Learn to read a script from scratch, a few letters at a time: signs, menus, maps and names.
About these games
Games for learning to read the world’s writing systems: not to speak the language, but to look at a sign, a menu or a map and read it. Every game has a language switch and a tray with simple instructions and an alphabet chart, and is made for complete beginners. The games run from easiest to hardest. Start with Devanagari (Hindi), Arabic, Malayalam and Cyrillic (Russian).
These games are first drafts: their letters, sounds and words are marked as unchecked until a native reader reviews them. Coming later: Greek, Korean, Hebrew, Japanese kana, Bengali, Thai, Georgian and Ge’ez. The collection’s page in Hearth Library: Living Scripts.
Beginner
No knowledge needed
Scripts, Lessons
Letter Ladder
Learn a script a few letters at a time, then read real words made only of letters you know.
Beginnerabout 5 minEarly version
ChooseHindiArabicMalayalamRussian
Scripts, Practice
Look-alikes
Tell apart the letters easiest to mix up: Arabic letters that differ only by their dots, Hindi pairs like ब and व.
Beginnerabout 3 minEarly version
ChooseHindiArabicMalayalamRussian
Scripts, Practice
Name Plate
Read famous names and places in the script, then see your own name written in it, letter by letter.
Beginnerabout 3 minEarly version
ChooseHindiArabicRussian
Easy
Once you know a little
Scripts, Practice
Vowel Builder
Put a vowel sign on a consonant and watch the syllable change: Hindi and Malayalam signs, Arabic short-vowel marks.
Easyabout 4 minEarly version
ChooseHindiArabicMalayalam
Scripts, Daily
Loanword Hunt
Find the six English words hiding among twelve words in the script.
Easyabout 4 minEarly version
ChooseHindiArabicMalayalamRussian
Medium
Reading real texts
Scripts, Daily
Read the Sign
Three real signs a day. Tap a letter to see its sound, then say what the sign means.
Mediumabout 4 minEarly version
ChooseHindiArabicRussian
Scripts, Daily
Menu Order
A café menu written only in the script. Three customers order in English; find their dishes.
Mediumabout 4 minEarly version
ChooseHindiArabicRussian
Scripts, Practice
Map Reader
The towns on the map are labeled only in the script. Read them to find each one.
Mediumabout 3 minEarly version
ChooseHindiArabicRussian
Hard
For confident readers
Scripts, Timed
Speed Read
As many words as you can read in sixty seconds, with each word’s meaning beside it.
Hardabout 1 minEarly version
ChooseHindiArabicMalayalamRussian
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