Zen Word® - Relax Puzzle Game icon
Zen Word® iOS App Review: Brain Training Through Uncrossed Word Puzzles

by Oakever Games

4.9
IOSWord Games
Zen Word offers a unique uncrossed word puzzle experience designed for mental stimulation and relaxation. The iOS app provides daily challenges without logical connections between words, creating a more demanding cognitive exercise than traditional word games.

Detailed Review

Zen Word® by Oakever Games presents a distinctive approach to word puzzle games on iOS, positioning itself as both a brain-training tool and relaxation aid. Unlike conventional crossword or word scramble games, the app features uncrossed puzzles where words lack logical connections, eliminating contextual hints and significantly increasing cognitive demand. This design philosophy creates a pure word-finding challenge that requires different mental processes than traditional word games. The core gameplay involves searching for hidden words within letter grids without the structural assistance of crossed letters. The app offers daily challenges that progressively increase in difficulty, with a recommended daily play time of approximately 10 minutes. The interface employs a minimalist design with calming color schemes and subtle animations that align with its relaxation-focused branding. Game progression is structured through multiple difficulty levels, with puzzles becoming increasingly complex as users advance through the game's extensive content library. User experience analysis reveals mixed implementation of the relaxation premise. While the puzzle mechanics themselves provide engaging mental stimulation, several user reviews indicate technical stability issues affecting the overall experience. Reviewer Mac's Sis reported on August 27, 2025 that the app frequently fails to open properly, requiring repeated restarts. The advertising implementation has drawn significant criticism, with multiple users including .zip30 and Don't wasteyourtime noting excessive ad frequency despite promotional claims of being ad-free, particularly after reaching certain progression milestones. User feedback trends show universal appreciation for the core puzzle mechanics alongside consistent complaints about technical and monetization aspects. All sampled reviews awarded five stars while simultaneously highlighting significant drawbacks. Lil💋👡's July 26, 2025 review praised the game's relaxing qualities and mood-enhancing effects, while Fuzzy Jazzy's July 30, 2025 review noted particular appeal among senior users seeking cognitive stimulation. The discrepancy between advertised ad-free experience and actual ad implementation emerges as a recurring concern among users who otherwise enjoy the gameplay. The app demonstrates notable strengths in puzzle design and cognitive challenge delivery, but suffers from implementation issues that undermine its relaxation premise. Technical stability problems and aggressive advertising strategies contrast sharply with the promised zen experience. Ideal usage would involve tolerance for frequent ad interruptions and occasional technical restarts in exchange for genuinely challenging word puzzles that provide measurable cognitive benefits through regular short sessions.

Key Features

  • Uncrossed word puzzles without logical connections between words, creating pure word-finding challenges that demand different cognitive processes than traditional crosswords
  • Daily challenge system with progressively difficult puzzles designed for approximately 10 minutes of daily mental exercise and brain training
  • Minimalist interface with calming color schemes and subtle animations that support the app's relaxation-focused design philosophy
  • Extensive content library with multiple difficulty levels that provide long-term engagement through gradually increasing complexity
  • Cognitive training approach that emphasizes pattern recognition and vocabulary recall without contextual clues or crossword-style hints
  • Structured progression system that tracks user advancement through puzzle tiers while maintaining consistent challenge levels

Why Users Love It

Unique uncrossed puzzle mechanics
Effective cognitive stimulation

Perfect for: Word puzzle enthusiasts seeking challenging mental exercises with relaxation benefits

Screenshots

Zen Word® - Relax Puzzle Game screenshot 1Zen Word® - Relax Puzzle Game screenshot 2Zen Word® - Relax Puzzle Game screenshot 3Zen Word® - Relax Puzzle Game screenshot 4Zen Word® - Relax Puzzle Game screenshot 5Zen Word® - Relax Puzzle Game screenshot 6

Ranking History

Track Zen Word® - Relax Puzzle Game's performance in Word Games over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#12

1 from last week

Best Rank

#6

All-time high

Average Rank

#9

30-day average

User Reviews

lullabyemom
Nov 3, 2025

Very worthy of it’s concept, I do get tired out from playing it continuously, however, I do LOVE it’s challenges❣️ Great Game Very worthy of it’s concept, I do get tired out from playing it continuously, however, I do LOVE it’s challenges❣️

Beebsie80
Nov 1, 2025

I love this game. I find this game enjoyable and relaxing. It helps keep the mind sharp! However I do not like the update of the banner after every word. Honestly, to me it is distracting. Just being honest. New update I love this game. I find this game enjoyable and relaxing. It helps keep the mind sharp! However I do not like the update of the banner after every word. Honestly, to me it is distracting. Just being honest.

tenepide
Oct 24, 2025

So far the game has been challenging for a 71 yo, making it fun. Zen So far the game has been challenging for a 71 yo, making it fun.

Loela bug 14
Oct 4, 2025

I love this app it is fun and puzzling I have payed this for and hour and a half straight I recommend this app 😍😁 🩷Grate app🩷 I love this app it is fun and puzzling I have payed this for and hour and a half straight I recommend this app 😍😁

Catinmiami
Oct 4, 2025

The new pop up for extra words killed the game. It interrupts your direction, your visual of the letters, your timing and ultimately your score. I can no longer use this game unless it’s removed. Problem w update The new pop up for extra words killed the game. It interrupts your direction, your visual of the letters, your timing and ultimately your score. I can no longer use this game unless it’s removed.

App Details

Developer

Oakever Games

Platform

ios

Rating

4.9

Last Updated

11/7/2025