Thank you — this is extremely useful feedback, especially coming from someone who plays a lot of word puzzles.
I agree with the distinction you’re pointing out: Level 1 still needs to be gentle for new players, but the early ramp should not make experienced players feel like they have to wait too long before the game becomes interesting.
I’ve updated the public beta so the opening puzzle remains approachable, but Levels 2–10 move into more thoughtful patterns sooner. I also made the full collection browsable during the beta, so players who want a stronger challenge can jump ahead instead of playing through every early level first.
Your note about prefilled letters and player-entered letters looking too similar was also very helpful. I’ve changed the board styling so entered letters are visually distinct while keeping the quiet look of the game.
Really appreciate the directness here — this is exactly the kind of feedback that helps shape the game.