accepted/rejected guesses

What Made It Interesting

Building a dictionary validation system without a backend was the main challenge. I ended up using a pre-compiled word list bundled with the JavaScript, which made the app fully offline-capable.

The UI animation work — making letter tiles feel responsive and satisfying — took longer than the actual game logic.

Legacy

This project directly led to the full-stack multiplayer version (Anagrams v2) which replaced it. If you want the real experience, see that project.

Source: GitHub