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Published Aug 14, 2026, 12:35 PM EDT

A true test of your gamer knowledge

This daily browser game lets you guess the video game based on its patch notes

Image: Pearl Abyss via Polygon

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Patch notes are one of the most prevalent and boring aspects of video games. Whenever a developer needs to fix a bug, tweak combat balance, or add new content updates, they release a long list of the complete changes for fans to peruse. A new Wordle-like browser game asks players to identify their favorite games by their patch notes.

Developer Håkon Medhus Fornes released Patchdle on June 9, and it is one of the toughest tests of game knowledge I've ever seen. Like Wordle, players will have six chances to guess the correct answer. With every incorrect guess, more patch notes will be shown. Allegedly, these hints get easier every round, but they often read like more of the same random developer-speak on technical updates. For example, today's Patchdle includes hints like "adjusted volume for all character jumpscares" and "fixed an issue with inconsistencies when inserting VHS tapes into the VHS player." Good luck figuring that out!

Image: Håkon Medhus Fornes

To make things a little easier, Patchdle does give some clues to players. If you guess a game in the same series as the answer, you'll get a green message telling you, "Correct franchise, but wrong game!" If you guess a game developed by the same studio, you'll see a yellow message that reads, "Made by the same developers!" Beyond that, all players have to go on are the patch notes themselves.

While Patchdle feels like an extreme challenge, it also highlights how much fun developers tend to have with their patch notes. Among the boring technical notes are several jokes and fixes worded in the silliest way possible. The first hint for the June 10 Patchdle reads "Dead babies now have buoyancy in water." That hint is immediately followed by another reading, "Can now pick up and throw puffy dead bodies." I may have no idea what game these patch notes refer to, but my interest in it has grown exponentially.

Every Patchdle is available to play through an archive, which gives you over 60 puzzles to try out.