Last Word on Earth
Show HN: Lastwordonearth.com
Last verified:
What is Last Word on Earth?
Last Word on Earth is a slow, shared word game with a single rule: click any word to strike it from the board. The unique catch is that everyone plays the same board simultaneously, so words disappear not only when you click them but also when people elsewhere strike them. Chip away long enough and exactly one word remains standing — that word is the last word.
When a board empties down to its final survivor, the winner is recorded on the Last Words page along with the order everything fell. The board then fills back up and another round quietly begins. It's less a game you win and more a small experiment in what a crowd decides to keep.
The board is built from ENABLE, the open lexicon behind many word games, containing roughly 173,000 entries. The creator stripped out profanity and slurs from raw competitive lists but left every genuinely strange real word in place, including zyzzyva, shittim, and qi. If it's on the board, it's a real, playable English word.
Currently, the game is English-only, which leaves out most languages the world thinks in. The creator plans to add more languages and themed boards built around single subjects. The site tracks words standing, percentage struck, the 100 most recent words struck, survival milestones, and every word that has ever outlasted the board.
Last Word on Earth pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free to play with no paid tiers or subscription required. The entire game is accessible without any cost.
Last Word on Earth pros
- Unique slow-paced shared gameplay experience
- Everyone plays on the same global board simultaneously
- Single simple rule: click any word to strike it
- Clear objective: find the one last remaining word
- Tracks and records every last word winner permanently
- Shows order of fall for all struck words
- Built on ENABLE open lexicon with 173,000 entries
- Profanity and slurs removed from the word list
- Includes rare and strange real words like zyzzyva and qi
- Every word on the board is a real playable English word
- Displays percentage struck and words standing metrics
- Shows 100 most recent words struck
- Records survival milestones throughout the game
- Free to play with no paid tiers required
- Created by Rich Aviles in Atlanta
- New rounds begin automatically after each last word
- Social experiment in what crowds decide to keep
Last Word on Earth cons
- English-only language support currently
- Excludes most languages the world thinks in
- No themed boards available yet
- Slow pace may frustrate players wanting quick results
- Cannot play independently since everyone shares one board
- No user accounts or personal tracking features
- Limited to one word game type
- No mobile app mentioned
- Future language additions not yet implemented
Frequently asked questions about Last Word on Earth
What is the main rule of Last Word on Earth?
The single rule is to click any word to strike it from the board. Words disappear when you click them and also when people elsewhere strike them.
How many words are on the board?
The board contains roughly 173,000 entries from the ENABLE open lexicon used by many word games.
What happens when only one word remains?
When the board empties to its final survivor, that winner is recorded on the Last Words page with the order everything fell, then the board fills back up for a new round.
Is profanity included in the word list?
No. The creator stripped out profanity and slurs that raw competitive lists still carry, but kept every genuinely strange real word.
What languages does the game support?
Currently English only. The creator acknowledges this excludes most languages and plans to add more languages in the future.
Can I play on my own board independently?
No. Everyone plays the same board simultaneously, so words vanish based on global player activity, not just your clicks.
What are some rare words on the board?
Strange real words include zyzzyva, shittim, and qi. If a word is on the board, it is a real playable English word.
What pages can I visit on the site?
You can view the main board with words standing and percentage struck, Last to Fall (100 most recent struck), Order of Fall, All Last Words, and the About page.
Who created Last Word on Earth?
The game was made by Rich Aviles in Atlanta.
Will themed boards be added?
Yes. Themed boards built around a single subject are planned for the future, along with additional language support.