Comment by 🥜 smallpatatas

@lamb-duh thanks, I will add it!

May 03 · 3 weeks ago

15 Later Comments ↓

@lab6 yeah sorry about the scoreboard getting messed up. I had done a 'git pull' onto the server and for some reason it reverted the day's data file, sorry :(

showing the previous day's longest word is a great idea - will do that in the next (more careful) update

🚀 stack · May 03 at 16:11:

I found it surprisingly difficult for some reason.

🥜 smallpatatas [OP] · May 04 at 00:08:

@stack I definitely found that it took me a few minutes to switch my brain between spellbinding and gobble, not sure why!

Anyway i also wanted to say, thanks for your advice and thoughts about the game-running process. Just added a list of around 50 words(!) to a copy of the dictionary, will swap it out shortly before the game resets at midnight ET

🌲 Half_Elf_Monk · May 04 at 02:43:

is FOLATE a word in this dictionary?

🥜 smallpatatas [OP] · May 04 at 03:49:

@Half_Elf_Monk not yet but I've made a note to add it in the next batch, thanks!

🎲 lab6 · May 08 at 21:21:

Hi @smallpatatas, having played Gobble for a few days I thought I’d let you know that I really liked it. It’s a fine addition to Geminispace’s small selection of word games.

I can’t help but compare it to spellbinding (which is also fun). One difference is that you don’t get to see yesterday’s word list. I think this is what makes me feel it’s hard to get better at the game. With spellbinding, there are definitely some headscratcher words that I have never heard of, so I have half a chance of learning something new, if I can remember them.

Gobble shows the total of available words but it’s a lot higher than I’m ever able to get to. If it knows a bunch of words that I don’t, I’d like to learn them.

On the other hand, I could understand if you wanted the game to have a little mystery to it.

🚀 stack · May 08 at 23:33:

Hey, implementor of SpellBinding here.

I used to have a very elaborate history site, with every game archived by date as a gemtext file. The first year or so I actually added commentary, highighting interesting words and their definitions.

After moving to my own VPS and writing a Gemini server specifically for embedded games, I only keep yesterday's game around. Maybe lazy, or maybe horrified by over a thousand files of previous games. Maybe just trying to enjoy _now_ as opposed to accumulating useless information.

But yes, it is very informative to see the previous game and the words you missed.

🥜 smallpatatas [OP] · May 09 at 00:13:

@lab6 thanks for playing, I'm really happy you're enjoying the game! As for the previous day's words: yeah I've been debating whether to do this, and I think you're right. I should have a chance to add this in the next few days :) (Edit: done!)

🌲 Half_Elf_Monk · May 09 at 16:11:

I'm still enjoying this game. I'm curious though... when does the 'day' end/reset? is there a way to put that on the page?

🥜 smallpatatas [OP] · May 09 at 21:05:

@Half_Elf_Monk good call - added this to the "how to play" page. And, starting tomorrow, the previous day's grid will display on the "yesterday's top gobblers" page.

Also looking at ways to avoid situations like today's "consonant corner", as my spouse put it, at the top right of the grid. Currently testing a modification whereby a grid isn't "approved" to be the daily grid unless almost all of the letters get used in at least one word. I may be over-engineering things though :))

🚀 stack · May 09 at 22:55:

Huh, spellbinding games are selected by such a word that uses all the letters! Maybe it's not such a bad idea for gobble. Although I really don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to gobble.

🌲 Half_Elf_Monk · May 10 at 00:35:

No, avoiding "consonant corners" seems pretty fair in terms of game design. There are SO MANY possible grids, there's no need to grind through those ones.

also: consider adding CONIC to the dictionary? idk if you want this thread to get full of word suggestions. maybe it's a niche term?

🥜 smallpatatas [OP] · May 10 at 04:47:

@stack @Half_Elf_Monk I figure if, say, 23 of 25 letters are in at least one word then that should be a reasonably fun grid? If you'd like to try it, there's a playable board at

— gemini.patatas.ca/gobble-test2

+CONIC

+MOTTLE/ER/S/ING

+TITER/S/RE/RES

+FLOATER/S

🎲 lab6 · May 10 at 20:14:

@stack your description of the lost history of spellbinding prompted me to write a post about what I've learnt from it just today:

— lab6.com/mlog/2026/05/10/new/

The new Gobble word listing feature (thank you!) theoretically lets me do this for Gobble too, but today I knew all the words, I just wasn't good enough at finding them in the grid.

🚀 stack · May 10 at 21:44:

I wish you had posted it or linked to it at s/SpellBinding!

Thank you. I did that for a few months during COVID, my morning routine...

Original Post

🌒 s/smolgaming

🥜 smallpatatas:

gobble game — introducing "Gobble", a 6x6 Boggle-style game! (edit: now 5x5 but guaranteed to have at least 35 5+letter words) Feedback/bug reports welcome. Game resets each day at midnight ET (NY/Toronto). [gemini link]

💬 26 comments · 2 likes · May 02 · 3 weeks ago