TL;DR
Tidy Baby is a browser game that adapts the mechanics of the card game SET to words. Players form sets using three word attributes: length, part of speech, and presentational style.
What happened
A web-based puzzle called Tidy Baby reinterprets the familiar SET mechanics using words instead of cards. Each tile on the board is a word that is defined along three dimensions: length (3, 4, or 5 letters), part of speech (noun, verb, or adjective), and style (bold, underline, or italic). Players select trios that make a valid set according to those three attributes. The interface exposes standard game utilities such as Pause and History, a live Score and Time display, a running list of Guessed Sets, and end-of-game screens showing Final Score and Total Time with options to admire the board, share results, or play again. The site also offers a How To Play page and prompts players unfamiliar with SET to consult it. Example words visible on the board include items like “Steady,” “Strenuous,” and “Grueling.”
Why it matters
- Applies an established game mechanic (SET) to language, offering a fresh cognitive challenge.
- Combines lexical properties (word length and part of speech) with visual style, broadening what counts as a game dimension.
- Runs in a browser with quick-play sessions, fitting short-form puzzle play.
- Lower barrier to entry for SET players while providing a guided How To Play resource for newcomers.
Key facts
- Name: Tidy Baby
- Accessible at the URL tidy.baby
- Gameplay adapts the card game SET to words
- Three gameplay dimensions: word length (3, 4, or 5 letters), part of speech (noun, verb, adjective), and style (bold, underline, italic)
- On-screen elements include Score, Time, Guessed Sets, Pause, and History
- End-of-game UI shows Final Score and Total Time, with options to admire the board, share results, or play again
- The site includes a How To Play page and recommends it for players new to SET
- Sample words shown on the board include “Steady,” “Strenuous,” and “Grueling.”
What to watch next
- Whether the game introduces leaderboards or persistent user accounts — not confirmed in the source
- If there are timed modes, difficulty levels, or vocabulary filters beyond the displayed dimensions — not confirmed in the source
- Support for mobile layouts, accessibility options, or localization — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- SET (game): A pattern-recognition card game where players identify trios of cards that are all the same or all different across several attributes.
- Part of speech: A grammatical category that describes a word's function in a sentence, such as noun, verb, or adjective.
- Word length: The number of letters in a word; here used as a discrete attribute (3, 4, or 5 letters).
- Presentational style: Visual formatting applied to text, such as bold, italic, or underline.
- Browser game: A game that runs in a web browser without requiring a separate native application.
Reader FAQ
How do you play Tidy Baby?
Players make sets of three words that are all the same or all different across the three dimensions; the site recommends its How To Play page for newcomers.
What dimensions does the game use?
Word length (3, 4, or 5 letters), part of speech (noun, verb, adjective), and style (bold, underline, italic).
Where can I play the game?
The game is available at tidy.baby.
Is multiplayer or a leaderboard available?
not confirmed in the source
Are the words drawn from a fixed list or generated dynamically?
not confirmed in the source
Tidy Baby ⏸️ Pause 🏛️ History Score 0 Time 0:00 Guessed Sets ✕ No sets guessed yet… Game Complete! Final Score: Total Time: Admire Board Share Results Play Again ✕…
Sources
- Show HN: Tidy Baby is a SET game but with words
- Rules – Tidy Baby
- Set – Play Online
- Set – online card game
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