LinkedIn Launches 3 New Puzzle Games In A Bid To Increase User Engagement. Here's How To Access

The LinkedIn News team will regularly post updates about each game, providing an opportunity for individuals to interact with the larger puzzle-solving community on the platform.

A user can play each of the games once a day and they will also be able to see which of their connections have played the game that day. ( Image Source :LinkedIn )

LinkedIn has launched three new puzzle games on the platform in a bid to increase user engagement. People from across the world can now play Pinpoint, Queens and Crossclimb on LinkedIn's mobile platform or website. The said games are "thinking-oriented" in nature, and you can access them by clicking on the 'My Network' tab on mobile and desktop as well as the LinkedIn News section on the desktop. There is a limit on how many times can user play these games though.

A user can play each of the games once a day and they will also be able to see which of their connections have played the game that day. The games will also have leaderboards for school and company. The launch of these games follows the massive success of the puzzle game Wordle. 

The New York Times acquired Wordle in 2022 and since then it has seen a significant jump in user engagement, time spent, and even digital subscriptions, which eventually was fueled in part by their expanding games offerings.

LinkedIn Games: How To Play

• Open LinkedIn on your phone/PC
• You can find the games in the News module on your LinkedIn homepage, in the My Network tab, or at linkedin.com/games 
• Select the games and start playing

LinkedIn Games: How Will These Games Work?

Pinpoint presents a word association challenge where users encounter a grid containing five distinct words. The objective is to discern the common category shared by all these words. However, only one word is disclosed at a time, prompting users to deduce the category using minimal words.

Queens, drawing inspiration from Sudoku, introduces a logical puzzle. Players are tasked with strategically placing queens (represented by crowns) on a grid. Each row, column, and region must contain only one crown, and no two queens can be adjacent. All of this must be accomplished within a specified time frame.

Crossclimb combines trivia and word puzzles, resembling a blend of a crossword and a word ladder. Players utilise their knowledge of trivia and words to fill in the ladder's words. As words are inserted, rearranging them becomes necessary to ensure that each word in the ladder varies by only one letter. Successful completion unlocks two final clues, leading to victory.

Lakshman Somasundaram, director of product management at LinkedIn said, "We've designed each game to only take a few minutes, and fit right into your work schedule — whether it’s prepping your mind on the commute in, taking a quick mental break between meetings, or unwinding after a long day."

Pasco creates new Pinpoints and Crossclimbs on a daily basis, while Queens grids will be crafted by a roster of renowned creators, starting with Thomas Snyder, a three-time World Sudoku Champion, as highlighted by Somasundaram.

Additionally, the LinkedIn News team will regularly post updates about each game, providing an opportunity for individuals to interact with the larger puzzle-solving community on LinkedIn. This includes sharing tips and tricks, engaging in discussions with the creators, and making new connections, among other activities, according to him.

The introduction of these puzzle games has the potential to boost user engagement as individuals spend more time on the platform. It may also foster stronger connections among members by encouraging interactions centred around these games.

Somasundaram said, "You’ll likely notice people you haven't caught up with in a while are playing too, reminding you that it’s time to grab coffee again."

Industry Reaction

Animesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives and Co-Founder of S8UL said, "LinkedIn's addition of puzzle games to its platform is a strategic move that merges professional networking with recreational activities to unwind and destress after a hectic day. It's exciting to see gaming become a part of professional lives, providing a stress-buster and boosting productivity. This move shows how gaming has become a mainstream form of entertainment."

Rohit Agarwal, Founder & Director, Alpha Zegus said, "Every platform is in a race to increase their DAU (daily active users) and ATS (Average time spent). The introduction of fractional/hyper-casual games by LinkedIn is one such move. By using games based on ‘thinking’, they are essentially getting users to spend more time on their platform and, in turn, spend less time on others. Gamification of platforms is an extremely lucrative way for brands to bring in innovations in the future. Soon we would see this gamification angle being implemented via VR and AI technologies."